Frequency of hepatitis C in pregnancy and pregnancy outcome.

Abstract

To determine the frequency of HCV infections in pregnant women, to find out the risk factors for HCV infection in pregnant women and to compare pregnancy outcome of the sero-positive women with sero-negative women. Case-control study. Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from June 2001 to May 2002. Study was conducted on 947 booked pregnant women who were screened for HCV antibodies during antenatal consultation and were admitted for delivery in labour room. At the time of admission in labour ward, medical records of all patients were reviewed for anti HCV antibody testing and the presence of risk factors for HCV infection. Previous vaginal deliveries with episiotomy, previous surgeries, blood transfusions, and D&C for abortion or dysfunctional uterine bleeding were taken as independent variables. The obstetric outcome variables studied were: completed weeks of gestation by mother, birth weight and apgar score of newborns. The risk factors under study and the outcome variables were compared among HCV positive and negative women through a case-control study and measures of association calculated. The proportion of HCV sero-positivity among pregnant woman in our study was 3.27%. Among all the risk factors under study, previous surgery was found to have a significant association with HCV positive status of women (p=0.001). Other variables did not have significant association with HCV positive status in our study. There was no statistical difference in the mean birth weight of newborns (p= 0.94), mean Apgar score of newborns (p= 0.73) and mean gestational period among HCV positive cases and controls (p= 0.47). Prevalence of hepatitis C in pregnant women was 3.27%. Past history of surgical procedures was the most important factor for transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. No adverse effect on pregnancy outcome was observed in terms of gestational age, Apgar score and baby weight when compared with the controls.