Blood banks in the United States are
increasing efforts to recruit Hispanic donors. The population is
estimated to be over 18% Hispanic. In some areas, this number exceeds
35%. This Hispanic population percentage is increasing. Therefore, the
need for Hispanic Blood donors in increasing. Most present estimates
indicate that less than 4% of Hispanics are Blood donors.
Hispanics are the most likely group to have type O Blood. While in the
U. S. population, approximately 45% of the general population has type
O Blood, Hispanic Blood contains important antibodies, unique to the
Hispanic population. Additionally, many Hispanics carry a rare
antigen in their Blood which could save lives needing that exact
Blood. A reported 71% of Blood donors in Mexico
are type O; 54% of Blood donors in Venezuela, and 62% in Guatemala are
type O Blood donors.
|
DISTRIBUTION of
HISPANIC DONOR BLOOD TYPES* |
| |
Blood Type |
Population |
|
| |
O + |
53% |
|
| |
O - |
4% |
|
| |
A + |
29% |
|
| |
A - |
2% |
|
| |
B + |
9% |
|
| |
B - |
1% |
|
| |
AB + |
2% |
|
| |
AB - |
0.2% |
|
It is believed that the low Hispanic Blood donor rates among American
Hispanics are because the majority of Donor-aged Hispanic Blood donors
are recent immigrants who are not comfortably familiar with the Blood
collection system in the U. S. In Latin America, as in many parts of
the world, Blood banks are rare. In these areas, there is great
reliance on "replacement" donations from family and friends. Many
Blood collection facilities are not 'Hispanic friendly,' that is,
there are language and cultural barriers. Further, there might be a
'trust' problem caused by the requirement to show a valid ID to donate
Blood.
There is another problem when dealing with Hispanic/Latino
donors. It is thought that this Hispanic population group fluctuates and it is
comparatively
difficult to contact people in this population group once they are
identified. There are frequently cases of Hispanic/Latino individuals who have
been identified and listed in various communities, but when
attempts to contact them are made a few months later, they are no longer living at
the addresses listed. Generally, the Hispanic community has not established itself firmly
in many communities outside of the Southwestern United States.
Please click
HERE
for a chart of Hispanic and world ABO Blood types, by population
group.
The Red Cross has translated its Blood donation Web site:
www.cruzrojaamericana.org.
* Hispanic ABO Blood Type Distribution is an
estimate. |