Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Among Blood Donors in Jos - Nigeria

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is found in pandemic proportions globally (Osmond and Dennis, 1994). HIV is a scourge, progressing and causing devastation to lives and the healthcare system worldwide (Carpenter et al, 2000). HIV accounted for 38.6 million infections worldwide at the end of 2005. As at 2003, there were about 5.0 million people infected with HIV in Nigeria, giving a national prevalence rate of 5.0% (Federal Ministry of Health, 2004). Infection with HIV occurs through the transfer of infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preejaculate, or breast milk. The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated blood transfusion, breast milk, transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth (vertical transmission) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV). Millions of lives are saved each year through blood transfusion. Nonetheless people have a risk of becoming infected with HIV through transfusion of infected blood and blood products. Transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections can occur during transfusion of blood components (ie, whole blood, packed red cells, fresh-frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and platelets) derived from the blood of an infected individual (Donegan et al, 1994). Depending on the production process used, blood products derived from pooled plasma can also transmit HIV and other viruses, but recombinant clotting factors cannot (Berkman et al, 2000) This chapter discusses the transmission of HIV through blood products; prevalence; risk of acquisition through blood transfusion, the current estimated safety of blood components and control measures.