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Learning Objective:
1. By the end of the presentation participants will be able to identify opportunities for integration of perinatal HCV prevention activities
2. By the end of the presentation participants will be able to identify opportunities for collaboration
Background:
Children born to women with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection should be tested for HCV infection because approximately 3 % will become infected. Identifying, tracking and educating HCV infected women during pregnancy is important to ensure appropriate and timely follow-up, testing and medical management is implemented for both mother and infant. Through collaboration with new and old partners, Rhode Island's Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program has expanded services to HCV infected women and their infants.
Setting:
Rhode Island-community based home visiting program
Population e.g. API Youth, MSM, IDU:
HCV positive pregnant women
Project Description:
The Rhode Island Department of Health's Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program has expanded to include comprehensive case management services for pregnant women infected with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and/or HCV. Services include:
• Prenatal education home visit(s) by a nurse case manager for the purpose of educating the pregnant woman about hepatitis including: prevention of transmission of disease to others; recommended testing and prophylaxis for infant and personal health maintenance
• Referrals for: medical management of disease; testing and immunization of household contacts and sex partner of women with chronic HBV; and referral to other community resources
• Tracking and follow-up for infants born to HCV and HBV-positive women including: outreach to pediatric provider to ensure appropriate and timely testing and immunoprophylaxis is completed; referral for medical management of infected infants
Results/Lessons Learned:
Education and outreach to prenatal and pediatric health care professionals about hepatitis C risk factors, testing and available referral sources for disease management is a critical component for success.
See more of Poster Session #2
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference