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Blood transfusion in Africa and the Aids pandemic

Cahiers d'études et de recherches francophones / Santé . Volume 4, Number 1, 37-42, Janvier-Février 1994, Option

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Author(s) : Dominique Kerouedan, Walter Bontez, Alain Bondurand, Sébastien Abissé, Seydou Konaté, mission de coopération et d’action culturelle, 01 BP 1839, Abidjan 01, Côte-d’Ivoire, association européenne pour le développement et la santé, 18 BP 893, Abidjan 18, Côte-d’Ivoire, centre national de transfusion sanguine, 18 BP 893, Abidjan 18, Côte-d’Ivoire..

Summary : HIV is transmitted essentially by the heterosexual route in Africa. As part of an international mobilization against the Aids epidemic, information, education and communication strategies should continue to reduce the frequency of the infection. In this paper, we underline the high risk of HIV infection from blood transfusion in Africa. Although few epidemiological data are available, we feel that this problem should be made a priority, and that blood transfusion in Africa can be made reasonably safe by rational use of limited resources. We first report how the Ivory Coast health ministry, with funding from the European Community, has organized blood transfusion services in the main urban areas. Despite routine screening tests, the risk of HIV transmission through blood products remains high because of the large number of infected donors who are antibody-negative. The accent must thus be placed on alternatives to blood transfusions, while the use of transfusions must be minimized, especially in pediatric and general medical wards. As malaria, undernutrition and obstetric surgery are leading causes of amenia, health programs should be aimed at controlling these factors with the ultimate goal of limiting the spread of HIV.

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