Caesarean section versus vaginal delivery for preventing mother to infant hepatitis C virus transmission.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have generally not provided evidence that delivery by caesarean section reduces perinatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission. However, these studies have methodological weaknesses with potential for bias and their findings should be interpreted with caution.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the evidence from randomised controlled trials that a policy of delivery by planned caesarean section versus vaginal delivery reduces mother to infant HCV transmission.

SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (April 2006) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 2).

SELECTION CRITERIA: Controlled trials using random or quasi-random participant allocation that compared a policy of planned elective caesarean section versus vaginal birth for mothers with HCV infection.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We did not identify any randomised controlled trials.

MAIN RESULTS: We did not identify any randomised controlled trials.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Currently, there is no evidence from randomised controlled trials upon which to base any practice recommendations regarding planned caesarean section versus vaginal delivery for preventing mother to infant hepatitis C virus transmission. In the absence of trial data, evidence to inform women and carers is only available from observational studies that are subject to biases. Systematic review of these studies is needed. There is a need to determine whether women and healthcare providers would support a large pragmatic randomised controlled trial to provide evidence regarding the benefits and harms of planned elective caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth for women with HCV infection.