FREQUENCY OF HBV, HCV, HIV AND SYPHILIS IN BLOOD DONORS AT BLOOD BANK IN BAHAWAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL, BAHAWALPUR

Introduction:Blood transfusion is a potentially important source of the transmission of blood-borne infections such as HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis. Data from screening may serve as an important source of information about frequency of various infectious pathogens in blood donor population and to some extent in the general population. Objective:The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis in blood donors at blood bank in Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Methods:It is a Cross sectional descriptive study. Study was started in May 2018 and completed in June 2018. The setting of the study was blood bank of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. A sample of 100 people was taken. Non probability convenient sampling. The information was collected through a preformed questionnaire. The information regarding results of the screening tests of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis of blood donors performed at the time of donation was collected from the previous record. Data was analyzed manually. All results were presented in the form of tables and graphs. Results:The 17% of the blood donors at blood bank of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur were found to be infective, among these the frequency of HBV, HCV, HIV and Syphilis was 5%, 8%, 0% and 4% respectively. Conclusion:Sharing of scissors, shaving from barber and I/V drug using practices/reuse of syringes were surprisingly frequent among people, which had top-listed the risk factors for hepatitis and AIDS. The most frequent infection among blood donors was HCV 8%, followed by HBV 5% and Syphilis 4%. The results seek an urgency to create awareness among people regarding these risk factors.