These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Fearing to give life.
    Author: Wallace B.
    Journal: WorldAIDS; 1992 Jan; (19):9. PubMed ID: 12284778.
    Abstract:
    Fear of HIV infection and AIDS has contributed to the development of a global shortage, especially in Africa, of available blood for transfusions. Potential donors may be suspicious of the blood-giving process, that volunteer blood is sold, that those in need do not benefit, and of whether confidentiality will be maintained over their HIV status. Uncourteous and disaffected clinic workers have also contributed to donor erosion. Blood supplies must, however, be maintained in quantities adequate to meet patient needs around the world. With an over 90% probability of contracting HIV from 1 transfusion of infected blood, the importance of screening out potentially unsafe donors, recruiting from low risk populations, and discouraging high risk persons from donating should not be underestimated. To increase the available pool of willing and safe donors, sensitive and creative recruitment campaigns are suggested. Incentives which acknowledge donors' public spirit of giving, encouraging blood donations from prominent officials, and fostering regular education sessions from frequent donors are examples of potential strategies. Further, alternatives to transfusions should be encouraged where appropriate. Recruiters now target school-age youths in Zimbabwe and rural villagers in Rwanda as highly probably safe sources of blood.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]