Addressing Gaps in Hepatitis C Treatment Among Vulnerable Populations

With the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States, the incidence of hepatitis C has significantly increased, highlighting critical gaps in treatment access for some of the most at-risk populations. Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus primarily transmitted through sharing injection drug equipment and can also be passed from mothers to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth. Although highly effective treatments called direct-acting antivirals are available, recent research reveals disparities in who receives these life-saving therapies.

Recent studies from Washington University in St. Louis have uncovered troubling trends affecting children and pregnant women. One investigation published in Pediatrics examined pediatric patients diagnosed with hepatitis C between 2000 and 2022. Results showed that only about 12.5% of these children received treatment. Furthermore, treatment rates varied considerably based on race, geographic location, and age. Hispanic children were twice as likely, and White children three times as likely, to receive care compared to Black children. Additionally, children living in the Southern U.S. were least likely to access treatment, underscoring significant regional disparities.

Another study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology Open focused on women recently pregnant and diagnosed with hepatitis C. Findings indicated that these women were significantly less likely to be treated than men or women without recent pregnancies — nearly 30% less likely than men and about 11% less likely than women who weren’t recently pregnant. These disparities may be influenced by socioeconomic factors, healthcare access issues, and clinical hesitations, such as concerns over spontaneous viral clearance in some children.

Addressing these inequities is crucial. Despite the availability of highly effective medications that can cure hepatitis C in just a few months, barriers such as healthcare access, socioeconomic challenges, and treatment delays persist. The researchers emphasize the importance of targeted strategies to ensure vulnerable groups, including children and postpartum women, receive timely treatment. Making hepatitis C care more accessible and raising awareness could potentially eliminate the virus within a generation.

For more information, see the original studies:

• Disparities in Linkage to Care Among Children with Hepatitis C (Pediatrics, 2025)
• Association Between Sex, Recent Pregnancy, and Hepatitis C Treatment (Obstetrics & Gynecology Open, 2025)
  Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-hepatitis-treatment-populations.html