RISK FACTORS AND SERO-PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, ILORIN, NIGERIA.

Background: Availability of safe blood and blood products for transfusion is increasingly difficult globally, especially in developing countries because of high prevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors and to evaluate the socioeconomic, demographic and medical factors associated with its infection. Materials and method: a prospective study whereby 350 consecutive blood donors were recruited. 2 ml of venous blood was collected aseptically from the ante-cubital vein and subjected to serological test for HBsAg. Results: High prevalence rate 10.9% was recorded. All the donors reactive to HBsAg were males (38,100%) with a mean age of 30.7±8.02 years, while 55.3%, 44.7%, 5.3%, 42%, 47.4%, 5.3% of them were single, married, primary school graduate, secondary school graduate, tertiary school graduate and illiterate respectively with 36.8%, 23.7%, 39.5% and0% been unemployed, civil servants/professionals, skilled artisans and business/petty traders. The commonest risk factor was multiple sexual partners 55.3%, followed by extra marital affairs 13.2%, tattooing 10.5%, previous blood transfusion 5.2%, previous surgery 2.6% and sex trading 2.6%. Conclusion: Active public enlightenment programs and sstrict blood donation selection criteria need to be put in place in order to provide safe blood and blood products for transfusion.