Sero-prevalence and associated factors of transfusion-transmitted infections of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis among voluntary blood donors in Gondar District Blood Bank, Ethiopia: a retrospective study #MMPMID41361405
Dagnaw M; Merawie DM; Yirsa T; Gobezie M
BMC Infect Dis 2025[Dec]; 25 (1): 1699 PMID41361405show ga
BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention performed worldwide; however, it remains a significant public health concern due to the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). Globally, millions are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Treponema pallidum (syphilis) through unsafe blood transfusion practices. In resource-limited settings like Ethiopia, ensuring blood safety is especially challenging due to inadequate screening and surveillance systems. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis among voluntary blood donors in the North Gondar District Blood Bank, Northwest Ethiopia. METHOD: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 265 voluntary blood donors at the North Gondar District Blood Bank, collected between February 15, 2021, and May 24, 2022. Data were retrieved from the blood bank records between June 1 and June 15, 2022. Donor sociodemographic characteristics and transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) screening results were extracted from these records. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate prevalence. Variables with a p-value < 0.25 in Bivariable analysis were included in a multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of TTIs. Multicollinearity was assessed using the variance inflation factor (VIF), and model fitness was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT: The study covered 265 blood donors in the Gondar blood bank district between February 15, 2021, and May 24, 2022. The total sero-prevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis during the follow-up period was 2.26%, 2.64%, 4.53%, and 7.17%, respectively. Age groups of 26-35 for blood donors screening for HCV (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.1, 3.29), Male donors (AOR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.10, 6.52), age groups of 26-35 for screening for HBV (AOR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.00, 1.24), age groups greater than 45 for screening for Treponema pallidum (AOR = 8.6, 95% CI 7.44, 10.02), and divorced marital status (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.64, 6.94) were significantly associated with the prevalence of Sero-prevalence trans-fusion transmissible infections occurrence. CONCLUSION: This study found that the overall sero-prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in North Gondar was notable, with HCV (4.53%) and syphilis (7.17%) being the most prevalent. Statistically significant associations were observed between HCV and the 26-35 age group, syphilis and donors aged above 45, HBV and the 26-35 age group, male gender with TTIs, and divorced marital status with syphilis. These findings underscore the need for more targeted donor screening strategies focusing on these high-risk groups to enhance transfusion safety. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these associations and explore additional risk factors. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: was not applicable in the study.
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BMC+Infect+Dis 2025 ; 25 (1): 1699
