Frequency of seropositive blood donors for hepatitis B, C and HIV viruses in al-Dhale Governorate, Yemen

Abstract EN

Background : In recent years there have been increased public health concerns regarding the safety of blood transfusion with respect to transfusion-associated infections, mainly hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Objectives : The study was aimed to reveal the seropositive of HBV, HCV and HIV among healthy blood donors, in Al-Dhalae governorate, Yemen.

Materials and Methods : A total of 2442 records of healthy blood donors available in four health centers in Al-Dhalae governorate, whom donated blood from January 2007 to December 2008, were reviewed retrospectively.

They were from the various districts in the governorate and of different age groups.

According to the rules in the health services all donors were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C Antibody (Anti-HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus Antibody (Anti-HIV(.

Results : 122 blood donors 5.0 % (95 % CI=4.2-6.0 %) were seropositive of HBsAg, 25 blood donors 1.0 % (95 % CI=0.7-1.5 %) were positive for HCV and no one was positive for HIV.

Conclusions : On the basis of this study, we concluded that the proportion of seropositive HBV and HCV among the blood donors in Al-Dhalae governorate, were at the same range compared to other studies reported recently from Yemen.

Additional prospective studies will be required to determine the importance of hepatitis B and C in this country.

AIDS is a major public health problem world wide but it is still not common in Al-Dhalae governorate.