Blood donors in Kenya: a comparison of voluntary and family replacement donors based on a population-based survey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Blood safety and sufficiency are major challenges in Kenya and other sub-Saharan African countries forcing many countries to rely on family replacement donors (FRD). We analysed data from a national AIDS indicator survey to describe blood donors in Kenya and potential risks of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) comparing voluntary donors and FRD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2007 among 15- to 64-year-olds. Consenting participants were interviewed about blood donation history and were tested for HIV, HSV-2 and syphilis. RESULTS: Of the 17,940 people surveyed, 445 (2·3%) reported donating blood in the prior 12 months. Sixty-four per cent were voluntary donors, and the rest were FRD. Compared to FRD, the majority of voluntary donors were <25 years old (59% versus 18%), from the highest wealth quintile (57% versus 42%) and single (64% versus 23%). In addition, voluntary donors were less likely to have been sexually active than replacement donors (43% versus 13%). HIV prevalence was lower among voluntary donors than among FRD (2·6% versus 7·4%, P-value=0·07). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of blood donors in Kenya are voluntary with lower potential risk of TTI.

Approaches to advancing blood safety through haemovigilance: a review.

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion is always associated with some level of risk. Haemovigilance is a risk monitoring system integral to the practice of transfusion medicine whose ultimate purpose is to improve the quality and safety of transfusion therapy. OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of haemovigilance to blood safety, including the approaches that some countries have taken to institute haemovigilance, and explore routes through which countries without such systems can achieve them. DATA SOURCES: The internet and journals on the topic of haemovigilance and development of haemovigilance systems in the English language. DATA SELECTION: Reputable journals on the topic of haemovigilance were examined for abstracts and papers. Abstracts based on known credible and distinguished sources were selected. DATA EXTRACTION: Information on haemovigilance and the processes of developing haemovigilance in various countries was reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: The information from selected papers and abstracts was used for writing this paper. CONCLUSION: Varying processes for haemovigilance have been adopted by different countries. The more advanced systems have national/regional coordinating mechanisms. Availability of haemovigilance data has given transfusion services a clear understanding of problems associated with transfusion that need to be solved so as to improve transfusion safety. Although countries in sub-Saharan Africa have made considerable progress in enhancing blood safety in the recent past, nationally coordinated haemovigilance systems are lacking. Focus on haemovigilance systems is considered the next frontier to be conquered in enhancing blood safety in the region.

Progress in blood transfusion services in Kenya from the 1980's: a review.

BACKGROUND: Provision of safe and adequate supplies of blood is dependent on a well organised blood transfusion service with dedicated well-trained manpower and resources for the service. OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the evolution of blood transfusion services in Kenya, from the 1980s to date. DATA SOURCES: Various Government of Kenya publications and websites on blood transfusion related issues. Publications and websites of stakeholders including donors and other partners as well. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: The author has been in national blood transfusion administration for over five years. DATA SELECTION: Data related to blood transfusion in Kenya on websites and publication were scrutinised. DATA EXTRACTION: All selected articles were read. DATA SYNTHESIS: All the collected data together with the author's experience were used for this publication. CONCLUSION: As part of the effort by the Ministry of Health to reform the health sector, there was need to reorganise departments and divisions within the Ministry. The reorganisation of the blood transfusion service was one such consideration and it was hoped that following this change, there would be better, safer and more efficient provision of blood for transfusion service snation wide. This article documents the evolution of blood transfusion services from the early 1980s to date.