Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Ideato South L.G.A, Imo State.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health concern and is extremely prevalent. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the hepatitis C virus prevalence in expectant mothers. Pregnant women who visited antenatal clinics in the Idaeto Local Government Area in 2023 participated in this cross-sectional survey. Using the 4th ELISA method, samples were screened for HCV infection, and SPSS version 23 statistical software was used for data analysis. There were 123 pregnant women in all, and 7 of them (5.6%) tested positive for HCV. Age groups between 30 and 39 (n = 4), educated (n = 4), employed (n = 6), and married (n = 6) were reported to have the highest proportion of HCV. With the exception of employment status (p > 0.05), there was no statistically significant correlation found between demographic factors and HCV positive. This study established that HCV infection is a public health concern in pregnant women and shown a significant incidence of the virus.