Investigating the Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Among Blood Donors Referring to Blood Donation Centers in Birjand County in Iran

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis E is among the most important health challenges in many countries. This study aimed at investigating the sero-prevalence of hepatitis E among blood donors in Birjand county, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2013 - 2014 on 340 blood donors who referred to blood donation centers in Birjand county, Iran, for blood donation. The participants were recruited through simple random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection which included items such as demographic characteristics, past medical history, history of blood transfusion, and the source of drinking water. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by an infectious disease specialist and a statistician. A five-milliliter blood sample was obtained from each donor and serological assessment was performed for detecting hepatitis E virus antibody by using the ELISA method. The data were analyzed through running logistic regression analysis using the SPSS software (version 15.0). Results: From 340 participants, 319 cases (93.8%) were male, 256 cases (75.3%) held university degrees, 13 cases (3.8%) had a history of blood transfusion, and 50 cases (14.7%) were anti-hepatitis E positive. The result of serologic test was significantly correlated with the participants’ educational status, place of residence, and source of drinking water (P < 0.05). However, the correlation of the test result with the participants’ gender, age, employment, and history of blood transfusion was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The prevalence of hepatitis E in the present study was higher than previous studies, denoting the higher prevalence of hepatitis E in the area. Moreover, the prevalence of hepatitis E is lower among blood donors who have higher educational status, live in urban areas, and use piped water.