OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and the risk factors associated with HCV infection among women at childbirth, and to assess potential for infectivity of anti-HCV-positive women.METHODS: A total of 6995 women were interviewed and screened for HCV antibodies. Association and logistic regression analyses were conducted.RESULTS: The anti-HCV prevalence was 1.5% by EIA-3 and 0.8% by RIBA-3; HCV-RNA (RT-PCR) was detected in 74% of the RIBA-positive samples. Blood transfusion, race (blacks), alcohol abuse, a history of STD and anti-HBc positivity were independent risk factors for HCV positivity. Except for parenteral exposure, independent predictors of anti-HCV were a history of STD, anti-HBc positivity, a sex partner with multiple sex partners and a sex partner with a history of hepatitis.CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anti-HCV is higher in pregnant women than in blood donors. Sexual exposure may facilitate the spread of HCV and there is a high potential for mother-to-infant transmission.
Adult Brazil