Most studies on blood donation rates have focused on individual donor behaviors, and little is known about how the quality of the health care system shapes blood donation rates. Researchers in the Netherlands used data from the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 Global Status Report on Blood Safety and Availability to examine the relationship between blood donation rates and three healthcare quality markers (the Healthcare Access and Quality Index, life expectancy, and health expenditures) worldwide. The mean overall blood donation rate for the 171 countries included in the report was 16.3 donations per 1000 inhabitants with the lowest mean in Yemen (0.6 donations per 1000) and highest in Cyprus (51.7 donations per 1000). Mean healthcare expenditures ranged from $37 USD in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to $10,515 USD in the United States with an overall mean of $735 USD per capita. Both the Healthcare Access and Quality Index and overall healthcare expenditures were positively associated with blood donation rates after controlling for confounding variables, but life expectancy was not. Further focus on supporting and maintaining healthcare infrastructure in middle- and low-income countries is needed to ensure a stable blood supply and proper medical care.
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