Utilisation of blood transfusion service in north eastern Nigeria.

Background: Life can be saved through blood and blood component transfusions. However, people still die or remain at risk of transfusion-transmissible infections due to poor donor recruitment and selection, use of poorly screened blood and inappropriate use of blood and blood components. Objectives: To evaluate the pattern of blood component utilisation in northeastern Nigeria Setting: Department of Haematology and Blood transfusion of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Northeastern Nigeria. Methods: Both retrospective and prospective evaluation of records of the blood transfusion unit of the hospital from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. Data were collected on the number of unit requested, the source of the blood, whether from autologous, commercial or voluntary donation as well as family replacement or directed donations etc. Results: A total of 1066 blood component was requested for transfusion. The commonest prescribed blood type was whole blood (81.1%). Blood used was higher for Obstetrics and Gynaecological cases and least for paediatric surgical cases. The number of patients transfused with only 1 unit of blood constituted 49.3%. The proportion of donor category was 47.3% for directed or family replacement, 39.7% for commercial or paid donors, 12.2% for predeposit autologous donors and only 0.8% for voluntary donors. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there is inappropriate utilisation of blood component in the Hospital. There is a need to evaluate blood- transfusion practices and blood- banking services in all Nigerian hospitals in accordance with the National Blood Transfusion Policy. Keywords: Blood component utilisation, Northeastern Nigeria. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol. 5 (2) 2007 pp. 27-3