International Journal of Modern Biological Research
ISSN: 2053-180X
Vol. 1(1), pp. 1-7, March 2013
doi.org/10.33500/ijmbr.2013.1.001

Seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors attending the Federal Medical Centre, Bida

Christian Esidogho Amiwero*, Robin J. Prescott, Okuku Alaba George, Nwano Ifeoma Joy, Maizuma Aisha

Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Federal Medical Centre, Bida.

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dramiwero@yahoo.com. Tel: +234 80 75848871.

Received 14 January, 2013; Received in revised form 06 February, 2013; Accepted 13 February, 2013.

Abstract

Key words:
Blood donors, Seroprevalence, Transfusion transmissible infection.

Transfusion transmissible infections, particularly the viral agents, insufficient supply of blood / blood products and continuous patronage of paid donors are some of the challenges inimical to ensuring blood safety in most Blood Banks in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections among blood donors attending the federal medical centre, Bida. This is a cohort study of blood donors presenting at the blood transfusion unit of the Federal Medical Centre Bida. The study was designed for a duration of six months (between January 2011 and June 2011). Eight hundred of the Blood donors selected through simple random sampling were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), using rapid kits. Haemoglobin concentration was determined using automated blood cell analyzer. The outcome of HIV screening using rapid screening kits was reaffirmed by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA). Of the eight hundred blood donors, young adults (18-33 years) were 75.6% while the middle age/elderly (50-65) were 1.4%. The mean age was 29.6 ± 6.9 years (range 18-65). The overall prevalence of HBV, HIV and HCV infections were 14.4% (CI95: 12.0%-17.0%), 1.0% (CI95: 0.4%-2.0%), and 3.9% (CI95: 2.7%-5.5%). The Prevalence of transfusion transmissible viruses is still very high in Nigeria when compared with other developing countries with very similar challenges. This cannot be unconnected with the high level of poverty contributing to the emergence of paid donors that continue to form over 70% of the blood donor pool. This challenge needs to be addressed in order to ensure blood and blood product safety.