Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of syphilis among blood donors in Huzhou

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for syphilis in Huzhou City, and to provide data to support the design of more effective health counselling and screening measures for blood donors.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted to analyse the demographic characteristics and seropositivity of syphilis among blood donors from 2019 to 2021. The differences in the serological status of syphilis among different populations under different demographic factors were compared, and conditional logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for syphilis.

Results

The seropositivity rate of syphilis among blood donors in Huzhou City was 133/100,000, which decreased year by year. There were significant differences in the syphilis seropositivity rate among different groups in terms of age, education level, occupation, household registration, marital status and blood donation history (P < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression model showed that all six factors, including age, education level, occupation, household registration, marital status and blood donation history, had significant effects on syphilis infection (P < 0.01), with OR values and 95% CIs of 2. 387 (1.381–4.127), 3.607 (1.609–8.086), 2.784 (1.657–4.679), 5.074 (1.865–13.804), 11.177 (3.481–35.888), and 11.244 (3.940–32.091), respectively.

Conclusion

There is room for improvement in pre-donation health counselling and screening of high-risk populations. Timely monitoring and updating of demographic data for specific high-risk populations is essential.