%0 Journal Article
%T Understanding current antenatal Hepatitis C testing and care in maternity services in England.
%A Vusirikala A
%A Threadgold G
%A Roche R
%A Hibbert M
%A Simmons R
%A Webb S
%A Gillyon-Powell M
%A Desai M
%A Mandal S
%J J Perinat Med
%V 52
%N 5
%D 2024 Jun 25
%M 38640060
%F 2.716
%R 10.1515/jpm-2023-0508
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Universal opt-out antenatal screening for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not currently recommened and it is recommended that maternity services offer risk-based testing. We aimed to investigate antenatal HCV testing and adherence to testing guidance.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A cross-sectional survey was circulated to maternity service providers between November-December 2020 which included testing policy, training for healthcare staff, and management of women found to be HCV positive. Descriptive data are presented.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>A total of 75 questionnaires were returned, representing 48 % of English maternity service providers. 87 % of providers reported offering antenatal HCV risk-based testing. Risk factors used to identify pregnant women for testing varied. Less than 15 % of respondents considered women that were ever homeless or with history of incarceraton or from higher HCV prevalence areas as high risk.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Current antenatal HCV testing practices are inadequate and HCV infection likely goes undiagnosed in pregnancy, especially among vulnerable population groups. In the absence of universal antenatal screening, re-framing antenatal HCV risk-based testing and management as a quality improvement initiative and developing HCV specific pathway guidance for maternity units is required.