Peer support programmes

Peer support programs can play a pivotal role in the comprehensive management of viral hepatitis within prison settings in Europe. These programs, which are facilitated by individuals with lived experience of hepatitis or imprisonment, offer unique benefits that contribute to improved health and social outcomes.

In the context of viral hepatitis, peer support serves as a valuable resource for disseminating accurate health information, fostering awareness, and promoting prevention measures. Peers, having navigated (or are navigating) similar challenges, can effectively communicate with other people living in prison, addressing concerns and dispelling misconceptions surrounding viral hepatitis. Importantly, peer support programs enhance treatment adherence and engagement in care by providing a relatable and empathetic support system.

Beyond medical aspects, these programs address psychosocial needs, mitigating the stigma associated with viral hepatitis and offering a platform for shared experiences. Their role in promoting harm reduction strategies, such as safer injection practices, contributes to a safer and healthier prison environment. The Peer Support How-To Guide developed by INHSU is a valuable resource for the implementation or scale up for such programs.

When implementing interventions for the elimination of hepatitis in prison, it is recommended where possible to map existing peer organisations working in prison.

The Hepatitis C Trust’s Health and Justice Prison Peer Project was launched by NHS England Health and Justice in 2017. The project is a partnership with the prison health and substance misuse teams, raising awareness around hepatitis C in prison in order to reduce the risk of transmission, change the conversation and increase the number of people being tested and treated for hepatitis C in prisons.

NHS England Health and Justice have commissioned the Prison Peer 2 Peer project to be rolled out nationally across the prison estate, covering 113 prisons in the United Kingdom. The project activities are overseen and delivered by a Prison Peer Coordinator and Prison Peer Leads employed by The Hepatitis C Trust. The Peer Leads are all people with lived experience of HCV, injecting drug use and time spent within the criminal justice system.

On average, as part of the Peer 2 Peer (P2P) project, 457 prisoner peers have been trained. Peers make approximately 2,900 visits per year, with P2P attendee numbers exceeding 13 thousand. Over 150 thousand outreach prisoners have been seen as part of this project (including brief 1-1 interventions), with 5,340 individuals supported through treatment.