Abstract:
Background: Blood transfusion is a potentially life-saving procedure and plays a pivotal role in
the management of hemorrhage and other hematological disorders. But unsafe transfusion
practices, which can be life-threatening, can put millions of people at risk of transfusion
transmissible infections (TTIs). The existing understanding of TTIs seroprevalence and associated
risk factors among blood donors in the Bale zone community, southeastern Ethiopia, is limited,
impeding the development of targeted interventions to improve blood safety. The findings of this
study will have the potential to directly influence blood safety.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of TTIs and identify associated
factors among blood donors at Goba Blood Bank in Southeast Ethiopia, 2024.
Method: From May to June 2024, a facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Goba
Blood Bank, involving 510 blood donors selected through systematic random sampling. Serum
specimens were screened for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis using enhanced chemiluminescent
microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) technology. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 with
descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify factors
associated with the outcomes. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.
Result: A total of 510 blood donors participated in this study producing an overall prevalence of
TTI was 10.2%. HBV, Syphilis, HIV, and HCV prevalence was 6.1%, 1.8%, 1.4%, and 1.2%,
respectively. HBV-HCV co-infection was 0.2%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis,
multiple sexual partners (AOR=5.6, 95% CI: 2.74, 11.37), education level (AOR=0.05; 95% CI:
0.003, 0.758), alcohol consumption (AOR=2.5; 95% CI: 1.23, 5.21), khat chewing (AOR=4.3;
95% CI: 1.21, 15.12), knowledge about STIs (AOR=0.2; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.46), tooth extraction
(AOR=2.1; 95% CI: 1.02, 4.16), and communal use of sharp materials (AOR=5.0; 95% CI: 1.23,
20.77) were significantly associated with higher risk of TTIs. TTI risk was influenced by a
combination of strong behavioral and clinical factors, with higher education and STI knowledge
showing a protective effect.
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of TTIs among blood donors in this study was relatively high
with some significantly associated risk factors, which indicates a significant risk of transmission.
Therefore, emphasizing the need for multifaceted prevention strategies, implementing stricter
donor selection criteria and enhanced screening procedures is essential to improve blood safety.
