title: Prevalence and trends of hepatitis C virus among blood donors in Antananarivo, from 2003 to 2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Due to anemia and maternal, childhood and infancy diseases, blood transfusion is one of the most important medical cares given in sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar. World Health Organization encourages worldwide countries to maximize transfusion security. Until now, there was no data within a large population of blood donors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and time trends of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among all first-time blood donors coming into the National Centre of Transfusion Supply in Antananarivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was conducted at the National Centre of Transfusion Supply in Antananarivo from 2003 to May 2009. We looked up to all recorded results of systematic screening of blood donor candidates and we took data about all first-time blood donors, including age and gender. Forty-seven thousand five hundred and ten of 47,636 first-time blood donors were retained, the others were excluded due to lack of some data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of our donors was 33.3 years (35.8 for male, and 32.6 for female; P<<0.05). Eighty percent were male (38,225/47,510). HCV prevalence was 0.65% during the period of study and HCV positive donor candidates were older than HCV negative (mean age: 39.1 vs. 33.2; P<<0.05). It was in fact stable from 2003 to 2007, and then decreased. HCV prevalence was higher in women than in men (0.9 vs. 0.6; P<0.05), and it increased by age (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study found a low prevalence of HCV among blood donors compared to many countries in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, University Centre Hospital of Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. zrandriamanantany@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Randriamanantany
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rajaonatahina
authors.forename: F É
authors.initials: FÉ
authors.lastname: Razafimanantsoa
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rasamindrakotroka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andriamahenina
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Rasoarilalaomanarivo
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hanitriniala
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Herisoa
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Rakoto-Alson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasamindrakotroka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058731:Blood Safety; D046148:Donor Selection; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic