Intra-familial Transmission of Hepatitis B and C Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
| Author | Hamidreza Zivarifar | en |
| Author | Amirbahman Rahimzadeh | en |
| Author | Forough Ahrari | en |
| Author | Mohammad Ali-Hassanzadeh | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-01-31 | en |
| Abstract | Context: Viral hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV) pose a significant global health threat. While many cases are asymptomatic, transmission within households is not well understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess the prevalence of intra-familial transmission of HBV and HCV, including through sexual and non-sexual household contact. Methods: We comprehensively searched ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus from inception to August 2025. We included 25 eligible studies that assessed familial transmission rates of viral hepatitis. Pooled prevalence rates were calculated for horizontal transmission of HBV and HCV. Results: The pooled prevalence of horizontal transmission was 28.6% for HBV (95% CI, 18.2% - 41.8%) and 10.8% for HCV (95% CI, 6.3% - 17.8%). Among children from infected families, prevalence was 35.9% for HBV (95% CI, 16.3% - 61.7%) and 3.3% for HCV (95% CI, 1.6% - 7.0%). Intra-household transmission via sexual contact was 21.5% for HBV (95% CI, 4.3% - 62.5%) and 7.7% for HCV (95% CI, 4.9% - 11.8%). Mother-to-child transmission was significantly higher for HBV (43.9%, 95% CI, 30.1% - 58.8%) than for HCV (3.3%, 95% CI, 1.6% - 7.0%). Conclusions: Our findings underscore the significant role of intra-familial transmission in spreading HBV and HCV, both through sexual and non-sexual contact. The high prevalence among family members, especially children and spouses, highlights the urgent need for targeted public health strategies, such as pre-marriage testing and screening of pregnant women. This review focuses on the under-examined role of familial transmission, distinct from the established route of vertical mother-to-child transmission, to better inform comprehensive prevention strategies. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/mejrh-165495 | en |
| Keyword | Hepatitis B Virus | en |
| Keyword | Hepatitis C Virus | en |
| Keyword | Transmission | en |
| Keyword | Family | en |
| Keyword | Mother | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Intra-familial Transmission of Hepatitis B and C Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | en |
| Type | Systematic Review | en |