Aim: To determine the prevalence of HCV in closed communities and the relations between risk behavior and HCV infection.
Material and methods: The persons deprived of personal freedom selected for this study have filled out an epidemio logical questionnaire including identity and epidemiological data (detention history, evaluation of the risk factors), as well as a written consent. All the subjects were tested for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies.
Results: This study included 326 of the total of 500 persons deprived of personal freedoms at the Bacau Correctional Facility The prevalence of hepatitis B and C was 15.34 %, and that of HCV 5.21%, higher than in the general population. Risk factors associated with HCV in closed communities were injected drugs, homosexuality, and tattooing.
Conclusions: The results confirm that the population in correctional facilities is at high risk for infection with hepatitis viruses (both B and C), the modes of disease transmission being already known.