Met and unmet blood demand, recipients profiles and associated trends in Eritrea

Abstract

ObjectiveTo estimate Eritrean national blood demand and demand satisfaction and to assess the associated trend of blood and blood products usage.BackgroundEstimating blood demand to determine collection goals is a challenge in many low‐income countries, including Eritrea.MethodologyThis study was a 5‐year survey of a representative sample of hospitals and was conducted in the National Blood Transfusion Center of Eritrea. Four referral hospitals in Asmara were selected. Blood bank registers and blood request papers were reviewed retrospectively from 2013 to 2017 to determine the number of components requested and the number and units issued. Data were calculated for annual trends in the difference between request and issue of blood products and the annual national estimate.ResultsThe largest met‐demand percentages were seen for International Organization for Cardiac Centre Asmara (IOCCA) (88.63%) followed by surgeries (79.49%), active bleeding (73.76%) and anaemia (67.82%), which were mostly requested for adult patients (>40 years). The mean value of requested products and issued products per patient were 2.50 (±0.972) and 1.81 (±0.839), respectively. The calculated correlation coefficient for the difference between demand and demand satisfaction was strong (R2 = 0.967), implying an increasing linear difference. It was estimated that nearly 72% of blood component demand was met over the 5 years.ConclusionEven though there was an increase in blood collection over years, the Eritrean National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) still falls short in satisfying the full demand.

Innovative blood transfusion strategies to address global blood deserts: a consensus statement from the Blood Delivery via Emerging Strategies for Emergency Remote Transfusion (Blood DESERT) Coalition

“…Several studies have attempted to understand these data, relying on historical data and projection models. 11 , 12 In Tanzania, researchers sampled hospitals over a 3-month period and extrapolated these data to establish the unmet need of transfusions. 11 Another group conducted a retrospective study of hospitals over 5 years in Eritrea.…”

“… 11 Another group conducted a retrospective study of hospitals over 5 years in Eritrea. 12 These studies highlight the challenges that exist in accurately measuring the unavailability of blood (ie, unmet need), including the absence of clarity and consistency in applied definitions of blood demand versus blood need, a change in ordering practices for blood products in the face of scarcity, and the inability to accurately quantify pre-hospital need for blood. Retrospective studies of blood bank transfusion records might not accurately capture true demand.…”