A significant racial disparity exists in the linkage to care for children diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to a recent study. Hispanic/Latinx and White children have more than twofold and threefold increased odds, respectively, of being linked to care compared to Black children.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine examined data from 2,048 children with newly diagnosed HCV between 2010 and 2019. The study revealed that only 31.7 percent of these children were linked to appropriate specialty care within one year of diagnosis, highlighting a critical gap in pediatric healthcare.
The disparity remained consistent even after researchers adjusted for various factors including insurance type, distance to care facilities, and socioeconomic status. This suggests that systemic barriers beyond economic considerations are affecting access to care for Black children with HCV.
“These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve linkage to care for children with HCV, especially among Black children,” noted the researchers in their report. They emphasized that addressing these disparities is crucial as new direct-acting antiviral treatments have made HCV curable in most patients.
The study also found that children with public insurance were less likely to be linked to care than those with private insurance, adding another layer to the complex issue of healthcare access. These findings underscore the urgent need for policy changes to ensure equitable access to hepatitis C treatment for all children, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.
See: “Disparities Identified in Linkage to Care for Children With Hepatitis C” (April 28, 2025)