Open AccessHepatitis A/B vaccine completion among homeless adults with history of incarceration
Author(s) -
Nyamathi Adeline M.,
Marlow Elizabeth,
Branson Catherine,
Marfisee Mary,
Nandy Karabi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of forensic nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.305
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1939-3938
pISSN - 1556-3693
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-3938.2011.01123.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis b , hepatitis b vaccine , hepatitis a vaccine , demography , young adult , family medicine , gerontology , hepatitis a , hepatitis , virology , hbsag , virus , sociology
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination rates for incarcerated adults remain low despite their high risk for infection. This study determined predictors of vaccine completion in homeless adults ( N = 297) who reported histories of incarceration and who participated in one of three nurse‐led hepatitis programs of different intensity. Moreover time since release from incarceration was also considered. Just over half of the former prisoners completed the vaccine series. Older age (≥40), having a partner, and chronic homelessness were associated with vaccine completion. Recent research has documented the difficulty in providing vaccine services to younger homeless persons and homeless males at risk for HBV. Additional strategies are needed to achieve HBV vaccination completion rates greater than 50% for formerly incarcerated homeless men.