Blood donors in Kenya: a comparison of voluntary and family replacement donors based on a population-based survey
Kimani, D.; Mwangi, J.; Mwangi, M.; Bunnell, R.; Kellogg, T.A.; Oluoch, T.; Gichangi, A.; Kaiser, R.; Mugo, N.; Odongo, T.; Oduor, M.; Marum, L.; Arnold, M.; Baltazar, G.; Baya, I.; Bore, J.; Dadabhai, S.; Dale, H.; Ichwara, J.; Hightower, A.; Galgalo, T.; Gichimu, C.; Kichamu, G.; Kim, A.; Kim, E.; Kipruto, S.; K'opiyo, G.; Makokha, E.; Marston, B.; Marum, L.; Mburu, M.; Mermin, J.; Mirjahangir, J.; Mpazanje, R.; Mohamed, I.; Muriithi, P.; Muttunga, J.; Ngare, C.; Nyoka, R.; Odawo, L.; Ogo
Vox Sanguinis 100(2): 212-218
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1423-0410 PMID: 20738836 DOI: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2010.01376.xDocument Number: 216171
Blood safety and sufficiency are major challenges in Kenya and other sub-Saharan African countries forcing many countries to rely on family replacement donors (FRD). We analysed data from a national AIDS indicator survey to describe blood donors in Kenya and potential risks of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) comparing voluntary donors and FRD. A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2007 among 15- to 64-year-olds. Consenting participants were interviewed about blood donation history and were tested for HIV, HSV-2 and syphilis. Of the 17,940 people surveyed, 445 (2·3%) reported donating blood in the prior 12 months. Sixty-four per cent were voluntary donors, and the rest were FRD. Compared to FRD, the majority of voluntary donors were <25 years old (59% versus 18%), from the highest wealth quintile (57% versus 42%) and single (64% versus 23%). In addition, voluntary donors were less likely to have been sexually active than replacement donors (43% versus 13%). HIV prevalence was lower among voluntary donors than among FRD (2·6% versus 7·4%, P-value=0·07). The majority of blood donors in Kenya are voluntary with lower potential risk of TTI.