Comparison of the demographic and social profile of blood donors and nondonors in Brazil

Abstract

Population-based studies on blood donation prevalence and its association with sociodemographic and behavioural factors are scarce, but remain the best approach to assess correlates of donation, including those which could be the target for donor recruitment campaigns. This study describes the population of primary healthcare users from the public system in a medium-sized Brazilian municipality to investigate the association of blood donation practice with other sociodemographic factors. A stratified, representative sample of primary healthcare users at 12 healthcare facilities in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, were invited to participate. Analysis focused on demographic and psychosocial factors including, sex, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, educational level, health insurance, self-perception of health, religious beliefs, and blood donation history. Blood donors, self-defined ineligible donors, and never donors were compared. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was used to assess positively and negatively associated variables in the dataset. MCA was conducted on respondents' age and monthly household income to assess dimensionality of other questionnaire responses. Of a total of 1,055 study participants, 79.7% were females and the mean age was 40.6 years. Blood donation practice was reported by 246 participants (23.3%), 669 (63.4%) had never donated, and 140 (13.3%) reported being unable to donate blood. Graphical presentation of the MCA showed that male, older age groups, those who have health insurance, and with higher socioeconomic and educational level are more likely to donate blood. Poor or average self-perception of health, lower socioeconomic status, and divorced or widowed marital status were associated with self-defined inability to donate blood. Thus, our results are useful to understand the multifactorial nature of blood donation behaviour. Our findings provide guidance for targeted recruitment campaigns focused on relevant contextual factors. The focus on reducing barriers to blood donation according to sociodemographic groups can be a relevant strategy to expand the donor base.

Epidemiological risk factors associated with primary infection by Epstein–Barr virus in HIV-1-positive subjects in the Brazilian Amazon region

“…It is argued that the lifestyle associated with a high education level can lead to both an increase and a decrease in the risk of HIV infection, depending on the balance of the different influences on behavior 71 . In the present study, more vulnerable socioeconomic profiles were associated with the risk of infection; in contrast, favorable profiles were prevalent among blood donors, a feature relevant to this altruistic activity 72 . This finding illustrates the sociodemographic complexity between the factors 'education' and 'income' that result in better conditions of access and social participation.…”

Knowing the Blood Nondonor to Activate Behaviour

“…The results allowed us to conclude that an important segment to increasing the donor pool is made up of younger women with lower levels of education and income, who live in places with fewer inhabitants. These results are supported by previous literature (Wittock et al 2017;Zucoloto et al 2019a). Additionally, centres must make efforts to reduce the discouraging effect of psychological and physical barriers on the intention to donate, as well as incentivise (impure) altruistic motivations of this nondonor segment (Beerli-Palacio and Martín-Santana 2015; Polonsky et al 2015).…”

“…Despite its importance in satisfying patients' medical and surgical needs, there is a worrying imbalance between blood offer and demand (World Health Organization and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 2010). This imbalance is caused by multiple factors, e.g., the increasing number of procedures requiring blood transfusion, an aging population, the tighter donor screening criteria and the perishable nature of blood (Zucoloto et al 2019a;Vavić et al 2012). In addition, even though approximately 40% of the male and female population are eligible to donate blood, only 5-10% donate (Custer et al 2012;Lacetera and Macis 2010).…”

“…However, donor recruitment efforts carried out by blood transfusion centres have not been successful, as most centres have suffered a decrease in new donor recruitment, in spite of the high amount of promotion campaigns (Carter et al 2011). For this reason, studying variables that determine the behaviour of nondonors (individuals who have never donated blood) is essential for blood transfusion centres (Zucoloto et al 2019a), with intention to donate being the variable explained in most studies that research this group of people (e.g., Reid and Wood 2008;Robinson et al 2008).…”

Blood Donation Fear, Perceived Rewards, Self-Efficacy, and Intention to Return Among Whole Blood Donors in China: A Social Cognitive Perspective

“…Historical studies have demonstrated the motivators and deterrents of blood donation behaviors and intentions, including altruism ( Bednall et al, 2013 ), the perceived need for donation ( Abolfotouh et al, 2014 ), self-efficacy ( van Dongen et al, 2012 ), fear ( Shaz et al, 2010 ; France and France, 2018 ; Gilchrist et al, 2019 ; Zucoloto et al, 2019a ), and extrinsic rewards ( Bednall et al, 2013 ). As some donors carefully weigh up the perceived benefits and costs of donating, fear has been a significant cause of rejecting blood donation again ( Shaz et al, 2010 ; France et al, 2019 ).…”