The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis in the South-West Region of Turkey

Abstract

Objektive: There is no certain data regarding the prevalence of hepatitis in the South-West part of our country. As based on province of Mugla, the blood donors admitted to the blood center, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis seroprevalence, the sociodemographic characteristics of the positive cases and the blood-making situations and the relationships between them were examined in this study. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive blood donors' records covering the period between January 2009 and January 2010 was conducted at the governance of Ministry of Health-Mugla University Teaching Hospital. Blood samples (about 10 mL) from 7289 donors were tested for antibodies against HCV and HIV, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and syphilis. The data was evaluated by SPSS 15.0 package program. Data collected by counting were analysed using Chi-Square test and Logistic regression, P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: 96.7% of the donors were male, half of the donors (50.5%) were at the age of 34 and under, 34.6% of them were primary school graduates, 66.2% of the group were married and 74.6% of them were living in the tourism zone. 36.2% of donors' blood group were A Rh+ and 70.4% of the donors donated blood for their relatives. HBsAg was positive 0.6% of donors, anti-HCV was 0.4% of donors and syphilis seropositive was detected on 0.2% of donors. Anti-HIV 1/2 seropositivity has not been found on any of the donor blood. While HBsAg seropositiveness was found significantly higher (P = 0.028) in males, anti-HCV was significantly higher (P = 0.011) in residents who were living in the tourism zone. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of hepatitis B, anti-HIV and syphilis was found to be within the range of national averages, and lower than international averages. The seroprevalence of hepatitis C was found to be within the average ranges both nationally and internationally. The most significant findings of this study were that the composition of most of the detected hepatitis C cases were by donors in the tourism area, and the discovery of a meaningful relationship between gender and hepatitis B and syphilis.