ARE SOME BLOOD-TRANSFUSIONS AVOIDABLE - A HOSPITAL RECORD ANALYSIS INMWANZA REGION, TANZANIA

Records of 497 patients who received and blood transfusion in Mwanza R egion, Tanzania, were analyzed in order to estimate the proportion of avoidable blood transfusions. This was part of a more comprehensive st udy which aims at the reduction of transfusion-associated HIV transmis sion. Blood transfusion recipients were divided into the following gro ups: operated patients (12%), pregnant women (8%), under-fives (62%), children aged 5-14 years (5%) and adults (13%). Two sets of criteria w ere applied to estimate the number of avoidable blood transfusions. Th e total proportion of avoidable blood transfusions wing these criteria were 32 and 56%, respectively. If the strictest criteria were applied the proportion of avoidable blood transfusions in operated patients w as 44%, in pregnant women with chronic anaemia 18%, in under-fives 62% , in children 31% and in adults 51%. It was concluded that a major red uction in the number of blood transfusions could be achieved, in parti cular in underfives.