OBJECTIVES

With sub-Saharan African countries being unable to meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for blood collections, the objective of this research was to understand drivers and barriers for voluntary blood donation through the lens of blood donors. This became especially important to local authorities as with COVID-19 blood donation levels dropped even further below recommendations by the WHO.

METHODS

A focus group was organized bringing together inhabitants from Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. We searched for consensus by means of the Delphi method on patient indications in strong need for blood transfusion as well as drivers and barriers to donate blood as an individual. Next the drivers and barriers for blood transfusion were sequenced to identify the root causes and consequent causes.

RESULTS

Identified as priority indications for blood transfusion with a strong awareness within the location population were post-partum hemorrhage, sickle cell disease, malaria and infant leukemia. Participants identified these indications being a strong driver for their willingness to donate. Reasons not to donate blood included poor facilities and infrastructure making donors feel unsafe, the perception of corruption, inability to correctly store blood and consequences in terms of hemovigilance, worries about risk of infection during blood donation, missing clarity on whom receives the blood, missing training on blood collection, storage and transfusion, few locations to donate blood, missing motivation to donate, missing remuneration for blood donation.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the countries of investigation the donating population perceives multiple barriers to donate whilst at the same time understanding that there is a substantial patient need for blood transfusion. Barriers are in place over the continuum of the blood supply chain, from vein to vein, from donor to patient.