Introduction
Blood transfusion is important in the management of many diseases. Approximately 20% of
all potential blood donors are deferred from giving blood for various reasons. Low
haemoglobin potential donor deferral is the single major cause of donor deferral and it accounts
for about 10% of all deferrals (1). Understanding factors associated with low haemoglobin
potential donor deferral could help in reducing deferrals and increase blood supply. Literature
on correlates of low haemoglobin deferral is sparse in South Africa. The aim of the study was
to determine the prevalence of low haemoglobin deferral among potential donors, proportion
of low haemoglobin deferral among deferred donors and to identify factors associated with low
haemoglobin donor deferral in potential blood donors in eight provinces of South Africa in
2013.
Methods
The study was a cross sectional analysis of secondary data collected from eight South African
provinces in 2013. There were a total of 996 060 attempted blood donations from 471 126
potential donors. Analysed sample consisted of 8056 random sampled donors (representing 2%
of the potential blood donors aged 18 and above). Prevalence of low haemoglobin donor
deferral among potential donors and proportion of low haemoglobin donor deferral among
deferred donors were estimated. Binomial and multinomial logistic regression analyses were
used to identify the factors associated with low haemoglobin donor deferral.
Results
Among the 8056 potential donors, 51.9% were females and the overall median age of all
potential donors was 32 years (IQR: 23-45). About half (49.3%) of all the potential donors
were repeat donors, 26.4% were re-join and 24.3% were first time donors. The potential donors v
of blood group O were 43.8% of the population, followed by blood group A (29.4%) while
blood group B and AB were 14.9% and 4.4%, respectively.
The overall prevalence of donor deferral was 22.7% (95% CI: 21.8-23.7), while the prevalence
of deferral due to low haemoglobin was 6.7% (95% CI: 6.1-7.2). Potential donors of female
gender, 18-25 age group, Black race, first time donors and those that donated in Kwa-Zulu
Natal had the highest low haemoglobin prevalence. The proportion attributable to low
haemoglobin among potential donors was 0.29. In adjusted analysis the factors associated with
low haemoglobin deferral were sex (P<0.001), donor type (P<0.001), province (P<0.001) and
race (P<0.001).
Conclusion
The prevalence of low haemoglobin donor deferral obtained was 6.7%. The proportion of
deferral due to haemoglobin among deferred donors was 0.29 and the identified correlates are
sex, donor type, province and race. The identified correlates could be used when deciding
which potential donors to invite for a blood donation after each inter-donation interval has
elapsed and blood supply could be increased.