{ "abstract": "Background: Blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention; however, transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis remain major public health concerns, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed the seroprevalence and temporal trends of TTIs among blood donors in the Volta Region of Ghana and to identify the demographic factors associated with seropositivity. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from blood donors at Ho Teaching Hospital and Hohoe Regional Hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. Data from 6,147 eligible donors were extracted and analyzed using STATA version 17. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence, while chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests assessed associations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with TTI seropositivity at a 5% significance level. Results: A total of 6,147 blood donors were included in the analysis, of whom 95.1% were male. The overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) was 8.1%, with syphilis (3.6%) being the most prevalent infection, followed by HBV (1.8%), HCV (1.8%), and HIV (1.0%). All infections peaked in 2022 before declining in 2023. Increasing age and year of donation were significantly associated with seropositivity for specific TTIs, particularly HBV, HCV, and syphilis. In Hohoe, male donors had significantly lower odds of HCV infection compared with female donors (aOR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.06–0.28). Conclusions: Although TTI prevalence was relatively low, temporal increases and age-related disparities highlight the need for strengthened donor screening, targeted recruitment of voluntary donors, and enhanced surveillance strategies to ensure blood safety.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Fred Newton Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Science, Ho, Ghana", "Ho Teaching Hospital Blood Bank, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana", "Volta Regional Hospital Blood Bank, Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 9, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Shadrack Ayanku" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Eyram Kuma Hanu" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Lois Akuba" }, { "name": "Caroline Tetteh" }, { "name": "Timothy Yao Akweh" }, { "name": "David Annor Kwasie" }, { "name": "Stephen Bekpenaneso Bawu" }, { "name": "Klutse Fianko" }, { "name": "Anthony Zunoo Dongdem" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9mqa1vj3k8nqk.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0349548", "fulltext_url": null, "id": "9mqa1vj3k8nqk", "issns": [ "1932-6203" ], "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349548", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "1405|Blood donation and transfusion practices" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Blood" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis B virus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis C virus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis B virus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis C virus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Blood" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Blood" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine/Clinical laboratory sciences/Transfusion medicine/Blood transfusion" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Blood donors" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Health care facilities/Blood banks" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Hematology/Transfusion medicine/Blood transfusion" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Bacterial diseases/Treponematoses/Syphilis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Sexually transmitted diseases/Syphilis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Tropical diseases/Neglected tropical diseases/Treponematoses/Syphilis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis B virus" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis C virus" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Urology/Genitourinary infections/Syphilis" ] ], "openalex": "W7220995082", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0349548&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-10-08", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9mqa1vj3k8nqk.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0349548", "source": "plos", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349548" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "biology", "origin": "plos:microbiology", "subfield": "microbiology" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:anatomy", "subfield": "physiology" } ], "title": "Seroprevalence and trends of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in the Volta Region, Ghana: A four-year retrospective study", "title_text": "Seroprevalence and trends of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in the Volta Region, Ghana: A four-year retrospective study", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9mqa1vj3k8nqk", "venue": "PLOS One", "versions": [] }