Hepatitis C Virus prevalence among blood donors in Mampong Government Hospital

In Ghana it is estimated that between 1.3% and 8.4% between of the general population present anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. But there is no seroprevalence of the virus in most of our communities Based on that, this case study was used to estimate the seroprevalence of the virus among blood donors who report at the Mampong District Hospital. The objective of this case study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV among the blood donors and to estimate the seroprevalence among donors who have been transfused before. At the end of the study there was a seroprevalence of 6.7% among the donors and 8% among the 20% of the total donor’s population who have been transfused before
Sixty blood donors were used for this study and their consent were sorted whether they would want to be part. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data concerning marital status, occupation, history of donation, history of hepatitis in family, history of transfusion and history of intravenous drug use.
The seroprevalence of HCV among the blood donors was 6.7%. Most of the donors were males and they had the highest seroprevalence than the females. Majority of the donors were also between the ages of 17 and 30 but those recording HCV seropositives were between the ages of 17 and 35. Since there was a seroprevalence of 6.7% all blood to be transfused should be screened for the virus and all those with previous histories of transfusion might not be screened for the virus so they should go for the test to assist in its prevention.