Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022)
Introduction Blood safety in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains a major challenge due to the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV, HBV, HCV, and Treponema pallidum. Despite efforts to improve screening practices, these infections persist among blood donors....
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Orapuh, Inc.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Orapuh Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.orapuh.org/ojs/ojs-3.1.2-4/index.php/orapj/article/view/396 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849687763419398144 |
|---|---|
| author | Olivier Lomamba Lodi Blaise S. Matondo Yvette N. Ndona S. Melki Jonathan K. Ibana Franck N. Lukusa |
| author_facet | Olivier Lomamba Lodi Blaise S. Matondo Yvette N. Ndona S. Melki Jonathan K. Ibana Franck N. Lukusa |
| author_sort | Olivier Lomamba Lodi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Blood safety in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains a major challenge due to the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV, HBV, HCV, and Treponema pallidum. Despite efforts to improve screening practices, these infections persist among blood donors.
Purpose
To examine the evolution of the transmission of blood-borne infections among blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa between 2019 and 2022.
Methodology
This retrospective study analysed data from 3,528 blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa between 2019 and 2022. Donors were tested for serological markers of HIV, HBV, HCV, and Treponema pallidum using immunochromatographic tests and ELISA. Sociodemographic, clinical, and biological data were collected and analysed using SPSS version 26.
Results
A total of 3,920 blood donations were included, with a prevalence of 2.8% for HBV, 1.9% for HCV, 1.3% for HIV, and 0.8% for syphilis. Annual variations in blood-borne infections were observed. HBV prevalence increased from 3.5% in 2019 to 5.0% in 2021. For HCV, the prevalence decreased from 3.0% in 2019 to 1.1% in 2020 (p < .05). The prevalence of syphilis increased from 0.4% in 2019 to 1.0% and was statistically significant (p < .05). HIV prevalence varied from 1.2% to 1.8% during the study period.
Conclusion
Despite measurable improvements in screening methods and blood donor safety protocols, residual infection risk remains. It is crucial to improve screening procedures and establish continuous epidemiological monitoring. A multisectoral approach involving health authorities and the community is necessary to enhance blood safety in the DRC.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a11c8ca8948e4c2e998fdc690dd1373e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2644-3740 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Orapuh, Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Orapuh Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-a11c8ca8948e4c2e998fdc690dd1373e2025-08-20T03:22:14ZengOrapuh, Inc.Orapuh Journal2644-37402025-05-016510.4314/orapj.v6i5.47Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022) Olivier Lomamba Lodi0Blaise S. Matondo1Yvette N. Ndona2S. Melki3Jonathan K. Ibana4Franck N. Lukusa5University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoUniversity Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoUniversity Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoUniversity Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoUniversity Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoUniversity Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Introduction Blood safety in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains a major challenge due to the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV, HBV, HCV, and Treponema pallidum. Despite efforts to improve screening practices, these infections persist among blood donors. Purpose To examine the evolution of the transmission of blood-borne infections among blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa between 2019 and 2022. Methodology This retrospective study analysed data from 3,528 blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa between 2019 and 2022. Donors were tested for serological markers of HIV, HBV, HCV, and Treponema pallidum using immunochromatographic tests and ELISA. Sociodemographic, clinical, and biological data were collected and analysed using SPSS version 26. Results A total of 3,920 blood donations were included, with a prevalence of 2.8% for HBV, 1.9% for HCV, 1.3% for HIV, and 0.8% for syphilis. Annual variations in blood-borne infections were observed. HBV prevalence increased from 3.5% in 2019 to 5.0% in 2021. For HCV, the prevalence decreased from 3.0% in 2019 to 1.1% in 2020 (p < .05). The prevalence of syphilis increased from 0.4% in 2019 to 1.0% and was statistically significant (p < .05). HIV prevalence varied from 1.2% to 1.8% during the study period. Conclusion Despite measurable improvements in screening methods and blood donor safety protocols, residual infection risk remains. It is crucial to improve screening procedures and establish continuous epidemiological monitoring. A multisectoral approach involving health authorities and the community is necessary to enhance blood safety in the DRC. https://www.orapuh.org/ojs/ojs-3.1.2-4/index.php/orapj/article/view/396Blood transfusionblood-borne infectionsHIVHBVHCVsyphilis |
| spellingShingle | Olivier Lomamba Lodi Blaise S. Matondo Yvette N. Ndona S. Melki Jonathan K. Ibana Franck N. Lukusa Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022) Orapuh Journal Blood transfusion blood-borne infections HIV HBV HCV syphilis |
| title | Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022) |
| title_full | Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022) |
| title_fullStr | Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022) |
| title_short | Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo (2019–2022) |
| title_sort | epidemiological surveillance of blood donors at the university clinics of kinshasa kinshasa dr congo 2019 2022 |
| topic | Blood transfusion blood-borne infections HIV HBV HCV syphilis |
| url | https://www.orapuh.org/ojs/ojs-3.1.2-4/index.php/orapj/article/view/396 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olivierlomambalodi epidemiologicalsurveillanceofblooddonorsattheuniversityclinicsofkinshasakinshasadrcongo20192022 AT blaisesmatondo epidemiologicalsurveillanceofblooddonorsattheuniversityclinicsofkinshasakinshasadrcongo20192022 AT yvettenndona epidemiologicalsurveillanceofblooddonorsattheuniversityclinicsofkinshasakinshasadrcongo20192022 AT smelki epidemiologicalsurveillanceofblooddonorsattheuniversityclinicsofkinshasakinshasadrcongo20192022 AT jonathankibana epidemiologicalsurveillanceofblooddonorsattheuniversityclinicsofkinshasakinshasadrcongo20192022 AT francknlukusa epidemiologicalsurveillanceofblooddonorsattheuniversityclinicsofkinshasakinshasadrcongo20192022 |