Johns Hopkins transplant hepatologist Victor Chen shares published findings on the prevalence of hepatitis C among people who were pregnant in the United States during the “opioid epidemic” — 1998 to 2018. Over this period, the prevalence of hepatitis C among women who were pregnant increased substantially, particularly among those age 21 to 30, and it was associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Study findings support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent recommendation for universal hepatitis C screening during prenatal care. More work is needed to identify gaps care for women with hepatitis C identified by the screening as well as best strategies for delivering the appropriate care.
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