Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies among blood donors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria, 1996-2001

The prevalence of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in blood donors in this hospital has not been determined. The burden of the disease in the general population cannot be overemphasized. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence to HIV and HBsAg antibodies in asymptomatic blood donors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. A total number of 7,497 blood donors aged 18 to 58 years were studied, respectively, from July 1996 to December 2001. The rate of seropositivity is documented. 225 blood donors were seropositive for antibodies to HIV [3.0%] with prevalence of 3.0, while 252 of the donors [3.36%] were seropositive to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen [HBsAg]. The trend of HIV seroprevalence rose from 2.0 in 1996 to 3.0 in the year 2001. This study does not only provide evidence of prevalence of HIV and HBV infection in blood donors it also provides preliminary evidence of the prevalence of asymptomatic Hepatitis B Virus and HIV infection in Kano