Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Infection Among SexuallyTransmitted Disease-Infected, Inner City Obstetric Patients

摘要

Objective:To test the hypothesis that our inner city obstetric patients who have been infected with sexuallytransmitted diseases (STDs) will have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection than the generalpopulation 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 STDswere asked to return for hepatitis C antibody testing. Medical charts of all patients who returned for hepatitis Ctesting were reviewed.Results:A total of 106 patients with STDs were tested for hepatitis C. Positive screening tests for anti-hepatitis Cantibody were found in 6.6% (7/106) of the patients (95% CI = 2.7–13.1%). This frequency is significantlyhigher than the hepatitis C prevalence (1.8%) in the general United States population (p= 0.006). Multiple logisticregression analysis confirmed only older age (p= 0.016) and positive HIV status (p= 0.023) to be significantpredictors of hepatitis C infection.Conclusions:Inner city STD-infected obstetric patients are at high risk for hepatitis C infection compared withthe general population. Increasing age and HIV-positive status are risk factors which are significantly associatedwith hepatitis C infection.