Blood component use in a sub-Saharan African country: Results of a four-year evaluation of diagnoses associated with transfusion orders in Namibia

National blood use patterns in sub-Saharan Africa are poorly described. While malaria and maternal hemorrhage remain important drivers of blood demand across Africa, economic growth and changes in malaria, HIV/AIDS, and non-communicable disease epidemiology may contribute to changes in blood demand. We evaluated indications for blood utilization in Namibia, a country in southern Africa, using a nationally representative sample and discuss implications for the region. Clinical and demographic data related to the issuance of blood component units in Namibia were reviewed for a four year period (August 1, 2007 - July 31, 2011).

Source: Transfusion Medicine Reviews - November 26, 2014 Category: Hematology Authors: John P. Pitman, Robert Wilkinson, Yang Liu, Bjorn von Finckenstein, Cees Th. Smit Sibinga, David W. Lowrance, Anthony A. Marfin, Maarten J. Postma, Mary Mataranyika, Sridhar V. Basavaraju Source Type: research