TITLE:
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) among Voluntary Healthy Blood Donors at Tellewonyan Memorial Hospital Voinjama, Lofa County, Liberia
AUTHORS:
Ezekiel Kanue Fardolo, Emmanuel Timothy Cooper, Caroline Nyawira Wahome, Jean K. Kaly, Junior S. Puiyoe
KEYWORDS:
Liberia, Blood Donors, Seropositivity, HBV Infection, Blood Transfusion, Lofa
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.9 No.8,
August
23,
2021
ABSTRACT: Background: The prevalence of transfusion associated hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection differs across different population geographically. Ascertaining the seroprevalence of HBV infection is vital to informing the way of precautionary and control strategies. This study sought to establish the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBVsAg) among blood donors in Yelewonyan Memorial Hospital Lofa, Liberia. Methods: This was a retrospective study which involved reviewing of blood donation records for the year 2020 at Telewonyan Memorial Hospital in Lofa County. The data obtained from the records were analyzed. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 12 for windows. Results: A total of 584 voluntary blood donors were screened for donation in 2020. Out of 584, 554 (95.9%) were males while the rest were females. Prevalence of 3.3% was observed among blood donors in Telewonyan Memorial Hospital. There is a significant difference between gender and age with HBV seropositivity among blood donors. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the study site is of low endemicity with HBV infection. Usually, males are more probably to be HBVsAg seropositive than their female’s counterpart. Planning more extensive study and educational programs would help minimize the spread of HBV infection among the general population.