PREVALENCE OF HIV AND HEPATITIS B VIRUS AMONG BLOOD DONORS AT THE BUEA REGIONAL HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT
Infections transmitted through blood transfusions are the most important issue associated with blood donation. The aim of this study was to dertermine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the coinfection among blood donors at the Buea Regional Hospital. This study was cross sectional hospital based, carried out within the period of December 2020 to April 2021, 104 participants were involved in this study. The result showed that the prevalence of HBV was 5.8% and the highest prevalence was seen in males 6(100%) and in the age group 28-37 yrs 50%. HIV prevalence was 1.9% with all males (100%) been infected and participants of the age group 28-37 yrs had a prevalence of 50% been the most prevalent among age groups. The prevalene of coinfection of HBV and HIV was 0.0%, though some of these donors had HBV (5.8%) and 1.9% having HIV, but none was co-infected. It was recommended that more efforts should be put towards public health campaigns like health talks, vaccination programs, public free testing and counselling by both private entities and the government in other to achieve an even greater positive effect.