Awareness about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and challenges for blood services among potential blood donors

Management of hemotherapy services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to analyze the management of hemotherapy services (HS) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of municipal managers in different regions of Brazil. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was applied to HS managers in the three Brazilian capitals, from different regions of Brazil, during the period between September 2021 and April 2022. The textual content of the interviews was submitted to lexicographic textual analysis using the free access software, Iramuteq. The managers' perceptions resulted from the descending hierarchical classification (DHC) analysis, which generated six classes: availability of resources for the development of work; installed capacity of services; strategies and challenges for attracting blood donors; risks and worker protection; measures for crisis management; and communication strategies for the adhesion of candidates for donation. The analysis highlighted several strategies used by the management, as well as pointed out limits and challenges for HS organization and management, exacerbated in the context of the pandemic.

Motivations and deterrents of blood donation among blood donors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a reduction in blood donations and limited blood supply in many countries. The theory of planned behaviour has been widely used in past studies to understand the factors influencing blood donation. However, this theory limits analyses to the individual level. Furthermore, most research on the determinants of blood donation during the COVID-19 pandemic is quantitative in nature, with relevant qualitative research being rare.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the motivators and demotivators for donating blood among current blood donors during COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

Forty in-depth, individual semistructured interviews were conducted with current blood donors from December 2020 to March 2021 in Hong Kong. Thematic content analysis was adopted in the data analysis.

RESULTS

The majority of the participants (n = 37) were demotivated from donating blood during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors at the perceptual, social and institutional levels interacted to cause this reluctance. Only three participants felt more motivated to donate blood. The data revealed that sociocultural forces and government pandemic prevention policies strongly affected the participants' motivations to donate blood during the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

This study presents a macro understanding of blood donation behaviour by investigating the institutional, social and perceptual factors influencing current blood donors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This adds a more comprehensive understanding of blood donation where the theory of planned behaviour is widely used in past studies.

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The participants shared their experiences in the interviews. Their experiences provide hints for explaining the decreasing blood donation during the pandemic times.

Exploring Blood Donation Challenges and Mobilization Mechanisms in North China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Purpose

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the supply of blood globally, resulting in numerous studies focusing on the challenges in maintaining blood supply, and the responses to it, in countries with a mixed blood donation model. This study explored blood donation challenges and mobilization mechanisms in North China, which employs a non-remunerative donation model, during the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave.

Materials and Methods

A qualitative approach was adopted to investigate blood donation practices in Chengde from April to June 2020. Data were collected from eight blood donors, six potential donors, three blood donation station leaders, and two government officials, through semi-structured interviews.

Results

The major challenge for blood supply was decreased blood donations, owing to lockdown restrictions, and individual and familial apprehensions. Mobilization mechanisms included bureaucratic and ideological mobilization. However, although group blood donation alleviates the pressure on supply chains during emergencies, it is detrimental to the cultivation of civic engagement in the long run.

Conclusion

This study contributes to the understanding of how countries with uncompensated blood donation models respond to public health emergencies. It suggests that striking a balance between the society’s and the state’s perception of blood donation would allow the state to incorporate the different “voices” of society, and devise an inclusive blood donation policy.

COVID-19 and Saudi Arabia: Awareness, Attitude, and Practice

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has transformed our appreciation of healthcare awareness worldwide. The amount of related data accumulated during this time has surpassed any other outbreak of a viral pathogen. Healthcare awareness is related to one of the nine pillars of the “World health organization (WHO) operational planning guidelines to support country preparedness and response”. This review is structured around the awareness/knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP)-related publications in Saudi Arabia up to date to understand the impact of COVID-19 on these domains. The excellent communication effort response from governments, international, and individuals to keep the public informed about the outbreak is highlighted. Unraveling such impacts on the Saudi communities, including healthcare workers (HCWs)/professionals (HCPs), students, patients with different diseases, and non-professional individuals, is essential in containing the outbreak and planning preventive measures in case of future outbreaks.

Donor's Perspectives on Blood Donation During Covid-19 Pandemic

Covid-19 pandemic had affected transfusion services including recruitment of donors and blood donation camps activities. The blood donors may have concerns, confusion, and misleading rumours about blood donation during pandemic. People's priorities for blood donation may shift because of a dearth of necessities. It is important to identify factors which prevent or motivate blood donors during pandemic. This study was designed to understand blood donors' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. A descriptive cross-sectional study to assess donor’s knowledge, attitude, and perception regarding blood donation using self-administered 20 questions. The study duration was 4 months. A total 503 whole blood donors participated. The fear of infection and reduced blood donor motivation were observed to be the major deterrents of blood donation activity. Environment of blood donation area and travel to blood donation site were perceived two major sources of Covid-19 infection by participants. The top 3 motivational factor for blood donation were direct patient request to donate (30%), followed by family/ friends need and social media campaigns (26% each). Most donors (70.6%) were aware of importance of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour during current pandemic. The 67% donors felt that adequate Covid-19 preventive measures had been followed by the staff involved in blood collection. Based on the survey results, the inferences are that donors may harbour fear of infection and concerns for their safety, deterring blood donation. The direct appeal from a patient's relative to donate blood or a requirement in their family/friends and social media appeals emerge important factors to motivate donors. Travel facility arrangement may aide blood donation. Most of the donors are more than satisfied with the blood donation experience and are motivated to inform the transfusion services of any appearance of Covid-19 symptoms post donation. The donors were satisfied with the steps to reduce Covid-19 infection.