Comparing the Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Stationary and Mobile Blood Donation Centers: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Blood transfusion can save a million lives. Nonetheless, every recipient is at risk for transfusiontransmissible infection, chiefly hepatitis B infection. The aim of this study was to compare stationary and mobile blood donation centers respecting the prevalence of hepatitis B in 2007 -2016. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study compared hepatitis B prevalence in stationary and mobile blood donation centers in Southern Khorasan in a ten-year period from 2007 to 2016. Data were retrieved from data sheets available from Iranian blood transfusion organization. Results: A total of 157063 blood units had been collected in 2007 -2016. The number of blood units collected by stationary and mobile centers was 129,899 (82.7%) and 27,164 (17.3%), respectively. Total hepatitis B prevalence rate was 0.22% (348 cases). This rate in stationary and mobile centers was 0.18% (232 cases) and 0.40% (116 cases), respectively. Hepatitis B prevalence was significantly greater in mobile centers than in stationary centers (P < 0.001). Moreover, hepatitis B prevalence in the second five years, i.e. 2012 -2016, was significantly lower than that in the first five years, i.e. 2007 -2011 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Hepatitis B prevalence in mobile blood donation centers is significantly higher than that in stationary centers. This problem can be due to the limited health-related knowledge of blood donors in rural areas where mainly mobile centers collect blood units. Therefore, restricting blood collection by mobile centers may be indicated until necessary health-and donation-related educations are provided to all people in high-risk areas.