Are some blood transfusions avoidable? A hospital record analysis in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.
Records of 497 patients who received a blood transfusion in Mwanza Region, Tanzania, were analyzed in order to estimate the proportion of avoidable blood transfusions. This was part of a more comprehensive study which aims at the reduction of transfusion-associated HIV transmission. Blood transfusion recipients were divided into the following groups: operated patients (12%), pregnant women (8%), under-fives (62%), children aged 5-14 years (5%) and adults (13%). Two sets of criteria were applied to estimate the number of avoidable blood transfusions. The total proportion of avoidable blood transfusions using these criteria were 32 and 56%, respectively. If the strictest criteria were applied the proportion of avoidable blood transfusions in operated patients was 44%, in pregnant women with chronic anaemia 18%, in under-fives 62%, in children 31% and in adults 51%. It was concluded that a major reduction in the number of blood transfusions could be achieved, in particular in under-fives.
Vos
J
J
Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Gumodoka
B
B
Ng'weshemi
J Z
JZ
Kigadye
F C
FC
Dolmans
W M
WM
Borgdorff
M W
MW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006753:Hospital Records; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013636:Tanzania