Abstract:
Background: Globally, more than 112.5 million units of blood are collected every year from the
voluntary unpaid, family, replacement and paid donors which save millions of lives each year.
Each transfusion might have risk of transfusion transmissible blood-borne pathogens like Human
Immuno Deficiency Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatitis B Virus and syphilis. However, there is
limited information with regard to the burden of major transfusion-transmitted infections and their
associated factors in study area.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of transfusion-transmissible
infections and associated factor among blood donors at Nekemte blood bank, Western Ethiopia
from February 10th to March 10th 2018.
Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among 280 blood donors, at Nekemte blood bank
Service. Socio demographic factor, behavioral factors and clinical factors about the donors were
obtained by interview using a structured questionnaire. The blood was tested for HIV, HCV, HBV
and syphilis using enzyme linked immune sorbent assay method and participant data were
analyzed using the Program for Social Science version 20. Bivariate and multivariate Logistic
regression analysis was used to analyses the data and identify the association.
Result: The overall magnitude of transfusion transmitted infection in this study was 7.1%
(20/280). The sero prevalence of HBV, HCV and syphilis was 3.9% (11), 1.4% (4) and 1.8 % (5)
respectively while HIV was not detected and also no co infection. Age 25-34 years (AOR = 4.993;
95%CI: 1.400, 17.807), those who drink alcohol (AOR = 4.059; 95%CI: 1.254-13.138) and had
multiple sexual partners (AOR= 4.938; 95%CI 1.466-16.631) found associated with transfusion
transmitted infections
Conclusion: The present study shows similar magnitude of transfusion transmitted infections
(TTIs) compared to the recent study done in Ethiopia. The predominant TTI magnitude seen in
this study was HBV. In this study age group 25-34, alcohol consumption and multiple sexual
partners were among factors associated to transfusion transmitted infections. Health information
dissemination and creating awareness for blood donors how to prevent transmission of TTI is very
important.
