Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood donation and transfusion in Nigeria – A multi-facility study of 34 tertiary hospitals
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Date
2021
Authors
Oreh, A
Bozegha, T
Ihimekpen, A
Biyama, F
Irechukwu, C
Aliu, S
Oshiame, D
Nnabuihe, A
Ndanitsa, A
Nnachi, O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Vox Sanguinis
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affectedblood donation activities. For countries like
Nigeria that were already struggling with meeting blood needs, the possible impact on
national blood supplies was terrifying. Mobile blood drive campaigns halted, and voluntary
blood donations reduces, challenging available blood supplies. Furthermore, fears of the of
virus transmission led to deferrals of elective surgeries and non-urgent clinical procedures
with npoticeable declines in blood donations and transfusions.
Aims: We aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of blood
donations and transfusions across the country by blood product type across departments
including accident and emergency, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, surgery and
internal medicine.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted to determine the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on blood services in thirty-four (34) tertiary hospitals in Nigeria,
comparing January to July 2019 (pre-COVID-19) to January to July 2020 (peri-COVID-19). Data
was collected from the country's web-based software District Health Information System,
Version 2 (DHIS2), the platform for the National Health Management Information System
(HMIS) and analysed using SPSS Version 25.
Results: A 17.1% decline in numbers of blood donations was observed over the study
period, especially in April 2020 (44.3%). Similarly, a 21.7% decline was observed in numbers
of blood transfusions over the same period, with the month of April 2020 experiencing the sharpest declines (44.3%). The highest declines in transfusion were noted in surgery
department for fresh frozen plasm (80.1%) p = 0.012 and accident and emergency
department transfusion of platelets (78.3%) p = 0.005. The least decline of statistical
significance was observed in internal medicine transfusions of whole blood (19.6%)
p = 0.011.
Summary/Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the numbers of
blood donations and transfusions in Nigeria. STrengthening blood services to provide
various blood components and secure safe blood supplies during public health emergencies
is therefore critical.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Blood needs , Pandemic , Blood donations , Nigeria , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Oreh, A., Bozegha, T., Ihimekpen, A., Biyama, F., Irechukwu, C. and Aliu, S. et al. (2021). Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood donation and transfusion in Nigeria – A multi-facility study of 34 tertiary hospitals. Vox sanguinis. P-246. 334-336.