RESUMEN
UNLABELLED: Vertical transmission seems to be an important mode of infection in children. Approximately 6-9% of hepatitis C virus-positive women transmit HCV to their offsprings. AIM: 1. To determine the frequency of HCV infection in pregnant women in central Poland. 2. To estimate knowledge about HCV infection in childbearing women. 3. To identify risk factors for HCV infection among pregnant women. METHODS: Study in two separate parts. Part A: Blood samples were collected from 544 pregnant women, tested with anti-HCV ELISA third generation tests. Part B: Data of risk factors of HCV infection, reason of diagnostics were assessed through structured interview and review of available medical records in 281 women infected with HCV. RESULTS: Part A: 2.02% of tested pregnant women were anti-HCV(+). One of them (1/11) knew about her HCV infection before examination. Part B. 24% of 281 infected women indicate a history of blood products transfusion (all before 1992), 23%- hospitalisation with surgical procedures, 15%--intravenous drug use, 8%--hospitalisation without surgical procedures, 7%--exposures of health care personnel, 3%--infected mother, 3%--sexual partner or other member of family infected with HCV. Histories taken from 17% women did not include any known risk factors. HCV infection in women were diagnosed: before pregnancy in 186 (66%), during pregnancy in 61 (22%), after delivery in 34 (12%). All women were Caucasian, Polish nationality. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of anti-HCV in pregnant women was 2.02%. There is a number of childbearing HCV infected women who are not identified as HCV positive. Selective HCV testing to women at high risk of HCV infection and antiviral therapy should be encouraged prior to conception.