Gender differences in presentation rates, deferrals and return behaviour among Norwegian blood donors

Women are under-represented among long-term blood donors. Reasons for this were sought in the donor pool of the Blood Bank of Oslo, Norway, which comprises only voluntary, non-remunerated donors and has a high degree of stability.

Three sources of data were analyzed: (1) the subsequent six-year donation patterns of 17 812 donors who donated at least once in 1999; (2) reasons for pre-donation deferral of 484 prospect donors in 2004; (3) reasons for deferrals and absence during a 6.5-year period, retrieved from a follow-up study of 1029 donors who took part in a questionnaire study on motivation for blood donation in 2000.

Women were over-represented among first-time donors and under-represented among regular donors. Women below the age of 45 years in 1999 were less likely than men to donate regularly throughout the 6-year study period, whereas the donation behaviour of women and men above 45 years of age was similar. Young (18-29 years) female prospect donors were more frequently deferred at first-time donation than males. In the 6.5-year follow-up study, pregnancy was the most frequently reported cause of absence from or termination of donation, and was reported by 32% of the female respondents that were 45 years or younger. Among the donors that reported having been pregnant, 42% stated to have resumed donation and < 4% stated that they no longer were blood donors. Reported termination of donation by female donors was associated with reported practical obstacles and discomfort related to donation, but not with loss of motivation.

Most of the gender differences in donation patterns could be ascribed to absence because of pregnancy and lactation. Practical problems and discomfort during donation were important reasons why women reported to have stopped donation. Current deferral criteria pose problems for the recruitment and retention especially of young women.