Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis B and C and HIV among blood donors in the Isangi Rural Health Zone.
Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in the rural health zone of Isangi from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2017 involving 814 blood donors. The parameters of interest were sociodemographic characteristics and biological results (HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis) using rapid diagnostic tests.
Results: 814 blood donors (family and volunteers) were collected, including 725 males (89%) and 89 females (11%). The majority of donors belonged to the age groups of 17-25 years (44%) and 26-35 (32%) and was family donors (90%). The prevalence was 1.7%; 3.2℅; 0.85℅; 3.5% for syphilis, HBV, HIV and HCV, respectively. No epidemiological parameters studied were significantly associated with the seropositivity of the antigens sought (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Seroprevalences of infectious markers were relatively low among blood donors in Isangi. These seroprevalences would be underestimated because of the use of rapid diagnostic tests. But they would reflect a difference in epidemiology of infectious agents between rural and urban areas. Improvement of transfusion safety in rural areas should be directed towards the abandonment of family donation, the promotion of voluntary donation, the organization of donors into "clubs" and their loyalty.