Is Human Immunodeficiency Virus Still Transmissible Through Blood Transfusion in Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Jos, Nigeria?

Aims: To compare the prevalence of HIV infection amongst transfused and non-transfused children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Jos, Nigeria and explore the factors affecting it.
Study Design: This was a prospective case control study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics (Sickle Cell Clinic), Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria, between January 2008 and March 2009.
Methodology: A total of 200 transfused children with SCA (117 males and 83 females) were recruited consecutively and screened for HIV using rapid test kits. A questionnaire was used to ascertain the details of blood transfusion and other relevant clinical information. Two hundred age and sex matched non-transfused children with SCA attending the same clinic were recruited as controls.
Results: The prevalence of HIV infection amongst transfused children with SCA was 2%, compared to 0% in the control group (P=.04). The four HIV positive cases were transfused in private hospitals with blood of unknown screening status. The number of blood transfusions was not a significant factor in acquiring HIV infection (P=.78); however remunerative blood donation increased the risk of acquiring HIV through blood transfusion (AOR=6.28; 95% CI (1.82-9.92); P=.01).
Conclusion: HIV is still transmissible through blood transfusion and screening of blood before transfusion is still not completely practiced in Jos, Nigeria. Policies on proper screening of blood before transfusion and voluntary blood donation should therefore be enforced at all levels of healthcare.