The Incidence of Viral Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Infections and Associated Risk Factors among Blood Donors in Amran Governorate, Yemen

Abstract

Background: Viral Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are a serious health problem and can cause acute and chronic infections, importantly, the safety of blood donors depends the proper selection of blood components, which should be screen by sensitive tests to exclude the transmission of these viral infections. Aims of the study: The present study had been performed to detect the incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and Hepatitis C antibody (Anti-HCV) infections among blood donors and explore the most risk factors, which attending to Amran general hospital, Amran city, Yemen. Method: A cross- sectional study carried out with Nine hundred and fifty-three (953) blood donors, [942 (98.9%)] were males and [11 (1.1%)] were females. Serum samples collected and detected for HBs Ag and Anti-HCV using available immune-chromatographic technique (ICT) or Cassette tests and confirmed by Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Result: Out of 953, [61 (6.4%)] of the blood donors were HBs Ag positive and [6 (0.63%)] were anti-HCV positive, then all serum samples were confirmed by ELISA which indicated that [57 (5.98%)] of blood donors were HBs Ag positive, while [4 (0.42%)] were anti-HCV positive. Most of HBV and HCV infections were come from rural region [(HBs Ag were 57.38%, Anti-HCV were 66.67%)], while in urban [ (HBs Ag were 42.62% and Anti –HCV  were 33.33%)]. Our finding showed that blood transfusion, parenteral injury, cupping, family history of jaundice, visit of dentists and surgery are the most potential risk factors. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the incidence of HBV and HCV infection among blood donors was faced the multi-transfused of blood donation in Amran governorate, Yemen and the detection of viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections by the most accuracy test such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is very important.