title: Hispanic ethnicity, race and blood donation in the United States.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the hypothesis that blood donation rates vary with Hispanic ethnicity (family origin in Spanish-speaking countries) in addition to race in the United States. Lower blood donation rates have been reported among African Americans (AAs) compared with non-Hispanic European Americans (EAs). Adequate published reports on donation rates are not available for Hispanic Americans (HAs). Using data from a 2002 national survey, which included 4923 men and 7600 women aged 15-44 years with complete data, we tested the hypothesis using weighted bivariate and multivariate statistics. Among men aged 25-44 years, the percentage [95% confidence limits (95% CL)] with a history of blood donation since 1985 was similar at ages 25-34 years (46%, 42-49) and 35-44 years (41%, 37-45). It was highest in non-Hispanic EA (49%, 45-52%), intermediate in AA (35%, 30-40%) and lowest in HA (30%, 25-36%) (P < 0.001). Other variables significantly (P < 0.01) associated with history of blood donation in bivariate analyses were nativity (United States/other), education (<12/>or=12 years), poverty (<200%/>or=200% poverty limit) and married (yes/no). Variables that are not significantly associated were age, metropolitan residence (yes/no), receipt of public assistance (yes/no), current labour-force participation (yes/no) and religion raised. Compared with non-Hispanic EA, the adjusted odds ratios were essentially the same for Hispanics 0.66 (95% CL 0.47-0.92) and AAs 0.64 (95% CL 0.49-0.84). Only 34% of women had donated blood, but the association with race/ethnicity was similar. Similar patterns were also seen at ages 15-24 years. HAs and AAs have similar low blood donation rates compared with non-Hispanic EAs. The difference is not explained by sociodemographic variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA. frank.gillum@gmail.com
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gillum
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: McLaurin-Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012067:Religion; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult; D001741:Black or African American