Prevalence of Hepatitis B among Voluntary Blood Donors in the Industrial Zone of Western Maharashtra

Abstract

Around a million deaths are caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection worldwide. Almost more than 257 million people live with chronic Hepatitis B infection all around the world ending up with hepatocellular carcinoma. This has become a major concern of public health nowadays. The present study was aimed to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection among voluntary healthy blood donors in the industrial zone of Western Maharashtra. A total of 5000 donors fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study and was accepted for blood donation during the study period of May 2019 to October 2020. The blood samples were tested for Hepatitis B surface Antigen as well as other Transfusion Transmitted Infections. Out of 5000 donors, the prevalence of HBsAg positive donors in our study was 0.62%. The HBsAg positivity rate was higher among the males (0.7%) as well as among the age group of 56 to 60 yrs (1.5%). It was concluded from the present study that the prevalence of Hepatitis B is showing a decreasing trend among voluntary blood donors when compared to similar studies. Education and awareness about blood borne infections, mass immunizations, encouragement of voluntary blood donations and vigorous screening of donors help to achieve reduction in the load of Hepatitis B and prevention of transfusion transmitted infection.