Background: The use of blood to patient management is potentially a lifesaving maneuver, which necessitates critical care. Consequently, demand for blood has greatly increased over the years. Despite several advances in the use of blood and its components in alleviating several ailments, challenges related to transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) such as haemoparasites still stand, and transmission of haemoparasites through blood transfusion potentially negates the progress made in malaria control in malaria endemic areas. This study established the prevalence of haemoparasites in voluntary blood donors of Kampala donating blood to Nakasero National Blood Bank. Methods: This was a laboratory based cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach carried out on all voluntary blood donors from 6th August to 28th September, 2018. Blood from the collected donor bag was used to make a thick and thin film for haemoparasites investigation. These were stained using Giemsa, and microscopically examined. Data was analyzed as proportions using 95% confidence interval. Results: Of the 384, the prevalence of haemoparasites among donors was established as 2.86% (11/382). The distribution of haemoparasites was seen in 3 (27.3%) females, and 8 (72.7%) male donors. Their ABO distribution was group A (3, 27.3%), group B (1, 9.1%), and group O (7, 63.6%). The haemoparasites were all Plasmodium species, of which 90.9% (10 out of 11) were Plasmodium falciparum, and only one was Plasmodium malariae. Conclusion: Based on this study, it was observed that haemoparasites occur in blood for transfusion, with Plasmodium species being the most prevalent. To this, the risk of transfusion transmissible malaria needs to be taken into account, and routinely screen all donors in order to enhance the safety of the blood supply chain from donors to recipients by means of appropriate diagnostic

show more