Sero-prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among Blood Donors in the Kintampo Municipal Hospital, Ghana
Williams Walana *
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana
Samuel Ahiaba
Kintampo Municipal Hospital, P.O. Box 192, Kintampo, Ghana
Patrick Hokey
College of Health and Well-Being, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Kintampo, Ghana
Ezekiel Kofi Vicar
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana
Samuel Ekuban Kwabena Acquah
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana
Edmund Muonir Der
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana
Juventus Benogle Ziem
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana and Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed at establishing the prevalence of some viral Transfusion Transmissible Infectious (TTI) agents among blood donors in the Kintampo North municipality of Ghana.
Study Design: A retrospective cross-sectional hospital based study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Laboratory unit of the Kintampo Municipal Hospital between May and August, 2013.
Methodology: Archived results (from January 2010 to December 2012) on blood donation from the hospital’s laboratory were reviewed manually. Data comprising age, sex and results on HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV tests of blood donors were reviewed. The data were analyzed using Microsoft excel 2007 statistical package.
Results: A total of 3402 people were screened for blood donation. Out of this number 3139 (92.3%) were males while 263 (7.7%) were females. The combined sero-prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV was 19.5% (643/3139) and 11.4% (30/263) for males and females respectively. Hepatitis B surface antigen year-on-year prevalence was 9.6%. Anti-HCV and anti-HIV recorded year-on-year prevalences of 4.4% and 4.9% respectively. Donors younger than 20 years recorded the highest prevalence of HBsAg [15.9% (34/214)] followed by those in age group ≥20<30 [10.3% (170/1652)]. The highest prevalence rates of 6.1% and 5.0% for anti-HIV and anti-HCV were observed in age groups ≥50 and ≥30<40 years respectively. The commonest co-infection occurrence was HBV-HCV [45.5% (10/22)].
Conclusion: The prevalence of the viral TTI agents studied among blood donors in the Kintampo municipality is relatively high. Co-infection with HBV and HCV was also high.
Keywords: Sero-prevalence, HIV, Hepatitis, Kintampo, Ghana