Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the world. Screening of HCV during pregnancy is not routinely done in Egypt as many other countries, although pregnancy is an important period where screening of HCV infection is important owing to low immunity, the possibility of vertical transmission and later on horizontal transmission to the baby or other household contacts.
Aim: to determine the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies (HCV-Ab) and risk factors associated with infection among pregnant women in Egypt.
Patients and Method: 360 pregnant women visiting the health care units for routine antenatal care were tested using 3rd generation ELISA test for detection of HCV-Ab. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done for seropositive cases.
Results: 6.1% (22/360) of pregnant women were HCV seropositive; of them only (9/20; 45%) had viraemia. Risk factors were their age, the age of their and the presence of chronic liver disease in the husband.
Conclusion: The prevalence of HCV infection in pregnant women in Egypt appears to be lower than previously reported. The detected risk factors are old age of the pregnant women and their husbands and chronic liver disease in the husbands. None of the other known risk factors was found to be significantly associated with HCV infection in pregnant women.
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION
II. AIM OF THE STUDY
III. PLAN OF THE STUDY
IV. RESULTS
V. DISCUSSION
VI. SUMMARY
VII. CONCLUSIONS
VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS
IX. REFERENCES
Research Objectives and Focus
This study aims to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among pregnant women in the rural district of Al-Nobareya, Egypt, and to identify the significant risk factors associated with this infection in the target population.
- Estimation of anti-HCV seropositivity rates among pregnant women in Al-Nobareya.
- Identification of sociodemographic and medical risk factors linked to HCV infection.
- Assessment of potential vertical transmission risks and maternal health correlations.
- Evaluation of the relationship between maternal HCV status and husband-related health factors.
Excerpt from the Book
HCV in Egypt:
A recent study has been made about HCV in Egypt and had found that the incidence was about 7/1000 rate with prevalence of 14.7%. One in every 10 Egyptians is a carrier of the HCV infection, which means that there are at least 4,459,000 persons infected with HCV who are infectious to others. This is the largest reservoir of HCV infection in the world. The study estimates that more than 500,000 new HCV infections occur in Egypt every year, likely signalling an epidemic in a country of more than 85 million people. The authors suggest that this high rate of HCV transmission may be due to the lack of sufficient standard safety precautions in medical and dental facilities.
Although the high prevalence of hepatitis C in Egypt has been well established for many years, and linked in part to limited safety measures during anti-bilharzia campaigns, published estimates of prevalence from different Egyptian communities failed to provide a nationwide picture of the magnitude of ongoing HCV infection transmission.
Summary of Chapters
I. INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the global and local epidemiological burden of Hepatitis C, including transmission modes and specific risks associated with pregnancy and children.
II. AIM OF THE STUDY: Defines the general and specific objectives regarding the estimation of HCV prevalence and identification of risk factors in the Al-Nobareya region.
III. PLAN OF THE STUDY: Describes the cross-sectional study design, participant recruitment from antenatal units in nine villages, laboratory testing protocols (ELISA, PCR), and statistical analysis methods.
IV. RESULTS: Presents data on the prevalence of HCV antibodies (6.1%) and the statistical associations with variables such as maternal age, husband's age, and the husband's history of chronic liver disease.
V. DISCUSSION: Compares the study's findings with local and international literature, highlighting the demographic factors and risk behaviors observed in the Egyptian rural context.
VI. SUMMARY: Recapitulates the core health problem of HCV in Egypt and summarizes the methodological approach and primary outcomes of the investigation.
VII. CONCLUSIONS: Summarizes the key findings, noting a lower prevalence than previously reported and emphasizing the specific associations between infection and age/husband's health.
VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS: Proposes the necessity for further research with larger sample sizes to identify other significant risk factors.
IX. REFERENCES: Provides a comprehensive list of 41 scientific sources cited in the study.
Keywords
Hepatitis C, HCV, Pregnancy, Egypt, Al-Nobareya, Seroprevalence, Epidemiology, Risk Factors, ELISA, PCR, Vertical Transmission, Rural Health, Chronic Liver Disease, Public Health, Infection Control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women living in a rural district of Egypt (Al-Nobareya) and explores the associated risk factors.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include the epidemiology of HCV, the specific health risks for pregnant women, factors influencing transmission in rural Egyptian communities, and the importance of antenatal screening.
What is the main objective of the study?
The main objective is to estimate the anti-HCV seropositivity rate and to identify potential risk factors for infection in the target population of pregnant women.
Which scientific methodology was used?
The study employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing pre-designed questionnaires for demographic/risk factor collection and third-generation ELISA tests followed by PCR to confirm infection.
What is covered in the main section of the document?
The main section covers the epidemiological background, the study design, detailed results concerning prevalence rates and correlations with maternal and paternal variables, and a discussion of the results in the context of existing literature.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Hepatitis C, Pregnancy, Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Rural Egypt, reflecting the study's scope in public health and infectious disease.
What did the study conclude about the prevalence of HCV in the region?
The study found a prevalence of 6.1% among the 360 participants, which is considered lower than previous reports for similar regions in Egypt.
Which factor was found to have a significant statistical association with maternal HCV infection?
Significant associations were found regarding the older age of the pregnant woman, the older age of the husband, and the presence of chronic liver disease in the husband.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Hossam Hassan Khamis (Autor), Prof. Dr. Azza Galal Farghaly (Autor), Prof. Dr. Hanan Zakaria Shatat (Autor), Assistant Prof. Dr. Engy Mohamed El-Ghitany (Autor), 2015, Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women in a rural district in Egypt, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/293845
