The Frequency of Blood Donation in Canada: An Exploration of Individual and Contextual Determinants

Abstract

<p>Blood products are used for transfusion in many routine procedures as well as emergency medical care. The balance between the supply and demand of blood products in Canada is being threatened by an increasing aging population, a growing immigrant population, and advances in medical technology which places additional strain on the blood supply. The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of demographic determinants and clinic accessibility on the frequency of blood donation in Canada excluding the province of Québec, providing a national assessment of blood donor correlates at the individual level. Exploration of these demographic factors in addition to clinic accessibility may help to explain why a limited number of repeat donors are currently contributing, with many donors giving blood only once a year. Repeat donors are vital to maintain a safe and secure blood supply, therefore it is important to retain existing donors in addition to recruiting new volunteers. In this study, individual donor and clinic information is obtained from the Canadian Blood Services 2008 national dataset, with contextual data from the 2006 Canadian Census. Discrete choice models are used to assess the effects of these variables on the frequency of blood donation across the country, highlighting the importance of clinic accessibility. The analysis is prepared for major Census Metropolitan Areas in Canada. Results may contribute to service optimization and targeted advertising, ultimately aiming to encourage the eligible population to donate.</p>