The Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in healthy blood donors in health care facilities in Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are the viral infections that affect the liver along with other hepatic viruses. Both of these viruses can cause both acute and chronic disease. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections among healthy blood donors in health care facilities in Peshawar.

Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among healthy male   blood donors in health care facilities in Peshawar.

Material and Methods: Over a period of three months from March 2020 to May 2020 a total of 300 units blood record were collected from health care facilities in Peshawar. The donated units were serologically screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). These data were then analyzed.

Results: Our study show seroprevalence of HBV 3.7% and seroprevalence of HCV 1.7% among blood donors at health care facilities in Peshawar. Among the positive cases the highest prevalence was among age group 18-25 years (0.6%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C among donors in health care facilities in Peshawar is comparable with previous studies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern Ethiopia and Kenya. Education and immunization should be initiated to target the high-risk groups. Furthermore, a community-based study is recommended to study the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in the population.

Keywords-Hepatitis, Blood donors, Health facilities, Transfusion transmitted infection