All blood banks obtain blood from three sets of donors: voluntary blood donors, family replacement blood donors; and commercial blood donors

All blood banks obtain blood from three sets of donors: voluntary blood donors, family replacement blood donors; and commercial blood donors. blood donors were tested with rapid diagnostic tests-HBsAg for HBV, anti-HCV antibody for HCV, antibodies HIV1&2 for HIV and TPHA for syphilis. Results There were 16807 blood samples analysed, with 80% from males; 2285 (13.6%) tested positive for at least one of the four pathogens. Overall prevalence was: 9.7% hepatitis B; 1.0% hepatitis C; 2.8% HIV; 0.8% syphilis. Prevalence was higher among samples from rural blood banks, the difference most marked for hepatitis C. The proportion of voluntary donors was 12%. Family replacement donors had a higher prevalence of hepatitis B, C and HIV than volunteers. Conclusion A high prevalence of blood-borne pathogens, particularly hepatitis B, was revealed in Sierra Leone blood donors. The study suggests the country should implement the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B and push to recruit more volunteer, non-remunerated blood donors. strong class=”kwd-title” Keywords: HBV, HCV, HIV, syphilis, rural, urban, Sierra Leone, blood donors Introduction Blood transfusions save lives and improve health but in low income countries, particularly in Africa, many patients requiring blood are faced with two crucial blood transfusion-related issues–blood shortages and unsafe blood [1]. In the World Health Organization (WHO) African blood safety and availability status survey reports, not much improvement was seen in many countries. A 2010 report showed the average annual blood donation rate as 4.3 units per 1000 population with a range from 0.2 per 1000 in Nigeria to 33.8 per 1000 in Mauritius. In 2013 the values were an average of 4.7 units per 1000 population with a range from 0.7 per 1000 in Nigeria to 39.9 per 1000 in Mauritius. In the same reports, Sierra Leone recorded 5.2 and 7.1 units per 1000 population for 2010 and 2013 respectively [2, 3]. This is very low compared to high-income countries whose mean donation rate is usually 36.4 donations per 1000 population with a range from 13.3-64.6 [4]. Many studies Darunavir Ethanolate (Prezista) have shown a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis among blood donors in West African countries [5-10]. These infectious Rabbit Polyclonal to PDZD2 brokers are serious threats to blood safety for the recipients and pose a public health problem. In 2001, the WHO African region adopted a strategy (document AFR/RC51/9) that aimed at improving blood transfusion safety and bridging the gap between blood needs and blood availability in health services. Its objectives were to recruit more low-risk Darunavir Ethanolate (Prezista) donors to improve the safety of blood and blood products and to promote their appropriate use by clinicians. The strategy had defined targets: 100% of blood units transfused were to be screened Darunavir Ethanolate (Prezista) for HIV and other blood-borne infections; and at least 80% of all donations were to be by volunteer, non-renumerated blood donors (VNRBD) [11]. In 2010 2010, the WHO Africa Blood Safety Status Survey reported that out of 43 countries: 19 had attained 80-100% VNRBD status, seven had reached Darunavir Ethanolate (Prezista) 50-79% and 17 were 50%. Similarly, in a 2013 report where 46 countries were surveyed, 22 had attained 80-100% VNRBD status, two reached 50-79%, and 22 were 50%. In the same reports, Sierra Leone attained 9.7% and 10% VNRBDs, 5.2 and 7.1 donations per 1000 population in 2010 and 2013 respectively [2,3]. However, Sierra Leone did screen donors for all the recommended pathogens, including HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis. Blood remains a key therapeutic product in the clinical management of maternity and paediatric patients in Sierra Leone but often the demand is usually greater than the supply. The demand seems to be greater in the rural areas where malaria prevalence is usually higher and there are delays for referral of both.

---