Seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Serbia: A multicentre study

Abstract

Background: The epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have not yet been described in Serbia.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of anti-HCV-positive individuals among first-time blood donors and the risk factors for hepatitis C transmission.

Methods: A multicentre case-control study nested within a prospective cohort study was conducted at 10 main transfusion centres in Serbia in 2013 and 27,160 blood donors who gave blood for the first time were included. Blood donors with confirmed anti-HCV positivity and seronegative controls were enrolled to determine the risk factors.

Results: Of 27,160 blood donors 52 were anti-HCV-positive; seroprevalence was 0.19%. By univariate analysis, marital status, educational level, drug use, previous transfusion, tattooing, non-use of condoms and number of sexual partners, were risk factors for hepatitis C. In the final multivariate analysis, three factors remained independently predictive: drug use, tattooing and previous blood transfusion. In total, 87.5% of cases had at least one of the risk factors for HCV transmission; 20.9% presumed that they knew when the infection occurred.

Conclusion: HCV seroprevalence in Serbia is higher than in developed European countries. Preventive measures need to be directed towards drug use and tattooing facilities. The admission questionnaire for blood donors should be improved.

Keywords: Blood donors; Hepatitis C; Prevalence; Risk factors.