Knowledge, attitude and seropositivity of hepatitis B virus among blood donors in the Bamenda Regional Hospital Blood Bank, Cameroon

Abstract

Background Despite the existence of a preventive vaccine against hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection, approximately 250 million people are infected with the virus worldwide. Considering the burden of this infection, this study aimed at evaluating the level of knowledge, attitude and seropositivity of the disease among apparently healthy, potential blood donors at the blood service of the Bamenda Regional Hospital Blood Bank. Methods A cross sectional study was carried out from March to May 2019 among 250 blood donors. Following screening for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using the One step HBsAg test strip, information on the level of knowledge and attitude towards the infection was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Responses were graded as adequate knowledge or positive attitude if a cumulative score of > 50% was attained. Data was analyzed using the software IBM SPSS version 21.0. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to assess relationships between selected factors and knowledge of Hepatitis B. p-value of 0.05 was considered as statistical significance. Results The seropositivity of HBV was 6.4%. Overall, 46.8% of the study participants had adequate knowledge while 76.3% had a positive attitude toward the disease. The highest seropositivity was observed in singles (7.1%), primary school leavers (14.3%), unskilled laborers (14.5%) and replacement donors (9.33%). The risk of being hepatitis B seropositive was higher in males as compared to females [OR: 3.1 (95% CI 0.7–14). Participants with previous blood donation history were more protected [OR:0.4 (95% CI 0.1–1.2), p = 0.130] compared to first time donors. Conclusion The prevalence of hepatitis B among blood donors in this blood service is in the high intermediate category. On the whole, the level of knowledge on this infection among these blood donors is average. These findings suggest that health education on HBV infection should be provided to the public as a major strategy to curb the infection.

HBs Antigen Seroprevalence of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay at the Essos Hospital Centre of Yaounde, Cameroon

“…According to marital status, HBsAg seroprevalence was five times higher in single blood donors (83.72%; n=36) vs. 6.28% (n=7) for donors living as a couple. Similar results were reported in Cameroon among blood donors from the Bamenda Regional Hospital Blood Bank, North West Region by [10] who showed that the prevalence of HBsAg was very high among single blood donors (81.25%; n=13) vs. 18.75% (n=3) for married blood donors. This result could be justified by the number of sexual partners considered as a mode of HBV contamination.…”

“…Gender seems to play a significant role in the infrequent practice of blood donation among women, which suggests that female participate less than male in blood donations. Several studies have reported low female participation in blood donation [10]- [15]. This low participation of female could be explained by physiological conditions such as anaemia, breastfeeding or pregnancy.…”

“…The prevalence of HBV in the general population and in blood donors varies from one geographical area to another using several techniques such as Rapid Diagnostics Tests (RDTs), ELISA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Several studies report the prevalence of HBs antigen to be as high as 6.4%, 8.89%, 10.1%, 10.1% and 10.8% using rapid immunochromatographic technique [10]- [14]. Meanwhile, the study of [7] observed a HBs antigen prevalence of 12.1% among blood donors in Central hospital using ELISA technique.…”

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) among Blood Donors from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

“…is finding is lower when compared to studies conducted in Ethiopia [28], Wolita [8], Jigjiga [29], two studies of Cameron [30,31], Mali [32], and Ghana [33] in which the seroprevalence of HBV was 7.4%, 10.1%, 9.48%, 11.2%, 6.4%, 14.78%, and 7.5%, respectively. However, this finding is higher than the study done in Lybia [34], Burundi [35], Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Countries [36], Iraq [7], Iran [37], three studies in India [38][39][40], Nepal [41], and Mexico [42] which were 0.21%, 1.04%, 2.03%, 0.78%, 0.137%, 2.12%, 2.2%, 0.58%, 0.49%, and 0.11%, respectively.…”

“…However, this finding is higher than the study done in Lybia [34], Burundi [35], Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Countries [36], Iraq [7], Iran [37], three studies in India [38][39][40], Nepal [41], and Mexico [42] which were 0.21%, 1.04%, 2.03%, 0.78%, 0.137%, 2.12%, 2.2%, 0.58%, 0.49%, and 0.11%, respectively. e possible explanation for the relatively higher or lower seropositivity in this study could be the differences in the epidemiology of HBV between different geographic areas, improvement in diagnostic technologies over the years with greater sensitivity and specificity, and the economic status of the country which leads to varying levels of hepatitis illness vulnerability [30].…”