Gender Distribution and Reasons for Donor Deferral in Blood Donors at a Tertiary Healthcare Centre, Kerala, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: One of the primary responsibilities of the blood bank is to provide safe blood to patients. Blood donors are screened before blood donation and deferred from donating if they have diseases or conditions that may affect blood quality or lead to adverse reactions. Blood donor deferral ensures both donor and patient safety. Understanding deferral reasons can help raise awareness among blood donors. Aim: To determine the percentage of female blood donors and the number of deferrals in male and female donors for various reasons. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Transfusion Medicine, Government Medical college, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. The study period was one year from April 2018 to March 2019. Data on the number of male and female donors, donors accepted for donation, and those deferred for various reasons were collected through questionnaires and blood bank records. Data analysis was performed using Stastistical Packages of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 software, employing the Chi-square test with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Out of 36,318 blood donors, only 1,521 (4.2%) were females. During the study period, 30,007 donors were selected for donation, of which 792 (2.64%) were female donors. Among the 6,311 deferred donors, 1,171 (18.55%) were deferred due to fever and respiratory tract infections, the most common reason for deferral. The deferral rate for females was significantly higher than for males. Females had a deferral rate of 47.9% (729 out of 1,521 female donors), while males had a deferral rate of 16.04% (5,582 donors). Fever and respiratory tract infections were the main cause of deferral among males, with 1,055 (18.9%) deferred for this reason. Among females, low haemoglobin (306, 41.98%) was the primary cause of deferral. Conclusion: Females constitute a minority of the blood donor population. Motivational efforts can increase blood donation among females. Raising awareness about nutritional anaemia and implementing preventive measures can reduce deferrals among female blood donors.