Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Blood Donors at Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major transfusion-transmissible disease and a leading cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in sub-Saharan Africa. This retrospective descriptive study determined the prevalence and associated risk factors of HCV among blood donors at Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, in the North West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Donor records from January 2020 to December 2023, covering 1,800 screened individuals, were reviewed. HCV antibody detection was performed using a third-generation ELISA. Demographic and risk behavior data were extracted from donor questionnaires. The overall HCV seroprevalence was 4.2 percent. Male donors had a significantly higher positivity rate than female donors. Replacement donors showed approximately three times higher HCV prevalence than voluntary donors. History of dental procedures, traditional scarification, and blood transfusion were the most frequently reported risk factors among seropositive donors. These findings indicate a substantial HCV burden among blood donors in Kebbi State and highlight the inadequacy of relying solely on replacement donation systems. Universal HCV screening, expansion of voluntary donor recruitment programs, and public education on injection safety and traditional practices are urgently recommended. Keywords: hepatitis C, blood donors, seroprevalence, Birnin Kebbi, transfusion safety.