First-time blood donors: demographic trends.
BACKGROUND
With changing demographics of the United States population and the continuous need to recruit new donors, it is important to monitor the demographic profile of first-time donors and to evaluate changes in the donor pool to improve recruitment targeting.


METHODS
First-time whole blood (n = 901,862) donors at five United States blood centers between 1991 and 1996 were analyzed.


RESULTS
The total number of first-time donors appears to be decreasing. Over the 6-year period, there was an overall increase in the proportion of Hispanic and other minority first-time donors and a concurrent decrease in the proportion of white donors at Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study centers. Other variables, including age, sex, and education, did not show a consistent trend.


CONCLUSIONS
The demographic profile of first-time donors is changing. These data highlight the importance for blood centers to continuously monitor the donor population. A better understanding of the donor population may help blood centers adjust their donor outreach, recruitment, and retention programs. New recruitment efforts appear needed to counter general apathy toward donating blood, and minority groups appear to be receptive to becoming blood donors.
Westat, Rockville, Maryland, USA. wuyl@yahoo.com
Y
Y
Wu
S A
SA
Glynn
G B
GB
Schreiber
D J
DJ
Wright
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A
Lo
E L
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Murphy
S H
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Kleinman
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Garratty
D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data