Abstract

HEPATITIS B AND C VIRAL INFECTIONS AMONG BLOOD DONORS AT BAHIR DAR, ETHIOPIA

Author(s):Abate Assefa, Biniam Mathewos, Abebe Alemu, Zelalem Addis, Meseret Alem, Mucheye Gizachew

Background: Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are the major public health problem world wide that affects billions of people. In the study area, there is lack of available information on this issue. Aims: the aim of the study was to assess seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among blood donors. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among blood donors attending Bahir Dar Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital. Five milliliters of blood samples were collected and screened with ELISA tests for detecting hepatitis B surface antigen and anti hepatitis C virus antibody. Chi-squared and fisher exact tests were used for the analytical assessment. Results: Out of 2384 blood donors examined, 108(4.5%) were seropositive for at least one of the two Hepatitis diseases markers of which five were co-infected. The prevalence of HBs Ag and anti-HVC was 4.11% and 0.63%, respectively. High seropositivity of HBV (8.3%) was noticed among >45 years old and HBV positivity were significantly higher among males (4.4%) than females (1.45%) (P =0.04). HCV prevalence was significantly higher in >45 years old (2.5%, p=0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV and HCV were high and the diseases were still major health problem in elderly people in the study area, which alerts public health intervention as soon as possible.

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