PP-127 Transmission of hepatitis C between spouses an epidemiological study at National Liver Institute hospital

Abstract

Background/Aims: In Egypt, relatively higher rates of sexual transmission have been reported and reflect the higher background prevalence in this country. In rural Egypt, sexual transmission between monogamous spouses ranged between 3 and 34%. Methods: This is a cross sectional hospital based study evaluated the non-sexual and sexual risk factors of HCV infection transmission from male and female index cases to their spouses. This study documented previously uncertained lifestyle risk factors for HCV transmission between spouses, confirmed the high prevalence of HCV infection (17% to 26%) in Egypt which is higher than other parts of the world, and provided evidence of sexual transmission of HCV (30). Results: HCV transmission from wife to husband including sexual relationship occurred in 46% of cases while from husband to wife was 25% and 35.5% overall HCV transmission between spouses. Sexual intercourse of positive HCV female more than 4 times per month is 66 times risky to transmit HCV infection to her husband. Conclusion: This study emphasize that transmission between spouses significantly occur due to sexual contact but we can’t ignore the significant role of non sexual risk factors of HCV transmission among married couples.