Abstract
BackgroundUnsafe blood products may cause transfusion-transmissible infections. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of blood donors regarding blood safety.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Kelantan state of Malaysia. The questionnaire comprised 39 questions that covered areas such as donors’ social demographic information, knowledge of transfusion-transmitted diseases, blood screening and donor eligibility and perceptions towards blood safety. The knowledge score was categorised as good or poor.ResultsOf the 450 distributed questionnaires, 389 were suitable for analysis. Only 18.5% of the donors had good knowledge, with 81.5% having poor knowledge. Less than 30% were aware that people with multiple sexual partners, bisexual people and male homosexual people are permanently deferred from blood donation. Only 29.4% agreed that donors are responsible if their blood causes infection. Furthermore, 39.3% assumed that they could check their HIV status through blood donation, and 10.3% and 5.4% of the respondents believed that donors are free from infection if they wear a condom during sex or only have oral sex when involved in prostitution, respectively.ConclusionPoor knowledge and notable misperceptions concerning safe blood donation were found among blood donors. The Ministry of Health should incorporate safe blood education in future public awareness programmes.
Highlights
Blood safety is defined as the degree to which the blood supply for blood transfusions is free of harmful substances or infectious agents and correctly typed and cross-matched to ensure serological compatibility between blood donors and recipients [1]
The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend that several routine laboratory tests be performed to donated blood for potential transmissible infections (TTIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis [2]
39.3% of the donors strongly agreed or agreed that they could check their HIV status through blood donation, and 10.3% and 5.4% of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that donors are free from infection if they wear a condom during sex or only have oral sex when involved in prostitution (Table 3)
Summary
Blood safety is defined as the degree to which the blood supply for blood transfusions is free of harmful substances or infectious agents and correctly typed and cross-matched to ensure serological compatibility between blood donors and recipients [1]. Neglecting blood safety may cause blood products to carry transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend that several routine laboratory tests be performed to donated blood for potential TTIs, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis [2]. Screening tests are implemented in most countries to reduce the occurrence of TTIs. Despite the screening tests performed, unsafe blood products remain prevalent in developing countries [3]. An estimated 5%– 15% of HIV infections in developing countries are caused by unsafe blood transfusions [4]. Unsafe blood products may cause transfusion-transmissible infections. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of blood donors regarding blood safety
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