RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Currently, there are limited data on the prevalence of HBsAg in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This study aimed to evaluate the trend of HBsAg prevalence during a period of 20 years in relation to the implementation of pre-donation questionnaires based on parenteral and sexual risk factors and mandatory HBV vaccination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis performed on 67,336 blood donors at the University Clinical Hospital Mostar during three distinct periods: before introducing of mandatory HBV vaccination and pre-donation blood donor questionnaires (1998-2002); after introducing of pre-donation blood donor questionnaires, but without mandatory immunized blood donors (2004-2008); and after introducing of mandatory pre-donation blood donor questionnaires and mandatory vaccination (2015-2019). RESULTS: According to implementation of mandatory pre-donation blood donor questionnaires and mandatory HBV vaccination the prevalence of HBsAg significantly decreased among blood donors in all three studied periods of time (0.303% in 1998-2002, 0.236% in 2004-2008, and 0.021% in 2015-2019; P<0.001). Out of 67,336 tested donors, there were 98 (0.145%) HBsAg-positive donors during analysed periods, with a mean age of 34.76±11.37 years. The mean age of HBsAg-positive donors was 30.72±10.40, 37.56±10.13, and 47.28±12.14) in the 1998-2002, 2004-2008, and 2015-2019 periods, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study clearly shows a decreased rate of HBV infections among blood donors with respect to implementation of the HBV vaccination schedule and mandatory pre-donation blood donor questionnaires based on parenteral and sexual risk factors.