Prevalence of Hepatitis-B Surface Antigen (HbsAg), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Blood Donors in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was determined among apparently healthy male blood donors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, between January and December, 2002. A total of 2,288 blood samples from the blood donors were screened for HBsAg, HCV and HIV, by haemagglutination method, double antigen sandwich immunoassay and ELISA respectively. The overall prevalence rates of HBsAg, HCV and HIV were found to be 10.7%. 0.4% and 3.8% respectively. The prevalence rate of HBsAg was found to be higher than that of HCV and HIV despite similar modes of transmission. Environmental and socio-economic factors such as poor sanitation have been found to also play a role in transmission of HBsAg. The results from this study have shown gradual increase in prevalence rate of HIV infection, high prevalence of HBsAg but very low prevalence of antibody to HCV. In order to reduce post-transfusion hepatitis and AIDS through blood transfusion, we suggest the need for proper screening of every pint of blood for evidence of contamination with these viruses.

Key words: HBsAg, HVC, HIV, prevalence rates, Nigeria

Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol.12(1) 2003: 59-63