Analysis on population structure of street voluntary blood donors in Beijing

Abstract

Objective To explore the population structure of street voluntary blood donors in Beijing, in order to provide reference for the recruitment of street voluntary blood donation of blood collection and supply institutions in Beijing. Methods From January 2013 to December 2015, a total of 9 408 street voluntary blood donors who donated blood on blood collecting vehicles of the Chinese PLA General Hospital were selected as research objects. According to the records of gender, age, blood donation time which filled in the Blood Donation Registration Form and the ABO blood type results of blood preliminary screening, the number of street voluntary blood donors in different gender, age, ABO blood type, and month of blood donation were calculated by Excel software, respectively. Meanwhile, statistical methods were used to compare the differences of gender ratios, age composition ratios and ABO blood type composition ratios of street voluntary blood donors from 2013 to 2015. Results ① There were 6 327 (67.3%) male donors and 3 081 (32.7%) female donors in 9 408 street voluntary blood donors in Beijing from 2013 to 2015. The male donors were more than female, and the ratio of male and female donors was 2.1∶1. There was no significant difference in gender ratios among the 3 years (χ2=2.30, P=0.316). ② Street voluntary blood donors were dominated by young adults in the age of 18 to 40 years old, but the proportion of elderly donors increased year by year in the age of >50-59 years old. There was a significant difference in the age composition ratios of street voluntary blood donors among the 3 years (χ2=35.45, P<0.001). ③ The proportion of street voluntary blood donors with O type, B type, A type, AB type decreased gradually and the population ratio of each blood type was 31.1%(2 928/9 408), 32.7%(3 073/9 408), 25.9(2 433/9 408) and 10.3%(974/9 408), respectively. There was no significant difference in composition ratios of street voluntary blood donors with different ABO blood types among the 3 years (χ2=6.73, P=0.347). ④ From 2013 to 2015, the peak period of street voluntary blood donation in Beijing was from March to May in each year, the low period was from January to February in each year, and the number of street voluntary blood donation was relatively stable from June to September in each year. Conclusions The street voluntary blood donors in Beijing were mainly young adults, while the number of street voluntary blood donors presented a seasonal pattern. To establish recruitment methods adapted to the population structure characteristics of street voluntary blood donors, and actively organize various blood donation activities during the peak season of blood donation, could promote the healthy development of street voluntary blood collection. Key words: Blood donation; Population structure; Recruitment, blood donors