Effects of Donors’ Education Level, ABO/Rhesus Blood Groups and Donation Time on Adverse Reactions at Kisumu Regional Blood Transfusion Centre, Kenya

Abstract

Blood donation-related adverse reactions (BDRARs) remain a key concern in transfusion medicine due to their potential impact on donor safety and retention. This study assessed the effects of donors’ education level, ABO/Rhesus blood groups, and time of donation on the occurrence of adverse reactions among voluntary blood donors at the Kisumu Regional Blood Transfusion Centre, Kenya. A cross-sectional study design was employed involving 542 voluntary donors, with data collected using standardized questionnaires and BDRAR reporting forms. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Overall, 5.7% (n = 31) of donors experienced adverse reactions, while 94.3% (n = 511) reported no complications, confirming the generally safe nature of blood donation. Blood group A donors exhibited the highest proportion of adverse reactions (9.5%), whereas group O donors had the lowest (4.1%); however, no statistically significant association was found between ABO blood group and adverse reactions (χ² = 4.854, p = 0.183). Similarly, Rhesus status showed no significant association (p = 0.333). With respect to education level, adverse reactions occurred in 6.2% of donors with secondary education and 4.6% among tertiary-level donors, but this difference was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.842, p = 0.839). Donation time also showed no significant influence on adverse reactions (χ² = 1.268, p = 0.867), although slightly higher proportions were observed in morning sessions (7.7%). Sweating (2.0%) and dizziness (0.7%) were the most common adverse reactions reported. Majority of donors (86.2%) were first-time donors, and younger individuals constituted the largest proportion of participants. In conclusion, while BDRARs were infrequent, none of the studied factors demonstrated a statistically significant association with their occurrence. These findings highlight the need to explore other determinants of donor reactions while reinforcing the safety of blood donation.