Kemebradikumo Pondei, Ebidor Lawani and Crosdale Pughikumo
Blood transfusion services are important in healthc are delivery, but are often poorly developed in sub - Saharan Africa. To evaluate the blood donor screeni ng system, the deferral rate and reasons for deferral in two blood banks in Bayelsa State, Niger ia. Direct observation of the screening of prospective blood donors was done. The blood donor records were examined and the relevant information was abstracted. A defective recording s ystem was observed, that records only potential donors whose haemoglobin levels were above the cut off mark of 12g/dl. Donor demographics were also not well recorded. Donors' ages ranged from 15 years to 60 years, with 98% of them being male. 80.6% of donors were commercial/professional donors , with only 0.93% being voluntary donors. 2.89% of potential donors were positive for markers of tr ansmissible infections and were deferred. 80% of th e deferred donors were positive for HBsAg, while 14.2 8% were positive for HIV. The blood group O Rh D positive was the commonest blood group. A poor reco rding/documentation system is used in the screening of potential blood donors in the blood ba nks examined. The donor screening system needs to be overhauled. Deferred donors also need to be c ounselled. A poor blood donation culture exists which needs urgent but definite strategies to overc ome.
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