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. 1994 Dec;113(3):523-8.
doi: 10.1017/s0950268800068539.

The prevalence of hepatitis B and C in an antenatal population of various ethnic origins

E Boxall  1 , S Skidmore, C Evans, S Nightingale
Affiliations

The prevalence of hepatitis B and C in an antenatal population of various ethnic origins

E Boxall et al. Epidemiol Infect. 1994 Dec.

Abstract

A total of 3522 samples of serum, collected anonymously from women attending an antenatal clinic, was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis C. The prevalence of anti-HCV was low; only five confirmed positives were found (0.14%). The prevalence of hepatitis B overall was 0.56%, but was 1.04% in women from immigrant groups. Hepatitis B carriage is therefore four times more common than hepatitis C carriage in the antenatal population comprised of various ethnic origins. The patterns of infection in the two viruses are reversed, hepatitis B being more common in Asian, S.E. Asian and West Indian mothers and hepatitis C being more common in mothers of white Caucasian origin. Routine antenatal screening for anti-HCV is discussed.

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