Prevalence and trend of hepatitis B and C virus infections among blood donors in Sistan and Baluchestan province during a 11-year study from 2011 to 2022

Nowadays, it is necessary to evaluate the prevalence of HBV and HCV viruses all around the world due to the importance of preventing infections transmitted through transfusion of blood products. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of these two viruses that cause viral hepatitis among blood donors in Sistan and Baluchestan province.

This retrospective study is conducted on blood donors in Sistan and Baluchestan province in order to evaluate the prevalence rate and trend of Hepatitis B and C during the years 2011-2022. The data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square (χ2), and SPSS 22.

The prevalence rates of hepatitis B and C infections among blood donors were 0.329% and 0.05%, in Sistan and Baluchestan province respectively. During the years 2011 to 2022, the prevalence of hepatitis B infection decreased from 818 cases per hundred thousand people in 2011 to 109 cases in 2022. Similarly, the prevalence of hepatitis C decreased from 102 cases in 2011 to 27 cases in 2022.

Conclusions :

The results of the present study indicated a decrease in the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections over a decade, which can show the effective trend of health indicators and prevention programs of HBV and HCV.