Seropositivity of Hepatitis B and C in Blood Donors at CMH Lahore, Pakistan

Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry; Javed Rafique Malik; Muhammad Zeeshan Ashraf

doi:10.29054/apmc/2013.412

Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry Head of Community Medicine CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore
Javed Rafique Malik Consultant Surgery Department of General Surgery, Khamis General Hospital, Khamis Mushayat, Aseer Region, KSA
Muhammad Zeeshan Ashraf Demonstrator Department of Community Medicine CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29054/apmc/2013.412

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, blood donors

Abstract

Background: There is high prevalence of Hepatitis B and C infections in Pakistan; especially Hepatitis C has adopted the shape of epidemic. Due to their mode of transmission through blood and blood products, it has made the provision of safe blood difficult and the screening of blood absolutely necessary. Objective: To find out the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus among the healthy blood donors at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore, Pakistan. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Blood Bank of CMH Lahore Laboratory from 1^st January 2011 to 31^st April 2011. All healthy blood donors (n = 2155) reporting to blood bank during the above mentioned period were screened for Hepatitis B and C. Written records of blood bank of CMH Lahore laboratory were reviewed. Study Performa was designed for collection of data. Data was entered and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: Total number of 2155 donors was screened. Out of these, 2041(92.7%) were males and 114(5.3%) were females. The results of the study showed higher prevalence of Hepatitis C in the blood donors constituting 77 (3.6%) donors. Out of 2155 donors, 21 (1.3%) were positive for Hepatitis B. Age group of 34-41 was most affected in both Hepatitis B and C positive blood donors. Conclusions: Prevalence of Hepatitis C is clearly on the rise. To control its further spread, public awareness programs and health education programs and proper selection of healthy blood donors, proper screening and discouraging professional donors should be done. Policy message: Media should be used by National Hepatitis Control Programme of Pakistan to educate the public about hazards of unscreened blood transfusion. Blood screening for Hepatitis B and C infections should be made mandatory at all blood banks.