ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The blood donor system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia depends on a combination of voluntary and involuntary donors. The aim of this study is to explore the attitudes, beliefs and motivations of Saudis toward blood donation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the Donor Centers at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) Blood Bank and King Saud University Students Health Center, Riyadh. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to donors (n = 517) and nondonors (n = 316), between February and June 2008. All were males. RESULTS: Ninety-nine percent of the respondents showed positive attitude toward blood donations and its importance for patients care, and object the importation of blood from abroad. Blood donors: Ninety-one percent agree that that blood donation is a religious obligation, 91% think no compensation should be given, 63% will accept a token gift, 34% do not object to donating six times/year and 67% did not mind coming themselves to the donor center to give blood. Nondonors: Forty-six percent were not asked to give blood and those who were asked mentioned fear (5%) and lack of time (16%) as their main deterrents. Reasons for rejection as donors include underweight and age (71%) and health reasons (19%). Seventy-five percent objected to money compensation but 69% will accept token gifts and 92% will donate if a relative/friend needs blood. CONCLUSION: These results reflect an encouraging strong positive attitude toward blood donation. Further future planning with emphasis on educational/publicity programs and careful organization of donor recruitment campaigns could see the dream of total voluntary nonremunerated blood donations should not take long to be true.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Multiple transfusions are frequently complicated by alloimmunization. This retrospective study aims to determine whether alloimmunization could be accounted for by racial differences between donors and recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The development of alloantibodies were determined in 68 multi-transfused patients (thalassaemia, n=38) and (sickle cell anemia, n=30). RESULTS: The overall frequency of alloantibody formation in our patients is 22.06%. Thirteen patients received blood from the same ethnic group (Arab) and none developed antibodies, while of 47 patients who received multi-ethnic blood, 10 developed alloantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Alloantibodies formation can be reduced by limiting the transfusion of RBC, collected from donors of the same ethnic origin.
