Donor awareness: key to successful voluntary blood donation

Abstract

Context: The current regulatory requirements for donor eligibility pose a challenge to blood centers in recruitment of voluntary blood donors, particularly in a developing country like India where awareness of the general population is low and myths about blood donation are prevalent. This study evaluates the reasons and rates of donor deferral in a tertiary hospital-based blood bank in western India.Aim: To find rates and reasons for deferral of voluntary blood donors in a city in western India.Settings and design: A retrospective study was done on blood donors during a 3-month period. Data collection was done by electronic records of blood donors.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively at a tertiary care hospital in western India. All those who donated whole blood between 1st January 2011 and 31st March 2011 were included in the study. Data was collected using local blood bank software.Statistical analysis used: No statistical technique used as it is a data article.Results: 60.5% of donors were young, below 30 years of age. Donors were predominantly male (91.6%). Voluntary donors comprised 88% of the donors. Total deferral rate was 22.36%, with 17.29% permanent deferrals and 82.71% temporary deferrals. Main reasons for deferral were anemia 39.42%, low body weight 14.29%, hypertension 10.73%, age below 18 years 10.73% and history of medication 6.09%. The common causes of deferral between our study and other similar studies are the same.Conclusion: We concluded that majority of the donor population belongs to 18–30-year-old age group. This is encouraging with a voluntary blood donation initiative. Donor self exclusion and strict donor selection criteria application should be addressed by more proactive measures to make blood donation a safe and pleasurable experience.