PREVALENCE OF ANTI-HCV AND RISK-FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN HEALTHY PREGNANT-WOMEN

The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies and the risk factors for HCV inf ection were assessed in 5,672 pregnant women living in North Italy. Al l reactive sera were confirmed by RIBA-2 test. Anti-HCV positive pregn ant women together with an anti-HCV negative control group, were inter viewed by standardised questionnaire to identify ''known'' or ''potent ial'' risk factors for HCV infection. The anti-HCV prevalence was 0.7% (40/5,672), higher than that observed among blood donors in the same geographical area (0.2%). The RIBA-2 assay was positive in 60% (24/40) of cases, indeterminate in 10% (4/40) and negative in 30% (12/40). As for ''known'' risk factors, considering RIBA-2 positivity, intravenou s drug use was by far the main risk factor for HCV infection, resultin g in a significantly higher risk than in the control group (50% versus 5.9% [O. R. 15.8, CI 5.4-45.5]). The ten RIBA-2 positive women withou t histories of transfusion or TV drug use had a significantly higher f requency of ''sexual contacts with IV drug users'' compared to control s (50% vs 4.9% [O. R. 19.0, CI 3.6-94.0]). In conclusion, our study pr ovides evidence that in our geographical area the anti-HCV antibody pr evalence is higher in pregnant women than in blood donors and that IV drug use and sexual contacts with IV drug users represent the most imp ortant risk factors for HCV infection among young women in North Italy