The prevalence of hepatitis B and C in an antenatal population of various ethnic origins.
A total of 3522 samples of serum, collected anonymously from women attending an antenatal clinic, was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis C. The prevalence of anti-HCV was low; only five confirmed positives were found (0.14%). The prevalence of hepatitis B overall was 0.56%, but was 1.04% in women from immigrant groups. Hepatitis B carriage is therefore four times more common than hepatitis C carriage in the antenatal population comprised of various ethnic origins. The patterns of infection in the two viruses are reversed, hepatitis B being more common in Asian, S.E. Asian and West Indian mothers and hepatitis C being more common in mothers of white Caucasian origin. Routine antenatal screening for anti-HCV is discussed.
Boxall
E
E
Regional Virus Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.
Skidmore
S
S
Evans
C
C
Nightingale
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People; D002353:Carrier State / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000208:ethnology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000208:ethnology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014900:West Indies / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies