SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF BLOOD DONORS IN BRAZIL FROM 2007 TO 2016

To investigate the sociodemographic profile of donors from four large Brazilian blood collection organizations (BCOs) from 2007 to 2016, providing key information to understand the characteristics of the blood donor population, and to support strategies to maintain and improve the sufficiency of the blood supply. Data were collected from BCOs participating in the REDS Brazil Study in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Pernambuco between 2007 and 2016, and in Rio de Janeiro from 2012 to 2016. We included all eligible blood donation candidates who passed through clinical and laboratory routine screenings. Results are presented in terms of frequencies and percentages, analyzed by demographic characteristics, donor type: first time (FTD) and repeat donors (RD), and donation type (community or replacement). During the study period, 3,246,516 whole blood and 61,169 platelet apheresis donations were collected. The percentage of men (67%) was twice as high as the number of women but varied by BCO, and the predominant age group was 26-35 years (34%). In the assessment of self-reported race/skin color, we found a predominance of mixed race (44%), followed by white (43%). For education level, most donors reported having finished high school (50%). Among the donors, 67% were RD and 33% were FTD. Over the 10-year period, the overall demographic profile of blood donors remained relatively stable with a predominance of males (62-69% range by site), whites (40-47%) and/or mixed race (35-46%), donors with a higher level of education (39-54%) with high school-level), aged between 26-35 years (32-35%), community donors (60-66%) and RD (63-69%).Male donors between 26-35 years old with ≥high school education were most common in all BCOs. In São Paulo and Pernambuco, replacement donations were 57% and 55%, respectively. In Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro, community donations were 86% and 71%, respectively. Our results describe a predominance of male and young blood donors, as well as a predominance of community and RD. Campaigns conducted by the blood centers have increased the relative percentages of donations from female donors, but the efforts to attract community donors have seen limited success, with an overall increase of 5% in the percentage of female donors and an overall increase of 2% in community donors between 2007 and 2016. The greatest increase in the percentage of female donors was observed in São Paulo (10%) and Pernambuco (10%); the greatest increase in the percent