Prevalence and Factors Associated With Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection among Blood Donors in Kenyan Coastal Region

Abstract

Studies on blood transfusion has shown that transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) have heralded a new era in blood transfusion practices worldwide. The blood transfusion practice emphasizes on safety and protection of human life. Infection with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can also be acquired through blood transfusion. The infections are global public health problem and remains to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa and Asia, in which about 2–4 million people infected with HIV have chronic HBV co-infection Worldwide, HBV accounts for about 370 million chronic infections according to the WHO, and there are approximately 50 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Africa, with a 25% mortality risk. HBV/HIV co infection leads to increased morbidity and mortality as compared to HIV or HBV mono-infections. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study whose objective was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with HIV- HBV co-infections among blood donors in the Kenyan Coastal region. The study employed consecutive sampling technique, participants were selected as they presented themselves for blood donation. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed for descriptive statistics using SPSS version 22 and Microsoft excel 2013. X2 and Fischer Exact used to test for associations at 95% confidence. Four hundred and twenty respondents participated in the study, of which 71% (298) were male and 29% (122) female. The respondents were drawn from Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Taita Taveta and Lamu counties, age between 16years and 65years. The prevalence for HBV and HIV were 3.1% and 1.43% respectively and prevalence of 0.5% for HIV-HBV co-infection among the blood donors. Prevalence of Co-infection among the HIV infected participants was found to be 33%. Factors associated with HBV- HIV co-infection were marital status and occupation (p< 0.05). The study results showed the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HBV- HBV co-infection as 1.4%, 3.1% and 0.5% respectively, however, on the factors observed, age, sex, marital status, occupation and geographical area, the study showed no significant factors associated with Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency Virus co-infection among blood donors in the Kenyan coastal region The results of this study emphasizes the need for extended screening of blood donated for transfusion and also suggests the need for a larger study to address challenges of blood safety.