Abstract
Background: The transmission of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) remains a concern in Ghana. This study sought to determine the seroprevalence of TTI and associated factors among blood donors in Ashaiman Polyclinic.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was employed using secondary data from Ashaiman Polyclinic Blood Bank records from January 2020 to December 2022. The data were analyzed using STATA software version 17 (STATA Corporation Inc. Colorado, United States).
Results: A 10.1% seroprevalence of TTIs was found among blood donors. The results showed a decrease in the TTI seroprevalence from 11.7% in 2020 to 9.6% in 2021 and 9.2% in 2022. The prevalence rates were 4.9% for HBsAg, 1.5% for HCV, and 4.0% for syphilis. Female donors were more likely (AOR = 3.47 [95% CI = 1.41 – 8.54], p < 0.01) to be diagnosed with syphilis. Blood donors > 51 years were also more likely (AOR =20.20 [95% CI = 0.80 - 48.97]) to be diagnosed with hepatitis B than donors < 20 years. There were 90.0% lower odds of having a hepatitis C diagnosis among blood donors with a tertiary education than among those with a primary education (AOR = 0.10 [95% CI = 0.02 - 0.46], p <0.01).
Conclusion: Blood donor age, sex, and education level were significant predictors of TTIs.