Abstract
BackgroundProvision of constant and safe blood has been a public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa with high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). This study was aimed at determining the trend and seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV across the years within study among prospective blood donors at blood bank in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria.MethodsA retrospective analysis of blood donor data from January 2005 to December 2016 was conducted in Blood Bank/Donor Clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. Sera samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and Treponema pallidum using commercially available immunochromatic based kits.ResultsOut of the 24,979 screened prospective donors in the 2005–2016 study period, 3739 (14.96%) were infected with at least one infective agent. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV were 4.1, 3.6, 3.1 and 4.2%, respectively. During the period of study, the percentage of all transfusion-transmissible infections declined significantly with remarkable decline in HIV. The study showed male dominated donor pool (98.7%) with higher prevalence (4.2%) of transfusion-transmissible infections than in female donors (0.0%). Commercial donors constituted majority (62.0%) of the donors and as well had the highest prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections. Majority (62.9%) of the donors were repeat donors.ConclusionHBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV have remained a big threat to safe blood transfusion in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa at large. Strict adherence to selection criteria and algorithm of donor screening are recommended.
Highlights
Provision of constant and safe blood has been a public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa with high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs)
Transfusion of infected blood is the cause of 5–10% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Sub-Saharan Africa [8] and 12.5% of the patients who received blood transfusions are at risk of post-transfusion hepatitis [9]
A retrospective analysis of blood donor data from January 2005 to December 2016 was conducted in Blood Bank/ Donor Clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
Summary
Provision of constant and safe blood has been a public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa with high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). The national blood policy is essentially made up of sets of action plans which are geared towards the provision of safe, available and affordable blood donor units It is structured into the following strata: the national blood transfusion service (NBTS), the zonal blood service centers, state and local government areas blood service centers, the armed forces blood service centers, private and other nongovernmental health establishments [4, 5]. Despite these efforts, in Nigeria, there is still lack of political will and open-mindedness to innovative ways to improve supply and safety of blood through voluntary donors [6]. Transfusion of infected blood is the cause of 5–10% of HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa [8] and 12.5% of the patients who received blood transfusions are at risk of post-transfusion hepatitis [9]
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