Effect of Needle Exchange Program on Maternal Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Maternal hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses significant risks to newborns.
• Understanding the impact of public health interventions on HCV prevalence is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the prevalence of maternal hepatitis C virus (HCV) before and after the implementation of a needle exchange program (NEP) in Scioto County, Ohio.
• To evaluate the impact of the NEP on maternal HCV trends in Scioto County and surrounding areas.

Main Methods:

• A population-based retrospective cohort study analyzed live births in Ohio from 2006 to 2015.
• Maternal HCV frequency was compared pre-NEP (2006-2011) and post-NEP (2012-2015).
• Trends in neighboring counties were assessed to control for regional effects.

Main Results:

• Maternal HCV infection occurred in 0.5% of 1,463,506 live births in Ohio.
• Scioto County experienced a 137% increase in maternal HCV rates from 2006-2011.
• Following NEP implementation in 2011, the rate of increase in Scioto County slowed to 12% (2012-2015).
• Adjacent counties showed a precipitous decline in HCV increase rates, while regional counties saw continued substantial increases.

Conclusions:

• The needle exchange program in Scioto County was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of increase of maternal HCV infections.
• The NEP demonstrated a localized positive impact on maternal HCV prevalence, contrasting with broader regional trends.