Prevalence of Transfusion‑Transmissible Infections and Unfitness Predictors among Blood Donors in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Blood has been utilised for medical and surgical indications but also remains a route for inadvertent transmission of infections.

Aim: This study assessed the prevalence of transfusion‑transmissible infections (TTIs) and unfitness predictors among donors in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional review of a-four years (2015–2019) of hospital records. Astructured pro  forma was used in collecting data from the hospital records. Analysis was done using SPSS version 21. The statistical significance level  was set at a P < 0.05.

Results: Mean age of donors was 30.1 ± 8.2 years and majority, 56.8%, were voluntary donors. The overall  prevalence of TTIs was 11.3% and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) (4.4%) was the most prevalent. Family donors have a significantly highest  proportion of hepatitis B surface antigen, 17 (9.9%), and human immunodeficiency virus, 5 (3.0%), with P < 0.001 and P < 0.046, respectively. Age below 26 years of age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.491; 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.249–1.781, P < 0.001), female donors (AOR = 1.358; 95% CI = 1.081–1.705, P = 0.008), being a family donor (AOR = 2.471, 95% CI = 1.851–3.297, P < 0.001), and voluntary  donor (AOR = 1.461; 95% CI = 1.267–1.707, P < 0.001) were predictive of unfitness to donate blood.

Conclusion: TTIs are common among  the donors and HBV remains the most prevalent. Family donors have a significantly higher risk of harboring the TTIs, compared with other donor types.

Recommendation: There is a need for thorough screening of blood donors for TTIs and unfitness by the hospital to  prevent inadvertent transfusion reaction in both the donor and the recipient.