title: Are some blood transfusions avoidable? A hospital record analysis in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gumodoka
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Ng'weshemi
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Kigadye
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Dolmans
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Borgdorff
mesh_terms: 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