title: Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis, hepatitis B and C in blood donations in Namibia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are infections which are common in some communities in Southern Africa. It is important to screen blood donations for these infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study which involved reviewing of previous blood donation records for the year 2012 in Namibia. The records were analyzed to determine the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis B and C among blood donations with regard to gender, age and geographical region of the donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings indicated a significantly low prevalence of HIV, syphilis, HBsAg and anti-Hepatitis C among the blood donations. A low infection rate of 1.3% by any of the four tested TTIs was found among the blood donations given by the donor population in Namibia in 2012.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blood donations given by the donor population in Namibia has a low infection rate with the HIV, syphilis, HBsAg and anti-HCV. A strict screening regime must continue to be used as the infections are still present albeit in small numbers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, School of Health and Applied Sciences, Polytechnic of Namibia, Private Bag 13388, Windhoek, Namibia. rmavenyengwa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rooyen T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mavenyengwa
authors.forename: Munyaradzi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukesi
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chipare
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shoombe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult