Characteristics of HIV-Positive blood donors in Trinidad and Tobago - abstract

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to better understand HIV-positive donors in order to improve the safety of donor blood supply in Trinidad and Tobago. A total of 45 HIV-positive blood donors were identified for the years 1986, 1988 and 1989 and letters (1 initially and 2 follow up) were sent to all. Non-responders (the majority) were traced to their home or place of work and written consent sought from those who were located. A questionnaire covering demographics, history of blood donation, risk factors for and knowledge of AIDS and quality of care. Subjects were counselled about AIDS and were given material about HIV and safe-sex practices. The whereabouts of 35 were traced, 3 had died and 26 persons consented to participate in the study. Seropositive donors were predominantly young males (23/26) and there was a ratio of 181 of Negroes to East Indians. Declared sexual preferences were heterosexual (16), bisexual (6) and homosexual (1). Half of the respondents had only completed a primary school education. The participants had a good knowledge of AIDS, its aetiology, mode of transmission and persons at highest risk, etc. Overall, 18 of the 26 seropositive donors reported independent risk factors (homosexually/bisexuality, genital ulcerative disease, prostitution, cocaine). As a result of this study, the reported seroprevalence rate from Trinidad and Tobago could be adjusted to 0.15 percent compared with 1.1 percent which was previously reported (AU)