Haemovigilance and Trends of Transfusion Transmissible Viral Infections among Asymptomatic Population at Akatsi South Municipal in Volta Region of Ghana from 2014 to 2019

Background Tracking the changing epidemiology of Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs), including Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is critical to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG.3.3) milestones and deadlines. This study assessed the dynamics associated with Blood Donation and TTIs among blood donors at the Akatsi South Municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana. Methods This was a haemovigilance study, designed to retrospectively evaluate secondary data on 2,588 blood donors in Akatsi South District Hospital from 2014 to 2019. Data was collected, managed and quality controlled done electronically using Microsoft Visual Basics, and STATA. TTIs’ trends were determined using frequentist and descriptive statistics, and 95% confidence intervals using Clopper Pearson test. Results Prevalence of TTIs was 8.0%. The prevalence of HIV as well as HBV and HCV, was 3.8%, 3.2% and 1.0% respectively. For female hosts, the prevalence was 7.4% (HIV), 4.2 % (HBV) and 1.6% (HCV). For Male-host, the rates were 3.1% (HIV), 3.5% (HBV) and 1.0% (HVC). Donors aged 15-19years were most infected at rates of 13.2% (HIV), 4.7% (HBV) and 1.9% (HCV). Conclusion About 57(2.4%) and 3(1.2%) of 2380 blood donated were TTIs false negatives and false positives respectively. In addition to being a driver of TTIs among blood donors in this study, the HIV prevalence among teenagers was significantly above the regional and national rates. These rates have ‘programmatic’ and ‘research’ implications. A relatively higher sensitive blood transfusion screening method is urgently needed to prevent the transfusion of TTIs false negative bloods in Akatsi Municipal Hospital What is already known about the topic : National and global epidemiology of TTIs, including HIV are known. What this study add? This study serves as baseline data on trends of HIV, HBV and HCV infection among non-sentinel asymptomatic population at Akatsi South Municipality in Volta Region of Ghana. How this study might affect research, practice or policy? Our data shall contribute to understanding on changing epidemiology of Transfusion Transmissible viral infection including HIV after the introduction of the public health sector strategy toward the 2030 deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3.