A recent study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases has uncovered alarming racial and ethnic disparities in hepatitis C testing and treatment among reproductive-aged women with opioid use disorder.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most pediatric cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are perinatal, transmitted from birthing parent to child during pregnancy or birth.
If left untreated, hepatitis C infection can lead to severe outcomes, including chronic liver disease, liver failure, and liver cancer. Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) analyzed national data and found significant disparities in testing and treatment.
The study revealed that Asian and Black individuals were 25% less likely to be tested for hepatitis C than white individuals, while American Indian/Alaska Native women were tested more frequently than any other racial or ethnic group. Furthermore, fewer than 10% of women with opioid use disorder who tested positive for hepatitis C received treatment.
Breanne Biondi, MPH, emphasized the importance of testing and treatment, stating, “If we aren’t testing people, we can’t connect them to care… Treating women postpartum or during pregnancy for hepatitis C infections is crucial to improving health outcomes for everyone.”
To address these disparities, BMC clinicians have implemented programs like Project RESPECT, integrating hepatitis C treatment into postpartum care, and pediatric infectious disease consultations for birthing parents with hepatitis C. These efforts have led to improved treatment rates, with women initiating treatment at more than twice the previous rate.
BMC clinician-scientist Epstein who is also an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine stressed the need for equitable access to care, stating, “By prioritizing equity in our healthcare approaches, we can ensure that parents and their children have timely diagnosis and effective treatment.”
