BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion is an essential component of healthcare delivery but poses a risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), particularly in low- and middle-income countries where donor screening systems may be inadequate. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of major TTIs and assess their association with sociodemographic characteristics among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using blood donor records of 550 individuals. All donations were routinely screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, and malaria. Prevalence rates were calculated using descriptive statistics. Associations between TTIs and donor characteristics were evaluated using chi-square tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of infection. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of TTIs was 12.18%. HBV was the most prevalent infection (4.73%), followed by HCV (4.18%), syphilis (2.55%), and HIV (0.73%). No cases of malaria were detected. Significant associations were observed between selected TTIs and donor characteristics, particularly age and donor status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that these sociodemographic factors remained independently associated with infection status. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial burden of transfusion-transmissible infections persists among blood donors in this setting. Strengthening donor selection, improving screening strategies, and promoting voluntary non-remunerated blood donation are essential to enhance transfusion safety and reduce the risk of TTIs in resource-limited settings.
Aamir et al. (Mon,) studied this question.