The annual prevalence of syphilis among blood donors of regional blood centers of Sindh: A study conducted by the Sindh blood transfusion authority to evaluate the infectious rate of syphilis among blood donors.

Abstract

Objective: To detect any possible illnesses, such as syphilis, and stop them from spreading through transfusion, screening blood donors is crucial. Study Design: Cross-sectional Retrospective Research study. Setting: Four RBCs and the sixteen associated hospital-based blood banks (HBBBs) that are spread over Sindh's various areas. Period: January 2022 to December 2022. Methods: Employing non-probability convenience sampling was carried out. We collected data from Sindh province's Regional Blood Centers (RBCs) and Hospital Based Blood Banks (HBBBs), dispersed throughout the province. Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA)'s ethical committee approved the study. To screen selected blood donors for Syphilis, the Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Analyzer (CLIA) was used. Data from the study were summarized using simple percentages after they were statistically examined. Results: With 171,725 male donors and 1,460 female donors, men comprised the bulk of the 173,185 blood donors. Syphilis turned up in 2.5% of the male donors, resulting in an additional 4,311 cases. On the other hand, just 18 (1.2%) of the female donors had a positive syphilis test. The gender distribution of cases with positive Syphilis indicates a notable difference in its frequency between people of both sexes. The age group of 25 to 40 years old accounted for the largest proportion of syphilis cases among blood donors. Conclusion: One of Sindh's biggest public health concerns is the high incidence of syphilis among blood donors. Additionally, the results show that the incidence of syphilis varies by gender. Furthermore, there are considerable age range differences in the distribution of syphilis cases. These results highlight the need for increased screening and preventive programmes, especially in areas with higher incidence rates. Given the high frequency of syphilis among Sindhi red blood cell donors, this could point to a greater number of cases in the overall community.