Hepatitis C Virus in Potential Blood Donors in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Afolabi A.Y.*¹, Abraham A.², Oladipo E.K.¹, Fagbami A.H.¹

¹Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

²Department of Haematology, Blood Bank Unit, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author’s E-mail: yettykay@yahoo.com

Accepted 08 October, 2012

Abstract

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is one of the agents of transmissible transfusion infection (TTI) and causes threat to blood safety for recipients. Blood transfusion is one of the pathway in which HCV is being transmitted. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HCV among potential blood donors at Blood Bank of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria. Over a period of 6 month (February – July, 2010) 507 consenting potential blood donors, were tested for anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies using a convenient sampling technique. Pre-test counselling sessions was done, before validated questionnaire was administered, for data collection and laboratory serological test was done. The mean age of the respondents was 32.7 ± 9.2 years. A total of 7(1.4%) were positive for anti-HCV. HCV prevalence was highest among age group of 26 – 35 which is 4 (2.1%), females 2 (2.5%), students 3 (2.7%), tertiary level of education 4 (2.0%) and unmarried, 4 (2.1%).The rates were lower than the previous studies in Nigeria perhaps this is due to the public enlightment on transmissible transfusion infections.

Keywords: HCV, Blood donors, UCH, Ibadan, TTI