title: A study of blood transfusion services at a district hospital in Malawi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Severe anaemia is an important cause of mortality in developing countries. However, few studies have explored the use of and possibilities for blood transfusion services. The aims of this study are to explore the use of blood transfusion services at a hospital in sub-Saharan Africa and to assess the quality of the transfusion services according to WHO guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient age, gender, haemoglobin (Hb) level, diagnosis, hospital department and replacement donations were recorded for all blood transfusions administered at a district hospital in Malawi in January 2010. The laboratory equipment and procedures were scored according to WHO guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Hb of transfused patients was 4·8 g/dl. Fifty-seven per cent (59/104) of the transfusions were given to children diagnosed with malaria, and 17% (18/104) were given to pregnant women. During the study period, blood was in stock and available for transfusion within 1 h of requisition. The equipment and procedures at this hospital met the main criteria for an adequate WHO stage of development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to the advanced transfusion medicine in developed nations, our findings highlight the persistent and urgent need for life-saving blood transfusions in especially young children and pregnant women in Africa. The results indicate that blood transfusion services adapted to local conditions may be a realistic solution for providing safe blood products in developing countries. Serious challenges, such as HIV transmission and sustainable organization of low-risk blood donations should be addressed to assure access to safe blood products.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors: H F
authors: HF
authors: Bugge
authors: N C T
authors: NC
authors: Karlsen
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Oydna
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Rake
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Wexels
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bendabenda
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Roald
authors: H E
authors: HE
authors: Heier
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Chisuwo
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Jourdan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy*; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization