Prevalence, incidence and associated factors for HBV infection among male and female prisoners in Central Brazil: a multicenter study.

•This is the first cross-sectional multicenter study of prevalence, incidence and risk factors of HBV infection in the male and female prison population in Brazil (n=3.368 prisoners distributed in 12 closed prisons).•HBV exposure was observed in 9.8% (95% CI: 8.8 to 10.8) prisoners; 11.2% of them were female and 9.6% male.•High prevalence of HCV (2.4%), HIV (1.6%) and Treponema pallidum (10.7%) infections were observed among prisoners with evidence of HBV exposure.•Despite the low incidence of HBV infection (0.18/100 person-years), preventive measures to interrupt the chain of HBV transmission are required.