According to the centres taking part in the ALHICE survey, the number of HIV-HCV co-infected women is currently decreasing. This drop was first noted in 2006 and persisted in 2007. What might have been considered a chance phenomenon during the first year (2006) was confirmed in the beginning of 2008. In view of this information, the investigators wished to ascertain the reality of this trend and to investigate its causes, by attempting to answer the following questions:

• Has the prevalence of risk factors for HCV infection changed among the general population over the past 10 years?
• Has the prevalence of risk factors for HCV infection changed among HIV/HCV co-infected women over the past 10 years?
• Is the change in the number of co-infected women who gave birth during the past 10 years related to the prevalence of certain risk factors among this population?
• Is the change in the number of co-infected women who gave birth during the past 10 years related to a decrease in certain risk factors for HCV infection among the general population?
• Have changes in addictive behaviour among women of child-bearing age played a role in the decreasing number of HCV-contaminated children?

Furthermore, follow-up data from HCV-infected children born during this period will provide information concerning the course of HCV infection.

The objectives are to study trends in numbers of deliveries among HCV/HIV co-infected women as well as trends in risk factors for HCV infection among women of child bearing age and lastly to create a cohort of HCV infected children.

Materials and Methods:

This multi-centre epidemiological study consists of two parts. The first is a retrospective survey which will include HIV/HCV co-infected pregnant women, diagnosed prior to or during their pregnancy, who gave birth in one of the participating centres between 1999 and 2008. The second part is a cross-sectional study conducted on a given week each semester between 1999 and 2008 which will include all the women who gave birth in one of the centres included in the study. The study is foreseen to last one year.

These data are contained in the mother's and child's medical files. Data will be stored at the coordinating centre. Recorded variables include socio-demographic characteristics, obstetrical history, details of HIV and HCV infection, co-morbidities and circumstances of delivery, and among children, laboratory results at birth, M6, and M12, as well as assessment of hepatic fibrosis.