BLOOD DONATION AS A LINK IN THE TRANSFUSION SYSTEM: BEFORE AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Keywords:
blood donors, voluntary, family, first-time, Covid-19 pandemicAbstract
Blood needs in the Republic of North Macedonia range from 55,000 to 58,000 units per year, of which 10-16% of hospitalized patients receive blood and 50-60% of surgical patients. Blood donation in our country ranges from 2.7%, or 27 blood donors per 1,000 inhabitants. Of all this, 90% of the donation is voluntary, and 10% is familial. We have an increased percentage of familial donation in 2020, which is due to the situation with the pandemic caused by COVID-19 and the increased need for blood.
Objective: The aim of the paper is to show the percentage of voluntary and familial blood donation among the population, over a period of three years during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the last three years.
Material and methods: The data for this scientific paper were collected during blood donation campaigns at the Transfusion Medicine Service (STM) Kochani. The data were statistically processed and presented in appropriate tables and graphs.
Results: The number of voluntary and family donors was 1581 blood donors, over a three-year period (2019-2021), during the Covid-19 pandemic, respectively 407 for 2019, 539 for 2020 and 635 for 2021. In the last three years (2022-2024), the number of blood donors was 1719, respectively 563 for 2022, 582 for 2023 and 574 for 2024. Of these, 1524 (88.66%) are men, and 195 (11.34%) are women. According to the percentage representation, the most blood donors are with blood group A Rh+, O Rh+ and B Rh+, the least with AB Rh- and B Rh-.
Conclusion: Blood products produced at the Republic Institute for Transfusion Medicine - Skopje and in other transfusion services in the Republic of N.Macedonia are safe and controlled. Blood donation campaigns supported by the Government of the Republic of N.Macedonia through the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Fund are held in order to meet the needs for blood and blood products.
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