Should Kiribati continue to aim for 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation as recommended by the WHO?
This study aims to determine characteristics and reasons for deferral amongst blood donors from 2011 to 2016
Abstract
Setting
Tungaru Central Hospital Blood Bank Laboratory, Nawerewere, Tarawa, Kiribati.
Objective
To determine characteristics, deferrals and reasons for deferral amongst blood donors from 2011 to 2016.
Design
A cross-sectional study using routinely collected data.
Results
From January 2011 to March 2016, 8531 potential blood donors were registered. For each full year, the proportion of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRBD) was below 10%, although it increased to 13% in 2015. The overall proportion of blood donors deferred increased each year over the 5-year period, from 44% to 57%, with similar increases in deferrals in VNRBD and family replacement donors (FRD). Among all blood donors, a higher proportion of females than males (59% vs. 43%) and VNRBD than FRD (56% vs. 44%) were deferred (P < 0.001). Deferrals were due to 1) failing the medical questionnaire (53%), 2) having anaemia and/or high white cell count (26%), or 3) transfusion-transmissible infections (21%). More VNRBD were deferred due to failing the medical questionnaire, while more FRD were deferred due to anaemia and/or high white-cell count; the number of deferrals was similar for transfusion-transmissible infections.
Conclusion
This 5-year study showed that the proportion of VNRBD is low and deferrals are higher for this group than for FRD. There is a strong case for encouraging both types of donor in the country.
This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)
Citation
G. Tauma, A. D. Harries, O. E. A. Merilles, Jr, R. Tekoaua, B. Teriboriki (2016) Should Kiribati continue to aim for 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation as recommended by the WHO? Public Health Action, Volume 6, Number 4, pp. 261-266 https://doi.org/10.5588/pha.16.0068