Risk factors for hepatitis C infection among sexually transmitted disease-infected, inner city obstetric patients.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that our inner city obstetric patients who have been infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) will have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection than the general population and to identify specific risk factors and high-risk groups.


METHODS
All patients in our prenatal clinic (July 1997-April 1999) who tested positive for one or more STDs were asked to return for hepatitis C antibody testing. Medical charts of all patients who returned for hepatitis C testing were reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 106 patients with STDs were tested for hepatitis C. Positive screening tests for anti-hepatitis C antibody were found in 6.6% (7/106) of the patients (95% CI = 2.7-13.1%). This frequency is significantly higher than the hepatitis C prevalence (1.8%) in the general United States population (p = 0.006). Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed only older age (p = 0.0 16) and positive HIV status (p = 0.023) to be significant predictors of hepatitis C infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Inner city STD-infected obstetric patients are at high risk for hepatitis C infection compared with the general population. Increasing age and HIV-positive status are risk factors which are significantly associated with hepatitis C infection.
Choy
Youyin
Y
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Gittens-Williams
Lisa
L
Apuzzio
Joseph
J
Skurnick
Joan
J
Zollicoffer
Carl
C
McGovern
Peter G
PG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies