Blood Transfusion a Silent Epidemic: A Case Study in a Semi-Urban Health Care Centre

             Dalhatu, A. & Muhammad S, Mijinyawa

Department of Nursing Sciences, Bayero University Kano

Department of Medicine, Bayero University Kano

E-mails: adamudalhatu206@gmail.com, profandnafs@yahoo.com  

ABSTRACT

Progress in any scientific discipline is dependent on the availability of techniques and methods that extend the range and sophistication of experiments that may be performed. Blood is a precious resource with an ever limiting supply due to the aging population. The saving of many lives in history has been partly credited to blood transfusions. Use of blood has not been based upon scientific evaluation of benefits, but mostly on anecdotal experience and so a variety of factors are challenging current practice. Risks of transfusions remain a major concern, with advances in blood screening and processing shifting the profile from infectious to non-infectious risks. Therefore, in an evidence-based medical practice the health care providers should regard transfusion with a skewed risk/benefit ratio. The study examined the prevalence of blood transfusion and documents the safety measures for transfusion.  A descriptive cross sectional study was used involving all subjects who met up with the requirements. A non probability purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit the total sample size of sixty. After obtaining informed written consent for the study, all subjects who met the inclusion criteria were successfully enrolled in to the study. Data were collected using standardized data collection form based on CDC/WHO criteria. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that most subjects were of adult ages with female preponderance. There was a high prevalence rate of transfusion with hemorrhagic conditions being the leading cause .It was also found that transfusion and HEV, HGV and HTLV-1&11 screening were not routinely carried out on the donors. Blood transfusion complication were developed in 5(8.33%) out which two had febrile reaction, there was however no mortality. The study concluded that the safety of blood product and blood product is a major public health and clinical concern. Therefore, it is recommended that health care personnel should regard transfusion with a skewed risk/benefit ratio and should always include all stake holders in decision making in the clinical evaluation of a patient considered for transfusion as a device for patient safety. Finally, blood transfusion should be considered as an inter-dependent role (nurse-physician and laboratory scientist)