Several infectious diseases are transmitted by blood transfusion, especially viral infections. Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus are two examples of the most common blood-transmitted viruses. These viruses cause fatal, chronic and life-threatening disorders. The prevalence of these viruses varies by nationality and geography. The objectives of the study was to calculate the prevalence of both hepatitis B and C positive cases among blood donors at Qatif Central Hospital in the past 16 years and to detect any change in the trend of the prevalence of hepatitis B and C positive cases over the study period.
Methodology
The study was a descriptive retrospective study based on reviewing the available records of Blood Bank of Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif, Eastern Province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The available records of the blood bank between year 1993-2008 were reviewed and the first four months of each year were taken as a represented sample of that year. Data was entered to computer using EXCEL v2003, while data analysis was done by SPSS 15.
Results
Between years 1993-2008 there were 22,404 blood donors evolved in our study, 516(2.3%) were HBsAg positive and 297 (1.3%) were anti-HCV positive. By time the prevalence of HBsAg positive cases showed a gradual decrease from 4.4% in 1993 to 1.4% in 2008. Similarly the prevalence of anti-HCV positive cases showed a gradual decrease from 1.8% in 1993 to 0.5% 2008.
Conclusion
The study showed a major decline in the positivity rate of both diseases over the study period, which reflect a success of the preventive measures and strategies that the Saudi Ministry of Health has taken.