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Objectives: To compare knowledge, attitudes and risk perception related to blood donation and transfusion in Trinidad and Tobago and Bahamas. Background: Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas are two Caribbean countries whose national blood transfusion systems are heavily reliant (76.2% and 76%) on family replacement donors. The Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation recommends blood collection from exclusively voluntary nonremunerated donors on the grounds that family replacement donor‐based blood systems are unsafe and inadequate compared to those based on voluntary nonremunerated blood donors. Methods/Materials: A 23‐item questionnaire was distributed online by snowball sampling in these two countries to assess knowledge, attitudes, risk perception and behaviour. SPSS version 24 was used for interpretative and descriptive data analysis, chi‐square to measure significance and linear regression the strength of associations. p < 0.05 was used to define statistical significance. Results: Four hundred and fifty three (453) responses were obtained from Trinidad and Tobago and 101 from the Bahamas. Knowledge and positive attitudes were high in both countries (75.5% vs. 80.2%, p < 0.001 and 96.6% vs. 100%, p < 0.001). A substantial proportion of respondents held the perception that the local blood donation system was safe or very safe (26.4 and 61.4%, p < 0.001) that was linked to the misconception that the prevalent method of blood donation was voluntary nonremunerated (27.8 and 51.4%, p < 0.001). Concerns about receiving blood were underpinned by mistrust of transfusion‐related procedures. Conclusion: A social interface to transfer information between blood transfusion services and the community could encourage voluntary nonremunerated blood donation and reduce concerns about receiving transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Trinidad and Tobago is a developing country with a hospital‐based, replacement blood donation system, low annual donation rate and high frequency of donor transfusion transmissible infections. Previous studies suggest a need for more information to improve total donations and encourage conversion to voluntary non‐remunerated blood donation. The aim of this study was to investigate public knowledge and perceptions about receiving blood to derive information for designing a safe blood donation campaign. Materials and methods: A cross‐sectional, questionnaire‐based survey was administered to a non‐randomly selected sample of adults at seven health centres. Participants were surveyed for demographics, knowledge of the local transfusion service, confidence in safety checks and attitudes to blood receipt. Results: Of 400 respondents, a substantial proportion (38·2%) was unaware of inadequate blood bank stock. Only 18·4% correctly identified the method of blood donor recruitment in the country. Only 1·2% of participants were able to identify all from a list of six scenarios, in which blood is transfused. Although 86% would accept transfusion, most (84%) of these had concerns about acquiring infections and hospital‐related activities. Young persons and females had higher risk perception (P = 0·026 and P = 0·041). There was a positive association between confidence in the safety of blood donation processes and willingness to accept transfusion. Conclusion: A blood donor education programme should include all processes from donor recruitment to component administration to reduce the perceived risk of receiving blood in Trinidad and Tobago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives Trinidad and Tobago is a multi-ethnic, multicultural country with an annual blood donation rate of 17 per 1000 and predominantly (87%) family/replacement (F/R) donors. A knowledge, attitudes and practice ( KAP) community survey in 2003 revealed lack of information and poor access to donation centres as barriers to voluntary non-remunerated donors ( VNRD). The survey was repeated in 2013 after a national intervention to increase VNRD failed. Materials and methods The second cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was administered to 816 adults in the same community. The variables assessed were sociodemographics, knowledge, attitudes and blood donation behaviour. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software and Minitab 17. Chi-square was used to assign significance and logistic regression to analyse correlation between variables. Results of the two surveys were compared. Results There was no difference in the overall percentage of donors (18·8 vs. 21·1%, P = 0·337), and a low donor percentage was observed in all sociodemographic groups (7·7-31·6% vs. 10·2-31·7%). The main reason for donating blood was replacement for a relative or friend (86·0 vs. 86·9% P = 0·851). Willingness to repeat donation was high (90·6% vs. 86·4%, P = 0·006). Motivators and demotivators to donation varied among sociodemographic groups. Conclusion There was no significant change in community KAP between surveys. Anthropological studies into blood donation are needed to plan an effective revised and targeted blood donation campaign. Legal and regulatory changes must facilitate VNRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Objectives To assess the attitude towards voluntary non-remunerated blood donation among blood donors in Trinidad and Tobago ( TRT). Background Blood donors in TRT are either family replacement (F/R, 87%) or remunerated (13%). There is chronic blood shortage and high seroreactivity for transfusion-transmissible infections ( TTI) in donors. Converting existing to voluntary non-remunerated donors ( VNRD) reduces the need to recruit news donors in achieving 100% VNRD. Methods A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted at two blood collection centres at an interval of 8 years. Donors were surveyed for sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of the blood shortage, previous donation behaviour, donor-beneficiary linkage if F/R, willingness to become VNRD and choice of motivators for converting to VNRD. Results A total of 400 and 595 donors respectively participated in Surveys 1 and 2, of whom 92·8 and 86·3% were F/R ( P < 0·001), respectively. In both surveys, 52% of participants were unaware of an existing blood shortage ( P = 0·983). Only 9·8 and 9·1% of participants expressed unwillingness to become VNRD ( P = 0·720). The main motivators to convert to VNRD were reminders from the centre (84%) and extended opening hours (78%) in Survey 1 as compared to confidence that donated blood was used properly (73%) and shortened waiting times to donate (73%) in Survey 2. Conclusion Despite low awareness of blood shortage, willingness to become VNRD was high among existing donors. Accountability and donor convenience underpinned the main motivators for converting to VNRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the process, challenges and impact of developing a voluntary non-remunerated blood donor programme in a replacement- based blood donation system. Trinidad and Tobago is a developing country whose blood transfusion service is based on replacement and remunerated donors. The University of the West Indies Blood Donor Foundation was formed to promote voluntary non-remunerated donation through education, research and example. The process of establishing the Blood Donor Foundation was documented. Age, gender, number, history (first-time or repeat) and serological tests of donors attending 12 consecutive sessions between 2015 and 2018 were analyzed. Comparisons were made to published PAHO data for TTO's replacement blood donor system and the programme's impact on national policy described. Chi square analysis was used to measure significance of associations and p < 0.05 to assign statistical significance. After research and sensitization, 951 units of blood were collected, 50% from people in the 17–25 age group, 54% from females and 55% from repeat donors. Deferrals were <10% and initially reactive serological tests 1.2% compared to 43.6% and 3.04% respectively (p < 0.05 for both) for the national donor pool. The model was accepted for application nationally. A voluntary non-remunerated blood donation programme was successfully established within a replacement-based system providing a model for national adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]