Towards total voluntary non-remunerated blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT

Objective: Investigate the historical origins of voluntary nonremunerated blood donation (VNRD) and describe a UWI-led initiative. Design and Methodology: Historical review was performed using internet searches, documents, books, journals, interviews. Data from blood donor cards and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets was collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively. Donors were classified by age, gender, donation status (first-time or repeat) and donation outcome (accepted or deferred). The prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections and deferrals in donors was compared to the national donor pool using Chi square analysis to compare proportions and a p value < 0.05 to assign statistical significance. Results: Human to human blood transfusion and voluntary non-remunerated blood donation were first practised in metropolitan countries and amplified in large scale community blood donation programmes during World War II. Blood donation systems based on individual, transactional donations emerged in most developing countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, causing low donation rates, chronic blood shortage, unequal access, high donor infections and high donor deferrals. A voluntary non-remunerated blood donation programme started by the UWI Blood Donor Foundation and the North Central Health Authority has collected 660 units of blood in its first three years, the majority from persons aged 16 -25 age (52%), females (52%) and repeat donors (51%). Deferrals were < 10% and total transfusion transmissible infections in donors 0.9% compared with 43.6% and 2.4 % respectively (p < 0.05 for both) for the involuntary national donor pool. Conclusion: This model could be extended to all blood donation centres and the community to achieve 100% VNRD.