Seroprevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in the Hohoe Municipality Hospital, Ghana: 2015-2016: a retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study

Introduction: unsafe blood remains a major threat to the global spread of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). Blood is usually tested for four TTIs: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Syphilis before transfusion. This study determined the trends of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in the Hohoe Municipal Hospital, Ghana from 2015 to 2016. Methods: a total of 3,173 blood donor records were reviewed for the presence of anti-HIV 1/2 IgG/IgM, HBV, anti-HCV IgG/IgM, and anti-Treponema pallidum IgG/IgM/IgA, using commercial ELISA kits following standard protocols. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata version 14.0 at the level 0.05 Results: seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis were 3.9% 5.0%, 4.2% and 5.2% respectively. Females were 30% less likely to be infected with Syphilis (OR=0.3; 95% CI: (0.15-0.69); p=0.004); donors aged 20-29 years were 60% less likely to be infected with HIV than those less than 20 years (OR=0.6; 95% CI: (0.04-0.99); p=0.049), while those aged 30-39 years were 90% more likely to be infected with Syphilis than those less than 20 years (OR=1.9; 95% CI: (1.23-3.20) p=0.005) and those aged 40-49 years were 2 times more likely to get infected with HBV than those less than 20 years (OR=2.2; 95% CI: (1.17-4.04)); p=0.013). Conclusion: males presented higher prevalence of Syphilis and all TTIs were recorded highest among young adults. It is important to continue screening donated blood with highly sensitive tests and to sensitize young adults, especially females on the importance of blood donation

Demographic determinants of risky sexual behaviours among senior high school students in the Hohoe municipality, Ghana

Senior High School (SHS) students fall within the age group (15-24 years) hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Since about 90% of HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is through heterosexual intercourse, it is assumed that these students engage in risky sexual behaviours. Hohoe municipality has one of the highest HIV prevalence in Ghana (3.4%). The current study investigated the demographic determinants of risky sexual behaviours among senior high school students in the Hohoe municipality, Ghana.Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional design was employed in the study. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a multistage sample of 270 SHS students who consented to participate in January 2019. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using Stata version 14.0 software program at the 0.05 level of significance.Results: of 270 respondents, 112 (41.5%) were engaged in risky sexual behaviours. Single students were 82% less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours than their married counterparts (p=0.032) and muslims were 89% less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours than christians (p=0.032).Conclusion: religion and marital status were the two socio-demographic characteristics that were significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour. Health promotion interventions to curb risky sexual behaviours among the SHS students should target the christian and married students

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among pregnant women in the Bosome Freho district in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a descriptive cross-sectional design

Introduction: the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and children has called for a higher increase in global commitment and response to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). The study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women regarding PMTCT of HIV in Bosome Freho District in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Methods: a facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in August of 2017, involving 339 pregnant women, selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured pre-tested and validated questionnaire and analysed by using Stata SE version 12.0. Logistic regression analyses were used to test associations between background factors and the knowledge, attitudes and practices at 0.05 level of significance. Results: the level of knowledge was high (77.0%), attitudes were good (71.1%), and the practice of PMTCT was high (95.9%). However, the knowledge of participants on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, the moments when HIV transmission occurs, and the merits of elective caesarean sections as an HIV preventive method were grossly insufficient. Knowledge was influenced by the level of education (AOR=19 (95% CI: 1.08-333.82); p=0.04); Attitudes were influenced by the level of knowledge regarding PMTCT (AOR=5.3 (95% CI: 2.76-10.35); p<0.001). Conclusion: interventions to improve the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding PMTCT should focus more on women with less than Senior High School (SHS) level of education. Exclusive breastfeeding and elective caesarean sections, though effective in reducing transmission of HIV from the mother to the child, could be missed opportunities in reducing the burden of HIV in this community