Most pediatric cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are perinatal, meaning the virus is transmitted from birthing parent to child during pregnancy or birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If left untreated, hepatitis C infection can lead to worse outcomes later in life, such as chronic liver disease, liver failure, and liver cancer. Identifying disparities in testing and treating hepatitis C among people of reproductive age with opioid use disorder can improve health outcomes for all birthing parents and children.
Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) have analyzed racial and ethnic disparities using national data on hepatitis C care for reproductive-aged women with opioid use disorder. The findings are published in Clinical Infectious Diseases . "Effective screening and treatment for hepatitis C virus in reproductive-aged women is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of transmission.
By identifying and treating hepatitis C early, we can significantly reduce the risk of severe disease and prevent transmission to children, ultimately improving both maternal and infant health outcomes," says Rachel Epstein, MD, MScE, senior author on the paper and an infectious disease clinician-scientist at Boston Medical Center (BMC). The team found that Asian and Black individuals were 25% less likely than white individuals to be tested for hepatitis C, and American Indian/Alaska Native women were tested more often than any other racial or ethnic gr.