Abstract / Summary
Background: Blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention; however, transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis remain major public health concerns, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed the seroprevalence and temporal trends of TTIs among blood donors in the Volta Region of Ghana and to identify the demographic factors associated with seropositivity.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from blood donors at Ho Teaching Hospital and Hohoe Regional Hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. Data from 6,147 eligible donors were extracted and analyzed using STATA version 17. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence, while chi-square or Fisher's exact tests assessed associations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with TTI seropositivity at a 5% significance level.
Results: A total of 6,147 blood donors were included in the analysis, of whom 95.1% were male. The overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) was 8.1%, with syphilis (3.6%) being the most prevalent infection, followed by HBV (1.8%), HCV (1.8%), and HIV (1.0%). All infections peaked in 2022 before declining in 2023. Increasing age and year of donation were significantly associated with seropositivity for specific TTIs, particularly HBV, HCV, and syphilis. In Hohoe, male donors had significantly lower odds of HCV infection compared with female donors (aOR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.06-0.28).
Conclusions: Although TTI prevalence was relatively low, temporal increases and age-related disparities highlight the need for strengthened donor screening, targeted recruitment of voluntary donors, and enhanced surveillance strategies to ensure blood safety.