Comparing frequency of injecting drug use among accepted HCV infected blood donors in different regions of Iran

Abstract Background and Objectives Considering the importance of donor selection process in blood safety, this study aimed at comparison of frequency of intravenous drug use (IDU) among accepted HCV positive blood donors in different regions of Iran.   Materials and Methods This cross sectional-analytical study was conducted on  serologically confirmed HCV positive blood donors who referred to blood transfusion centers for counseling all over the country during November 2015 to May 2017. All provinces were classified in three regions. IDU status and demographic specification of participants were analyzed using questionnaires. Chi square, fisher exact and ANOVA with STATA software version 13 were used for statistical analysis.   Results Participants, according to the number of provinces, sample size and geographical proximity to three areas were classified including  76 from North; 105 from West-South and 90 from East- Center individuals with the mean ages of 37.73 ±  8.27, 38.83 ± 8.80 and 36.86 ± 8.63 and  history of IDU of 37 (48.68%), 45 (42.86%) and 41 (45.56%), respectively. No significant differences between different regions of the country were found in the frequency of IDU voluntary blood donors with hepatitis C, age, gender, education status, marriage status (p > 0.05).   Conclusions  Approximately half of the voluntary blood donors with hepatitis C were IDUs. The frequency of IDU was similar among donors from different regions of Iran. Considering the fact that studied donors were found eligible in donor selection and donated the blood, though rejected during the screening phase, conducting research on the issue can increase the quality of blood donor selection and blood safety.