title: Knowledge of HIV testing and attitudes towards blood donation at three blood centres in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reducing risk of HIV window period transmission requires understanding of donor knowledge and attitudes related to HIV and risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of 7635 presenting blood donors at three Brazilian blood centres from 15 October through 20 November 2009. Participants completed a questionnaire on HIV knowledge and attitudes about blood donation. Six questions about blood testing and HIV were evaluated using maximum likelihood chi-square and logistic regression. Test seeking was classified in non-overlapping categories according to answers to one direct and two indirect questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, respondents were male (64%) repeat donors (67%) between 18 and 49 years old (91%). Nearly 60% believed blood centres use better HIV tests than other places; however, 42% were unaware of the HIV window period. Approximately 50% believed it was appropriate to donate to be tested for HIV, but 67% said it was not acceptable to donate with risk factors even if blood is tested. Logistic regression found that less education, Hemope-Recife blood centre, replacement, potential and self-disclosed test-seeking were associated with less HIV knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV knowledge related to blood safety remains low among Brazilian blood donors. A subset finds it appropriate to be tested at blood centres and may be unaware of the HIV window period. These donations may impose a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply. Decreasing test-seeking and changing beliefs about the appropriateness of individuals with behavioural risk factors donating blood could reduce the risk of transfusing an infectious unit.
authors: Fundação Hemominas Hemocentro de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Miranda
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Moreno
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bruhn
authors: N M
authors: NM
authors: Larsen
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Wright
authors: C D L
authors: CD
authors: Oliveira
authors: A B F
authors: AB
authors: Carneiro-Proietti
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Loureiro
authors: C
authors: C
authors: de Almeida-Neto
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Custer
authors: E C
authors: EC
authors: Sabino
authors: T T
authors: TT
authors: Gonçalez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D058731:Blood Safety; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV knowledge; blood donation; test-seeking