Pattern Of Blood Donation And Reasons For Deferral Of Blood Donors In A Tertiary Health Facility In Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Bbackground: Blood transfusion is an essential lifesaving procedure in medical practice. The source of blood for donation can be from Voluntary Non-remunerated Donors (VNRDs), Family Replacement Donors, Commercial/Paid donors and Autologous Donors. The VNRD has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The situation in developing countries like Nigeria is different as there is scarcity of VNRDs which can be attributed to ignorance, fear, misconceptions regarding blood and blood products donation and transfusion. Objective: This study aimed to determine the pattern of blood donations and reasons for deferral in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study where records of blood donors that presented to the Blood Bank of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi from January, 2018 to December 2019 were collected. Data was analyzed using Microsoft excel 2016. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Research and Ethics committee of ATBUTH Bauchi. Results: There were 19,406 prospective donors who presented for donation during the period under review. Of the 19,406 prospective donors, 24.7% (4,786/19406) were deferred from donation for various reasons including seropositivity to transfusion transmissible pathogens (70.3%), low blood level (anaemia) (20.5%), low weight (1.3%), among others. Females constituted only 2.4% (354/14,620) of the blood donors. Ninety eight percent (14,423/14,620) were family replacement donors while no commercial donors were seen during the period under review. Conclusion and Recommendations: There is a low rate of voluntary and female blood donation as well as a high donor deferral rate in our environment. We therefore recommend increased advocacy for regular voluntary non-remunerated blood donation by the community as well as encouraging more female participation in blood donation.