Prevalence of Adverse Reaction to Whole Blood Donation Among Voluntary Donors in Asaba, Nigeria

Abstract

Fear of donation and adverse reaction to donation can lead to reduction in subsequent donations. The present study is designed 
to determine the incidence and the association of some predictive risk factors like age, sex, blood group, donation status, donors 
full blood count to adverse reaction during donation in Asaba Nigeria. Four hundred and fifty-nine (459) voluntary (nonremunerated) blood donors in Federal Medical Center, Asaba participated in the research from August 2015 to January 2016. 
The subjects consisted of 413 (90%) males and 46 (10%) females. Their blood samples were analyzed by standard techniques. 
All adverse reactions observed were classified and recorded. The overall incidence of adverse donor reaction was observed to be 
2.18% for needle injuries and 2.83% for vasovagal reactions. Dizziness a (mild vasovagal reaction) and bruising/hematoma were 
the most frequent complications associated with blood donation. The frequency of adverse reactions was higher in younger 
donors and female donors. Blood group B had a higher predictive value (Odd Ratio 1.112 (0.810-1903) for the association of 
risk factors to adverse donation. More first-time donors 8(1.74%) compared to 3(0.66%) periodic donors experienced more 
adverse events. The mean values of electrolytes (Na+, Cl- and HC03-) post donation was significantly different (p < 0.05) from 
pre-donation values. The prevalence of adverse events to blood donation in Asaba is low for vasovagal and needle injuries. Blood 
donation is safe. However, this can be made even safer by counseling donors before donation to promote better donor turnout.