Pattern and Prevalence of Donor Deferral at Federal Medical Centre Nguru: A 5-Year Retrospective Review

Abstract

Blood donation entails the collection, screening, processing, and storage of blood for transfusion, essential for obstetric emergencies, childhood anaemia, trauma, chronic haematologic disorders, and major surgeries. The global blood supply remains insufficient, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Northeastern Nigeria, high anaemia prevalence and transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) worsen shortages, while donor deferrals further shrink the eligible pool. This study evaluated the pattern and prevalence of donor deferral at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Nguru over five years. A retrospective cross-sectional review of donor records from January 2019 to December 2023 was conducted. All prospective donors with complete records were included through total enumeration. Data extracted from donor registers and deferral forms were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics to summarize donor demographics and patterns of deferral. Ethical approval was obtained. Of the 6,790 screened donors, 998 (14.70%) were deferred; however, 101 lacked documented age (recorded only as “adult”), and thus 897 (13.21%) deferred donors were included in the final analysis. Deferred donors were predominantly young males, with a mean age of 29.4 ± 7.7 years and a male-to-female ratio of 298:1, and the majority were family-replacement donors (95%). Permanent deferrals (85.6%) were chiefly due to HBV (51.4%), followed by HCV (18.7%), VDRL (11.3%), and HIV (4.2%). Temporary deferrals (14.4%) were mostly due to low PCV (9.6%). Age and occupation were significantly associated with deferral (p = 0.0001). Preventable deferrals underscore the importance of voluntary donor recruitment, nutritional support, hepatitis B vaccination, and targeted education to enhance donor retention and blood safety.