In the UK, pregnant women are not offered and recommended an HCV test because no effective intervention to prevent vertical transmission of HCV exists following conception. However, mother-to-child transmission of HCV could be reduced if infected women planning to have children underwent a course of therapy before beginning.
Researchers conducted this study to determine the proportion of female FPC attendees who would hypothetically accept an HCV test if they were offered it and identify the factors associated with such a decision.
Opportunistic sampling was used to recruit 1000 women attending FPCs in Glasgow. Participants were asked to self-complete a brief questionnaire about HCV and testing.
Of 964 participants, 62% reported that they would accept an HCV test is offered in the family planning setting, and 24% indicated that they were undecided. Only 4% of women reported that they would be offended if offered an HCV test. Women who were of single and of non-white ethnic origin were also significantly more inclined to hypothetically accept an HCV test.
The study concluded that selective HCV testing for those at high risk of HCV infection should be encouraged in the family planning setting.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/33/4/263
