ABSTRACT
Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C are among the greatest threats to blood safety for transfusion recipients and pose a serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological aspects of hepatitis B and C in Kazakhstani donor's blood over the period 2000-2011
Methods: The data were obtained from the annual reports of the Republican Blood Center. The retrospective study was conducted from 2000 to 2011
Results: Over the study period in the republic a growth of volumes of procured blood from 312.4 to 398.0 units was noted, in total equaled to 4,277.8 units. The proportion of blood wasted increased from 8.3% to 8.7%. In the dynamics the proportion of viral hepatitis among all causes of blood wasted decreased from 29% to 15.5% [HBV] and from 33.5% to 9.9% [HCV]. The proportion of HBV and HCV in whole blood decreased considerably, in plasma and red cell concentrate the rates changed slightly. The average annual prevalence of HBV and HCV were 2.1% and 1.8%, respectively
Conclusion: Despite the reduction of viral hepatitis rates among blood donors in Kazakhstan the prevalence still remains high. The HBV prevalence is higher compared to HCV, which needs further investigations in the general population to address the issue
ABSTRACT
Each country faces a continuing challenge to collect enough blood to meet the national needs. According to WHO, there should be at least 20 blood donations per 1,000 population for developing countries, in Kazakhstan this indicator was only 16.8 in 2011. Thus, we conducted an epidemiological assessment and drew a map of the regional distribution of blood and plasma donations in Kazakhstan during the years 2000-2011. The retrospective study was conducted from 2000 to 2011. Data on blood and its components donations were acquired from the Ministry of Health [annual statistical reporting form No. 39]. During 2000-2011, number of blood donors decreased to 17.4% and blood donations to 6.3%. The proportion of non-remunerated blood donations and donors decreased from 97.6% to 77.9% and 97.9% to 87.7%, respectively. The paid donations had the opposite trend. Number of plasma donors increased in 2.1 times, plasma donations in 2.4 times, nevertheless the proportion of non-remunerated plasma donations decreased from 60.1% to 29.8%. The average number of blood donations per 1,000 population decreased from 19.8 [2000] to 16.8 [2011], plasma donations increased from 1.4 to 3.1. Regionally, annual average rates of blood and plasma donations per 1,000 population over 12 years varied greatly. This is the first study conducted in Kazakhstan to provide detailed information, including the regional characteristics of blood and plasma donations over an extended period of time, which can be used in blood transfusion services work