BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown substantial geographical variation in blood donation within developed countries. To understand this issue better, we identified community characteristics associated with blood donor rates in German municipalities in an ecological analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We calculated an aggregated rate of voluntary blood donors from each of 1533 municipalities in south-west Germany in 2007 from a database of the German Red Cross Blood Service. A multiple linear regression model estimated the association between the municipality-specific donor rate and several community characteristics. Finally, a spatial lag regression model was used to control for spatial autocorrelation that occurs when neighbouring units are related to each other. RESULTS: The spatial lag regression model showed that a relatively larger population, a higher percentage of inhabitants older than 30 years, a higher percentage of non-German citizens and a higher percentage of unemployed persons were associated with lower municipality-specific donor rates. Conversely, a higher donor rate was correlated with higher voter turnout, a higher percentage of inhabitants between 18 and 24 years and more frequent mobile donation sites. CONCLUSIONS: Blood donation appears to be a highly clustered regional phenomenon, suggesting the need for regionally targeted recruiting efforts and careful consideration of the value of mobile donation sites. Our model further suggests that municipalities with a decreasing percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds and an increasing percentage of older inhabitants may experience substantial declines in future blood donations.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown substantial geographical variation in blood donation within developed countries. To understand this issue better, we identified community characteristics associated with blood donor rates in German municipalities in an ecological analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We calculated an aggregated rate of voluntary blood donors from each of 1533 municipalities in south-west Germany in 2007 from a database of the German Red Cross Blood Service. A multiple linear regression model estimated the association between the municipality-specific donor rate and several community characteristics. Finally, a spatial lag regression model was used to control for spatial autocorrelation that occurs when neighbouring units are related to each other. RESULTS: The spatial lag regression model showed that a relatively larger population, a higher percentage of inhabitants older than 30 years, a higher percentage of non-German citizens and a higher percentage of unemployed persons were associated with lower municipality-specific donor rates. Conversely, a higher donor rate was correlated with higher voter turnout, a higher percentage of inhabitants between 18 and 24 years and more frequent mobile donation sites. CONCLUSIONS: Blood donation appears to be a highly clustered regional phenomenon, suggesting the need for regionally targeted recruiting efforts and careful consideration of the value of mobile donation sites. Our model further suggests that municipalities with a decreasing percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds and an increasing percentage of older inhabitants may experience substantial declines in future blood donations.
Authors: Christian Weidmann; Michael Müller-Steinhardt; Sven Schneider; Eberhard Weck; Harald Klüter Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2011-12-23 Impact factor: 3.747
Authors: Tjeerd W Piersma; René Bekkers; Elisabeth F Klinkenberg; Wim L A M De Kort; Eva-Maria Merz Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2017-06-13 Impact factor: 3.443
Authors: Christian Weidmann; Sven Schneider; Eberhard Weck; Dagmar Menzel; Harald Klüter; Michael Müller-Steinhardt Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2014-07-21 Impact factor: 3.747
Authors: Aikaterini A Kalargirou; Apostolos I Beloukas; Alexandra G Kosma; Christina I Nanou; Maria I Saridi; Anastasios G Kriebardis Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2013-03-19 Impact factor: 3.443
Authors: Christian Weidmann; Michael Müller-Steinhardt; Sven Schneider; Eberhard Weck; Harald Klüter Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2013-08-26 Impact factor: 3.747