Transfusion practice and knowledge in Mozambique
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Emily Hartford; Valigy Ismael Valigy; Olegario Muanantatha; Daniel A. DeUgarte; Sara Salimo; Alyssa Ziman
- Source
- Transfusion. 55:1607-1612
- Subject
- medicine.medical_specialty
Pediatrics
Blood transfusion
Referral
business.industry
Critically ill
medicine.medical_treatment
Immunology
Hematology
Pallor
Exact test
Emergency medicine
Health care
medicine
Immunology and Allergy
Blood supply
medicine.symptom
Low hemoglobin
business
- Language
- ISSN
- 0041-1132
BACKGROUND In Mozambique, there is a limited supply of blood and elevated risks for transmission of infections. Prior studies have documented that many transfusions in Mozambique are potentially avoidable. Transfusion training workshops with a survey and exam were held for providers to understand their perceptions and to improve knowledge and clinical practice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Health care providers completed a survey and a knowledge assessment. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was utilized to compare the relative importance of each factor in the survey, and pre- and posttraining exam scores were compared using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS A total of 216 health care providers participated; the majority worked in a referral hospital (74%) and reported transfusing blood at least once per week (56%). Most acknowledged the limited blood supply and transfusion risks. Providers rated low hemoglobin (Hb) levels and pallor as significantly important indications for transfusion (p