Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a public health issue, worldwide. HCV infection during pregnancy is associated with vertical transmission. Objectives The current study aimed at investigating the prevalence of HCV in pregnant women. Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted in Duhok, Kurdistan region of Iraq from January 2016 to December 2018. In the study, pregnant women were tested for HCV antibodies (HCV-Ab) positivity. The infection then was confirmed by HCV-real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: During the study, 37,200 pregnant women were recruited; 15 (0.04%) subjects were positive for HCV-Ab. To confirm the infection, HCV-RT PCR was performed for subjects with positive results and only three cases were confirmed using this method; giving a prevalence of 3/37,200 (0.001%). Conclusions: HCV prevalence in pregnant women was low in Duhok city. Continuous screening is required to control infection and prevent vertical transmission.
Hussein, N. R., Sharaf, H. A. & Mahdi, S. (2019). The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnant Women in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Brief Report. Women’s Health Bulletin, 6(2), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.5812/whb.91494
MLA
Hussein, N. R., Sharaf, H. A., & Mahdi, S. "The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnant Women in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Brief Report", Women’s Health Bulletin, 6, 2, 2019, 1–3. doi: 10.5812/whb.91494
HARVARD
Hussein, N. R., Sharaf, H. A., & Mahdi, S. (2019). 'The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnant Women in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Brief Report', Women’s Health Bulletin, 6(2), pp. 1–3. doi: 10.5812/whb.91494
CHICAGO
Hussein, N. R., Sharaf, H. A. & Mahdi, S., "The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnant Women in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Brief Report." Women’s Health Bulletin, 6 2 (2019): 1–3, doi: 10.5812/whb.91494
VANCOUVER
Hussein N. R., Sharaf H. A., Mahdi S. The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnant Women in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Brief Report. Women’s Health Bulletin. 2019;6(2):1–3. doi: 10.5812/whb.91494
