Hepatitis C Risk Factors in Pregnant Women with STDs
Author Information
Author(s): Youyin Choy, Lisa Gittens-Williams, Joseph Apuzzio, Joan Skurnick, Carl Zollicoffer, Peter G. McGovern
Primary Institution: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Hypothesis
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.
Conclusion
Inner city STD-infected obstetric patients are at high risk for hepatitis C infection compared with the general population.
Supporting Evidence
- 7 out of 106 STD-infected patients tested positive for hepatitis C, indicating a prevalence of 6.6%.
- The prevalence of hepatitis C in the general U.S. population is 1.8%, showing a significant difference.
- Older age and positive HIV status were confirmed as significant predictors of hepatitis C infection.
Takeaway
Pregnant women in the city who have STDs are more likely to have hepatitis C than other people. Older women and those with HIV are at even higher risk.
Methodology
Patients in a prenatal clinic who tested positive for STDs were asked to return for hepatitis C antibody testing, and their medical charts were reviewed.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported drug use and the specific population studied.
Limitations
The study may not represent all pregnant women as it focused on those attending a specific clinic.
Participant Demographics
Inner city obstetric patients, primarily women, with a focus on those testing positive for STDs.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.006
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 2.7-13.1%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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