title: A national mapping assessment of blood collection and transfusion service facilities in Afghanistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess functionality and resources of facilities providing blood collection and transfusion services in Afghanistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This national cross-sectional assessment included facilities collecting or transfusing blood identified through official data sources and private key informants. At each facility, study representatives completed a standardized instrument assessing presence of records logbook, electricity, refrigeration, and required transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI; human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C) test kits. Descriptive statistics were generated, with differences analyzed using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between August and November 2010, a total of 243 facilities were surveyed with public (52.3%, n = 127) and private (43.2%, n = 105) sector comprising the majority. Most (63%) facilities were urban, with 23.5% located in Kabul province. Of 92,682 units collected nationally in the 12 months before evaluation, 7.5% (n = 6952) had no disposition record. Many (62%, n = 151) facilities had an established recordkeeping system; the remainder provided estimates. Half of surveyed facilities had regular power supply (57.8%), refrigerators for storing blood (52.3%), or all necessary TTI test kits (62.1%). Military (83.3%) and public (74.8%) facilities were more likely to have all TTI test kits present compared to private (46.7%, p < 0.01) but not nongovernmental organization (40.0%, p = 0.37) facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Afghanistan, blood donation and transfusion occur with substantial differences in data recording and TTI test availability, with private facilities less likely to have these resources. Efforts are needed to improve available resources and ensure that facilities are in compliance with national standards for donor screening.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection and Research Organisation, the Afghan National Blood Safety and Transfusions Services, Ministry of Public Health, Kabul, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
authors.forename: G Farooq
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.forename: Ahmad Masoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: M Aziz
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kakar
authors.forename: Pashtoon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hashimy
authors.forename: Parwiz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abrahimi
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rentas
authors.forename: Catherine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D000346:Afghanistan; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans