A Study of The Reasons for Deferral of Voluntary Blood Donors at A Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Voluntary blood donation forms the basis of procurement of safe blood from a healthy donor. Donor selection is necessary in addition to the screenings of blood bags for infectious diseases. Deferrals lead to loss of precious blood/components available for transfusion. For preventing this, we should be having knowledge of causes of deferral and their frequency. to determine the incidence of deferrals. The aim of our study is to know the incidence of donors who were deferred from donating blood and to determine the causes of permanent and temporary deferral.Result: A total of 21,433 donors were screened. Out of which, 1134 donors were deferred. The total donor deferral rate was 5.29%; the percentages of deferral being 1.62%for females and 3.67% for males. The deferral was maximum between 18-40 years of age.The temporary deferral was more common than permanent deferral; the reasons in males being anemia, low blood pressure and underweight. The reasons documented in females being anemia, menstrual history within one week, followed by underweight. The most common reason in both males and females, for permanent deferral was hypertension.Conclusion: Donor deferral rate of 5.29% was found in this study. Females coming forward for blood donation were significantly low. The major causes of deferral were anemia and hypertension.

Understanding deferral rate and reason among voluntary blood donors at a tertiary care center

“…This is because of false belief about blood donation in society and lack of awareness about blood donation among females. Our study findings are matching with study by Attri N et al 11 Although, due to physiological factors, women may be more prone to conditions such as anemia and underweight but a proper predonation counselling and improving nutritional status will help to reduce deferral due to physiological factors among female. Present study showed that female donors were deferred more frequently than male donors which might be due to the wide prevalence of anemia and underweight among female donors.…”

“…The leading cause for permanent deferral in our study was hypertension, diabetes and followed by high-risk behavior among donors with multiple sexual partners. This correlated with the study done by Atrri N et al 11 and Bahadur et al 26 who stated hypertension as the commonest cause of permanent deferral in their studies. The probable reason could be sight of blood, first time blood donation, fear of phlebotomy, white coat hypertension, stress and exercise.…”

“…In our study 20.6% of donors were deferred for permanent reasons. On comparison in other studies, Custer, et al 24 reported a permanent deferral rate of 10.6% and Arslan et al 25 reported a rate of 10% and Atti N et al 11 reported a permanent deferral rate of 18.6%. The leading cause for permanent deferral in our study was hypertension, diabetes and followed by high-risk behavior among donors with multiple sexual partners.…”

“…More number of deferrals were temporary (475/598 constituting about 79.4% and permanent deferral, about 20.6%. In a study by Attri N et al 11 temporary deferral constituting about 81.30% and permanent deferral, about 18.69%. Another study by E Sabri Priya 16 showed deferred due to temporary reasons was 65.7% and permanent reasons 34.3%.…”

“…In literature also temporary was of deferral was anemia in range of 32.53%-46%. 11,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Those with anemia have to be referred for further evaluation and treatment. Physiologically there is different cut-off for male and female so similar criteria should be followed during screening of male and female for donation so that rate of deferral due to anemia will decrease among female.…”