Abstract:
Background: - Several infectious diseases have been found to be associated with the
transfusion of blood and blood components. Reports from studies conducted in many African
countries indicate a high incidence of blood-borne pathogens such as syphilis infections
among healthy blood donors. The magnitude of syphilis in blood donors in Debre-Berhan is
not known. This study was therefore conducted in order to determine the magnitude of
syphilis among blood donors that will be seen between the months of May and July 2022.
Syphilis accounts for approximately 10% of all commonly sexually transmitted diseases. The
risk factors for blood donors infected with syphilis are also risk factors for other blood-borne
diseases.
Objective: The study aims to assess the magnitude and associated factors of syphilis among
blood donors in the Debre-Berhan Blood Bank, Northeast Ethiopia.
Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted and convenient
sampling techniques will be employed to take the first 452 blood donors who were eligible
for donation based on a NBBS (National Blood Bank Service) questionnaire to determine
donor eligibility. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The
raw data was entered and cleaned using Epi-data version 3.1, and then exported to SPSS
version 20 and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Bi-variable analysis was
carried out & variables with a P-value <0.25 were entered into multivariable analysis and
variables with a P-value <0.05 in the multivariable analysis were taken as statistically
significant.
Result: Among 452 participants, the prevalence of Syphilis infections was 17 (3.8 %).Those
blood donors with multiple sexual partner (AOR=4.07; 95% CI: 1.18, 14.06), aged of >32
years (AOR = 3.99; 95% CI: 1.01, 15.70), had no formal education (AOR = 4.01; 95% CI:
1.04, 15.43) and number of donation (AOR = 3.89; 95% CI: 1.08, 13.99) were significantly
associated with Syphilis infections.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Factors such as multiple sex partners, age, educational
level, and number of donations were significantly associated with syphilis infections. Health
consultation and screening of high-risk groups before blood donation need to- be further
improved.
NBBS, Regional Health Bureau, and Blood Bank Service focused on blood donation with the
ages of 18-24 and 25-31 years, and the majority of these age groups are high school, college,
and university students who are thought to be well-informed about these infections.
Also encouragements of blood donation from repeat (regular) blood donors because repeat
blood donors know the status of their blood due to post donation counseling after they donate
blood.
