Background and objectives: Compared to industrialised nations, countries in
sub-Saharan Africa experience a greater amount of transfusion-associated HIV
transmission due to high rates of transfusion in some groups of patients, a higher
incidence and prevalence of HIV infection in donor populations, a lack of HIV
antibody screening in some areas, and a higher residual risk of contamination in
blood supplies despite antibody screening. Materials and methods: Epidemiologic
review. Results: Epidemiologic evidence supports the effectiveness of
three relatively inexpensive strategies to prevent transfusion-associated HIV
transmission in sub-Saharan Africa: HIV antibody screening, avoidance of unnecessary
use of blood products, and exclusion of donors at high risk of infection.
Such prevention strategies have not been universally implemented. Conclusions:
International aid to establish and maintain HIV antibody screening programmes,
implementation of sound criteria for transfusion, and the search for
HIV risk factors to use as donor exclusion criteria must be expanded in the region.