Risk factors and seroprevalence of hepatitis C antibody in mothers and their pre-school age children in Ilrorin

Abstract

In the tropics, hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence ranges from 4. 2 % in whole Africa Mother-to-infant transmission of HCV though relatively low, have been reported worldwide and transmission may be intrauterine, intrapartum and post-natal. A descriptive seroepidemiologic study of hepatitis C virus and their associated risk factors have been conducted among pairs of mother and child of pre-~cRoo1 age attending the "well child" clinic of the University of Ilorirr, Teaching Hospital and the in;nsun'lzation clinic of the children specialist hospital, Ilorin. Sera of 70% mother1chPd pdrs were su!.;+.ted to Enzyme-Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (ELISA) fcr the detection oP antr'bwjies clirected against the core and structural proteins of hepatitis C \ins (anti-ACV). Anti-HCV prevaience of 1.4% was seen among mothers while none of the children was ;rositive for inti-HCV. Scarification appeared to be the rnwt s i g n i r i t risk factors tbat could mssibly contribute to the transmission of HCV among the subjects. The o d y motbcr positive for anti-HCV antibodies had tribal mark scarification while her $year old baby wlro h d w tribal mark wrrr negative. Vaccination has been effective in reducing the incidence of heprtItis B and attending complications of onset of hepatocellular carcinoma later in life; but preventive measares against hepatitis C virus are not yet available