The acceptability of volunteer, repeat blood donations in a hospital setting in the Adamaoua region of Cameroon

Abstract

The findings suggest that community members present at this district hospital in Cameroon may be recruited for repeat blood donations. Although the altruistic motivation to donate blood suggests that donors could be recruited from a district hospital population, targeted information about blood donations and accessible blood transfusion services need to be put in place. The study may add to the understanding of the preconditions for blood donations and the possibility to establish sustainable blood transfusion services in the Adamaoua region in Cameroon.

Residual risk of transfusion-transmitted malaria infection in a malaria endemic sub-Saharan African setting

“…During a 3-month high malaria transmission period in Douala, Cameroon, we recruited 250 blood donors at the DGH, with family-replacement donors representing 97.2% of all blood donors, the majority of whom were male (male/female sex ration of 30:1). Indeed, despite the high blood transfusion needs in sub-Saharan Africa regions, and the increased awareness of its populations, family relatives or acquaintances remain the principal blood donors in the region [4,8,[34][35][36]. This is different in Western countries and in North Africa, where blood supply is mainly based on volunteer donation [15,37,38].…”

Current approaches to increase blood donations in resource‐limited countries

“…In Cameroon, 84% of adults indicated they would allow their children to give blood, leaving the choice to the child (Rolseth et al . ). The lowering of donation age to 16 years was examined in the United States and found acceptable (Eder et al, ; Eder, ; Newman, ).…”

“…In Cameroon, 87% of FRD were prepared to donate again (Rolseth et al . ). Among factors critical for repeat donation were that the experience of the first donation was good and that donors felt good about their interaction with the blood collection staff (Mandisodza et al, ; Allain et al, ; Mauka et al, ; Allain & Smit‐Sibinga, ).…”

“…In Nigeria, 90% of HCW indicated that family members should be asked to give blood (Nwogoh et al, ); in Tanzania, this proportion reached 97% (Mauka et al, ). FRD was also highly recommended by the public in Cameroon (Rolseth et al ., ; Koster & Hassall, ). The importance of families' opinion, experience and willingness to donate for someone they know reflects the highly developed community‐oriented culture in SSA, and this should be taken into account to devise blood collection strategies (Owusu‐Ofori et al, ).…”

“…As deterrents, feeling unfit, lack of knowledge, a wide list of fears, various reasons for a negative attitude and cultural or religious barriers were identified. A relatively large number of reports have since been published exploring the deterrents and motivators for blood donation in SSA (Umeora et al, ; Agbovi et al, ; Nébié et al, ; Duboz et al, ; Koster & Hassall, ; Salaudeen & Odeh, ; Ben Amor et al, ; Nwogoh et al, ; Agasa & Likwela, ; Alinon et al, ; Mirutse et al, ; Nigatu & Demissie, ; Pule et al, ; Rolseth et al, ; Mauka et al, ; Muthivhi et al, ; Natukunda et al, ; Elias et al, ; Jemberu et al, ; Melku et al, ; Abera et al, ; Urgesa et al, ). Information was obtained from 10 countries, mostly from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria (Olaiya, ) and Tanzania.…”