Hepatitis B and C infection in first-time blood donors in Karachi--a possible subgroup for sentinel surveillance.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C virus (HCV) are major public health concerns in Pakistan. We conducted a baseline analysis of first-time replacement blood donors at the blood bank of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in the year 2000 with the view to developing low-cost sentinel surveillance for these infections. Among 7325 such donors, 264 (3.6%) were positive for anti-HCV and 344 (4.7%) for HBsAg. HCV seroprevalence was significantly positively associated with age and lower education. Those speaking Sindhi or other minor languages had a significantly higher prevalence of HBV infection. Blood bank data could provide reliable information to monitor trends in prevalence of these infections.
Abdul Mujeeb
S
S
AIDS Surveillance Centre, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan. smujeeb@super.net.pkl
Nanan
D
D
Sabir
S
S
Altaf
A
A
Kadir
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010154:Pakistan; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies