Seroprevalence and determinants of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors at a municipality in Ghana: a three-year retrospective study
- 1Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon Accra, Accra Ghana
- 2Department of Public Health, Elon University, Elon, NC USA
Abstract
Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Syphilis, remain major threats to blood safety in Ghana, with reported prevalence ranging from approximately 5% to 21% among blood donors. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and determinants of TTIs among blood donors at Ashaiman Municipal Hospital.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using blood donor records from January 2020 to December 2022. Variables extracted included age, sex, occupation, educational level, residence, donor type, and serological results for Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Syphilis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize donor characteristics and infection prevalence. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with seropositivity.
Results: The overall seroprevalence of TTIs was 10.1%, comprising HBV at 4.9%, Syphilis at 4.0% and HCV at 1.5%. Donors aged 31–40 years had significantly higher odds of HBV seropositivity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.57–4.92; p < 0.001) compared to those aged ≤ 30 years. Self-employed donors had significantly lower odds of HBV seropositivity (aOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.10–0.47; p < 0.001). Female donors were more likely to test positive for Syphilis (aOR = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.36–7.81; p = 0.008), and donors with secondary (aOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.15–0.53; p < 0.001), and tertiary education (aOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.08–0.42; p < 0.001) had reduced odds of Syphilis positivity. Blood donors with tertiary education had reduced odds of HCV seropositivity (aOR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–0.51; p = 0.005), as well as self-employed donors (aOR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.06–0.67; p = 0.010). The determinants of overall TTIs, showed that blood donors aged 31–40 years had higher odds of seropositivity compared to those aged ≤ 30 years (aOR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.22–2.65; p = 0.003) while donors with secondary (aOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43–0.96; p = 0.030) and tertiary education (aOR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.05–0.19; p < 0.001) reported lower odds of TTI seropositivity. Self-employed donors also had lower odds of overall TTIs (aOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.22–0.70; p = 0.002).
Conclusions: TTIs remain an important blood safety concern in this setting, with HBV and Syphilis accounting for most infections. Sociodemographic characteristics, particularly age, sex, education, and employment status, were associated with seropositivity, highlighting the need for targeted donor education, enhanced screening, and strengthened blood safety surveillance.
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BibTeX
@article{sosu2026seroprevalence,
title = {{Seroprevalence and determinants of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors at a municipality in Ghana: a three-year retrospective study}},
author = {Solomon Quarshie Sosu and Sandra A. Darfour-Oduro},
journal = {BMC Infectious Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12879-026-14097-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14097-6},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Seroprevalence and determinants of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors at a municipality in Ghana: a three-year retrospective study
AU - Solomon Quarshie Sosu
AU - Sandra A. Darfour-Oduro
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/30
JO - BMC Infectious Diseases
DO - 10.1186/s12879-026-14097-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14097-6
AB - Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Syphilis, remain major threats to blood safety in Ghana, with reported prevalence ranging from approximately 5% to 21% among blood donors. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and determinants of TTIs among blood donors at Ashaiman Municipal Hospital. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using blood donor records from January 2020 to December 2022. Variables extracted included age, sex, occupation, educational level, residence, donor type, and serological results for Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Syphilis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize donor characteristics and infection prevalence. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with seropositivity. Results: The overall seroprevalence of TTIs was 10.1%, comprising HBV at 4.9%, Syphilis at 4.0% and HCV at 1.5%. Donors aged 31–40 years had significantly higher odds of HBV seropositivity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.57–4.92; p < 0.001) compared to those aged ≤ 30 years. Self-employed donors had significantly lower odds of HBV seropositivity (aOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.10–0.47; p < 0.001). Female donors were more likely to test positive for Syphilis (aOR = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.36–7.81; p = 0.008), and donors with secondary (aOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.15–0.53; p < 0.001), and tertiary education (aOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.08–0.42; p < 0.001) had reduced odds of Syphilis positivity. Blood donors with tertiary education had reduced odds of HCV seropositivity (aOR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–0.51; p = 0.005), as well as self-employed donors (aOR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.06–0.67; p = 0.010). The determinants of overall TTIs, showed that blood donors aged 31–40 years had higher odds of seropositivity compared to those aged ≤ 30 years (aOR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.22–2.65; p = 0.003) while donors with secondary (aOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43–0.96; p = 0.030) and tertiary education (aOR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.05–0.19; p < 0.001) reported lower odds of TTI seropositivity. Self-employed donors also had lower odds of overall TTIs (aOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.22–0.70; p = 0.002). Conclusions: TTIs remain an important blood safety concern in this setting, with HBV and Syphilis accounting for most infections. Sociodemographic characteristics, particularly age, sex, education, and employment status, were associated with seropositivity, highlighting the need for targeted donor education, enhanced screening, and strengthened blood safety surveillance.
SN - 1471-2334
ER -