Determinants of syphilis among blood donors aged 17-65 at Mengo Hospital in Kampala District. A retrospective study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/64bctk39Keywords:
Syphilis, Prevalence of syphilis, Behavioural determinants, Mengo Hospital, Contaminated blood products, district and regional referral hospitals to ensure routine screening, early detection and treatment of syphilisAbstract
Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and continues to pose a significant public health challenge due its potential for asymptomatic infections, vertical transmission, and possible spread through contaminated blood products. The World Health Organization estimates approximately 12 million new cases occur each year.
Purpose: The study aimed to assess the prevalence, socio-demographic and behavioral determinants of syphilis among blood donors aged 17-65 at Mengo Hospital in Kampala District.
Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was utilized, involving the selection of 222 blood donor records through systematic sampling. Data were collected using a data extraction form.
Findings: Among the 222 blood donors analyzed, 10(4.5%) tested positive for syphilis. The seropositivity rate was higher in males (4.6%) compared to females (3.6%). Donors aged 26- 35 years exhibited the highest positivity rate (6.7%) relative to other age groups. Additionally, urban donors had a higher seropositivity (5.0%) compared to those from rural areas (2.4%). First-time donors showed an increased positivity rate of 5.8%, while donors with multiple sexual partners had a significantly higher positivity rate of 13.0%. Furthermore, individuals with a history of sexually transmitted infections demonstrated a higher positivity rate (11.8%) com- pared to those without such history.
Conclusions: The study revealed a concerning prevalence of syphilis among blood donors at Mengo Hospital, with a rate of 4.5% and higher positivity rates associated with specific demographics such as younger age groups, first-time donors, and individuals with multiple sexual partners or a history of STIs.
Recommendations: It is essential to maintain mandatory syphilis screening for all blood do- nations, strengthen donor selection criteria and risk assessment interviews, establish data link- ages between blood banks and public health agencies for syphilis surveillance, and promote repeat donation program
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