English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B infection is a serious global public health problem and one among the transfusion transmitted infections (TTI). The prevalence of hepatitis varies across the world. There are several risk factors for HBV infection. We wanted to find out the prevalence of HBV infection among the blood donors and its relevant risk factors. METHODS This is a descriptive study conducted among healthy, voluntary and replacement blood donors. A total of 2400 blood donors were selected for the study by systemic random sampling method. Blood samples from these donors were tested for detection of HBsAg through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to find out prevalence of infection. Various risk factors were compared among the blood donors for positive HBV infection. All statistical data were analysed using SPSS software version 16. RESULTS Total prevalence of HBV infection among the individuals of the study population was 0.45 %. When the risk factors for getting the HBV infection were analysed, unvaccinated blood donors gave a prevalence of 0.6 % (P value 0.001). Prevalence of HBV infection among blood donors with other risk factors were 0.63 % in first time donors (P value 0.04), 7.3 % in replacement blood donors (P value 0.01), 0.97 % in low socioeconomic status (0.03). Where as prevalence of infection among males was 0.49 % and females was 0.26 %. HBV infection among blood donors who were single was 0.34 % compared to married as 0.52 %. Hence the statistical analysis showed P value > 0.05, gender and marital status of the blood donors in the study is not significant for getting HBV infection. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of HBV infection among blood donors was markedly less compared to prevalence in south India which shows that donor selection criteria was satisfactory to screen the blood donors during donor selection itself. In the study HBV unvaccinated blood donors, first time donors, replacement donors, and donors from low socioeconomic status were found to be significant risk factor to get HBV infection. KEYWORDS Transfusion Transmitted Infection, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, HBsAg, Voluntary Blood Donors, Seroprevalence, HBV Vaccine