The Prevalence of HBV, HCV and Malaria Parasites in Blood Donors in Amhara and Tigray National States, Ethiopia

Tarekegn, Baye Gelaw (2003) The Prevalence of HBV, HCV and Malaria Parasites in Blood Donors in Amhara and Tigray National States, Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Blood has long been recognized as a vehicle for transmission of infectious organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The most important ones are HIV-1 and 2, HBV, HCV, and malaria parasites. Determination of the prevalence of HBV, HCV and malaria parasites in a population in general, and blood donor in particular will certainly help in making health policy decisions. The primary aim of this study was to demonstrate the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and malaria parasites among healthy adult blood donors in Gondar, Bahirdar, Dessie and Mekele blood banks. Socio-demographic characteristics of the blood donors and the history of hepatitis virus infection, history of malaria infection together with the number of sexual partners in life and history of repeated donation was assessed by questionnaire. Of the blood donors 578 were males and 22 females. The age distribution ranges from 18 to 69 years and the maximum (59.5%) blood donation age category was between 19 to 28 years of age. Serum samples from 600 blood donors, 300 from Gondar and 100 each from the three study areas (Bahirdar, Dessie, and Mekele) were collected from December 2002 to February 2003.The over all prevalences of HBsAg, HCV and malaria parasites were 6.2%, 1.7% and 1% respectively. All hepatitis virus positive blood donors were males. The prevalence of HBsAg in age category 19 to 28 years was 62.2% (23/37) followed by age category 29 to 38 years (24.3%). Fifty percent (5/10) of HCV positive blood donors was in age category between 19 to 28 years. Single blood donors were more positive than the married ones (OR=1.9; 95%CI 0.8-4.6). In this study all positive blood donors for HBsAg and anti-HCV were not having the history of hepatitis virus infection and repeated blood donation was not found to be a risk factor for HBsAg and anti-HCV positivity (p=0.7 and p=0.8, respectively). Three hundred one blood donors were without sexual partners and 252 with only one sexual partner in life. Among the positives for HBsAg and HCV antibody, 59.5% and 20% respectively were with single sexual partner. The prevalence of HBsAg, and antiHCV found by this study are quite important. Therefore, screening blood donors for both HBV and HCV infection is indispensable for safe blood transfusion. The limitations of the majority of serological tests in general, and the ACON test strip kit in particular are also considerable especially for anti-HCV determination during the window period. Asking blood donors for recent malaria infection and confirming negativity bylaboratory tests need to be included in daily donor selection. Hepatitis B surface antigen detection may not rule out the over all prevalence of the disease. Therefore, determination of other markers including anti-HBS, antiHBe, anti-HBC together with HCV antigen are being recommended in the future to assure safe blood donation.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, blood donor, malaria parasites, prevalence
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR180 Immunology
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Emmanuel Ndorimana
Date Deposited: 13 Jul 2018 09:05
Last Modified: 13 Jul 2018 09:05
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/7395

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