Prevalence of hepatitis c antibodies and associated risk factors in blood donors in united arab emirates

ABSTRACT

There have been no published reports on the seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus among blood donors in United Arab Emirates. This prospective study was conducted in Sharjah Central Blood Bank Blood donors [n=3588] were tested for anti-hepatitis C antibodies to estimate the seroprevalence rate of hepatitis C and some demographic characteristics were studied to identify the associated risk factors. The study showed that the overall prevalence rate of anti-HCV antibody in the studied group was 1.67% [60/3588] with a higher prevalence of 15.92% [25/157] in Egyptian donors. Exclusion of this group would reduce the prevalence to 1.02% [35/3431]. Prevalence rate in UAE nationals was 1.71% [13/759]. The associated risk factors identified in this study included age group 36-45 years, first time donors, unpaid donation and level of education of only secondary school