Knowledge, attitudes and risk perception surrounding blood donation and receipt in two high income Caribbean countries.

OBJECTIVES: To compare knowledge, attitudes and risk perception related to blood donation and transfusion in Trinidad and Tobago and Bahamas. BACKGROUND: Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas are two Caribbean countries whose national blood transfusion systems are heavily reliant (76.2% and 76%) on family replacement donors. The Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation recommends blood collection from exclusively voluntary nonremunerated donors on the grounds that family replacement donor-based blood systems are unsafe and inadequate compared to those based on voluntary nonremunerated blood donors. METHODS/MATERIALS: A 23-item questionnaire was distributed online by snowball sampling in these two countries to assess knowledge, attitudes, risk perception and behaviour. SPSS version 24 was used for interpretative and descriptive data analysis, chi-square to measure significance and linear regression the strength of associations. p < 0.05 was used to define statistical significance. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty three (453) responses were obtained from Trinidad and Tobago and 101 from the Bahamas. Knowledge and positive attitudes were high in both countries (75.5% vs. 80.2%, p < 0.001 and 96.6% vs. 100%, p < 0.001). A substantial proportion of respondents held the perception that the local blood donation system was safe or very safe (26.4 and 61.4%, p < 0.001) that was linked to the misconception that the prevalent method of blood donation was voluntary nonremunerated (27.8 and 51.4%, p < 0.001). Concerns about receiving blood were underpinned by mistrust of transfusion-related procedures. CONCLUSION: A social interface to transfer information between blood transfusion services and the community could encourage voluntary nonremunerated blood donation and reduce concerns about receiving transfusion.

A university - Led initiative to promote voluntary non-remunerated blood donation in a developing country.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process, challenges and impact of developing a voluntary non-remunerated blood donor programme in a replacement- based blood donation system. BACKGROUND: Trinidad and Tobago is a developing country whose blood transfusion service is based on replacement and remunerated donors. The University of the West Indies Blood Donor Foundation was formed to promote voluntary non-remunerated donation through education, research and example. METHODS/MATERIALS: The process of establishing the Blood Donor Foundation was documented. Age, gender, number, history (first-time or repeat) and serological tests of donors attending 12 consecutive sessions between 2015 and 2018 were analyzed. Comparisons were made to published PAHO data for TTO's replacement blood donor system and the programme's impact on national policy described. Chi square analysis was used to measure significance of associations and p <  0.05 to assign statistical significance. RESULTS: After research and sensitization, 951 units of blood were collected, 50% from people in the 17-25 age group, 54% from females and 55% from repeat donors. Deferrals were <10% and initially reactive serological tests 1.2% compared to 43.6% and 3.04% respectively (p < 0.05 for both) for the national donor pool. The model was accepted for application nationally. CONCLUSION: A voluntary non-remunerated blood donation programme was successfully established within a replacement-based system providing a model for national adoption.

Ophthalmic presentation of relapsed HTLV1- associated adult T-cell leukaemia lymphoma (ATLL) in a Trinidadian man

The ophthalmic presentation of relapse in a patient with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV1) associated adult T-cell lymphoma leukaemia is described. Epidemiology, clinical features and therapeutic options are briefly reviewed. Antenatal screening and inclusion of HTLV1 in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory and neuromuscular eye conditions should be considered in endemic regions.

Ophthalmic presentation of relapsed HTLV1- associated adult T-cell leukaemia lymphoma (ATLL) in a Trinidadian man.

The ophthalmic presentation of relapse in a patient with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV1) associated adult T-cell lymphoma leukaemia is described. Epidemiology, clinical features and therapeutic options are briefly reviewed. Antenatal screening and inclusion of HTLV1 in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory and neuromuscular eye conditions should be considered in endemic regions.

Restructuring of blood transfusion services in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is a former British Colony with population 1.3 million and a member state of the Pan American Heath Organization, World Health Organization. This is a brief history of the development of blood transfusion services on the island from its first documentation to the present day.