Estimating the Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Amongst Pregnant Women Attending Ante Natal Clinic in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH)

Abstract

Hepatitis C infection is a contagious infection that mostly affects the liver; it is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), it mostly causes  chronic liver infection and can also progress to cirrhosis. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C Viral  infection among pregnant women attending antenatal at University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Ethical approval was obtained and a hospital-based cross-sectional baseline study was carried out. Blood sample were aseptically collected from patients and labeled  appropriately, a one-step test was carried out using the HCV test strip. A total number of 35 pregnant women fell within the ages of 30-34,  and 2 positive cases were gotten from the test which happens to fall within 30-34 age group. Results obtained from questionnaire  revealed that a total number of 60 pregnant women educated and from the awareness aspect, 57 women have awareness of the hepatitis  C virus. This study has shown that HCV infection is not an uncommon infection in the Nigerian pregnant population, and its  prevalence can be a major concern for neonatal infection in our country.