The increasing trend of blood donation in Iran

Abstract

BackgroundThis is the first study on the blood donation trend in Iran at a national level. We report different characteristics of blood donation such as demographic status, donor type, donation trend, and geographical distribution of blood donation in Iran between 2003 and 2017.MethodsThis study used data registered in the donor vigilance part of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and ArcMap GIS version 10.2 software. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsBased on the study results, blood donation in Iran reached >2 million units in 2017; moreover, it is predicted that Iran will achieve >29 donations per 1,000 population in 2022. The proportion of regular and repeated donors increased from 77% in 2013 to 87% in 2017. The average blood donation rate in seven provinces was higher than the national average, and the average growth rate of their blood donation per population was positive.ConclusionThe results of the current study showed that there is a recent increasing trend toward blood donation in Iran. Furthermore, the largest share of donations is related to regular donors. The increasing proportion of regular and repeated donors has led to the improvement in the quality and consequently health level of donated blood.

Analysis of blood donors’ characteristics and deferrals related to COVID-19 in Iran

“…Two groups of 18−24 and 45−54-year-old blood donors, at the time of COVID-19 outbreak, showed an increase in the number compared to the same period last year. According to the previous reports, the frequency of regular donors was higher in older age-groups [ 15 ], so it was unpredictable to see a higher number of donations in the age-group of 18−24 years during the outbreak and we were expected that the age-groups with the most regular donors would be the most involved. It is likely that the closure of educational centers and Universities in Iran could have increased the presence of this age-group at BTCs.…”

“…Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), established in May 1974, is the only national organization in Iran that consists of 31 main blood transfusion centers (BTCs), which are located in all 31 provinces of country [ 14 ]. IBTO provides the blood components for all of the hospitals throughout the country with a total blood donation rate of about 26 per 1000 population in 2017 and more than two million units of whole blood per year [ 15 ]. Regular, repeated, and first-time blood donors were accounted for 53 %, 28 %, and 18 % of the total blood collected, respectively [ 16 ].…”

“…Approximately 20 % of Iranian blood donors are temporarily or permanently deferred from blood donation. The average deferral rates vary slightly in different years in Iran [ 15 ], but the difference in the deferrals varies widely in the different seasons. For example, in summer usually the deferral rate is higher, which is due to some parameters including the hemoglobin related deferral, compared to the other seasons [17] .…”

“…For example, in summer usually the deferral rate is higher, which is due to some parameters including the hemoglobin related deferral, compared to the other seasons [17] . The reported pattern for Iran reveals the most of deferrals (88.6 %) as temporary with more frequency in first-time donors (43 %) [ 15 ].…”

“…However, IBTO considered some measures; such as the use of the social media to inform people, call for the Health Ministry to encourage all of the hospitals to cancel elective surgeries, the use of the enough personal protective equipment for employees and donors and so on to counter this condition[21].This study revealed that despite the decline in the total number of blood donors, the percent change in the first-time donors increased significantly compared to the same period last year. Regarding the high frequency of first-time donors among the young age donors in Iran[15], it seems that the closure of all educational institutions and universities due to COVID-19 in Iran and the announcement of a relatively low attack rate of COVID-19 in young age-group[22] have probably increased the chances of young blood volunteers referring to BTCs. Also it can be due to a dramatic change in donor recruitment activities during the period including using the social media and patient advocacy groups for encouraging the donors, activation an online blood donation appointment system throughout the country, meeting with members of the Association of Thalassaemia and Haemophilia Patients in order to attract their cooperation in recruiting blood donors, and the establishment of a station for measuring body temperature and mask distribution to protect blood donors in each BTC[23].…”