Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Type 1 in Donors of the National Blood Transfusion Center of Libreville (Gabon)
Christian Mangala
*
Catholic University of Central Africa (CUCA), Cameroon and National Public Health Laboratory (NPLH), Gabon.
Therese Nkoa
Catholic University of Central Africa (CUCA), Cameroon and University of Yaounde 1 (UY-1), Cameroon.
Denis Maulot-Bangola
Catholic University of Central Africa (CUCA), Cameroon and National Public Health Laboratory (NPLH), Gabon.
Franck Vivien Vigan Codjo
National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC), Gabon.
Joseph Fokam
Catholic University of Central Africa (CUCA), Cameroon and Chantal Biya International Reference Center (CBIRC), Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Transmission of HIV through blood transfusion remains a public health problem, particularly in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, no study has determined the epidemiological data regarding HIV-1 infection in Gabonese blood donors. The objective of this study is to assess the seroprevalence of HIV-1 and the risk factors associated with infection in donors from the National Blood Transfusion Center in Libreville (Gabon).
Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out from June to August 2020 in 3669 persons donating blood at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC). The ELISA technique (Evolis®, BioRad), the chemiluminescence technique (Cobas® e601, Roche), and the SD Bioline® HIV 1/2 test (Standard Diagnostics. Inc) were used for the detection of anti-HIV-1/2 antibodies and P24 antigen in donor plasma. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0, with p˂.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The seropositivity rate HIV-1 was 0.8% (30/3669) (95% CI: 0.5; 1.1). The study was composed of 79.4% men and 20.6% women. The most representative age group was of 25-34 years with 54.5%. The seropositivity of men, women, and unrelated voluntary donors was 0.7%, 1.2%, and 1.0%, respectively. The risk factors such as the first blood donation (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.1 [0.0 ;0.4], P= .002), multiple sexual partners (AOR = 6.2 [2.2;17.2], P= .001), primary educational level (AOR = 10.1 [1.4;75], P = .024), and dental care (AOR = 3.6 [1.2;11], P = .024) were significantly associated with HIV infection. About 0.14% of the patients had co-infection.
Conclusion: In the Gabonese context, about one out of a hundred blood donors are HIV-infected. These carriers of HIV infection in the blood banks are mainly new donors with multiple sexual partners, limited education, and poor dental care.
Keywords: HIV-1, seroprevalence, risk factors, blood donors, Gabon's NBTC