Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Vox Sang. 2021 May;116(5):504-512. doi: 10.1111/vox.13025. Epub 2020 Nov 16.
Blood safety hinges not just on the scientific rationale for deferral period but potential donors' compliance with the prevailing policy. This study aimed to investigate donors' awareness, attitudes and compliance with the two-phased policy implementation of time-limited deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong.
Three rounds of questionnaire survey were conducted between July 2017 and June 2019 covering the periods of pre-implementation (Round A), post-implementation without and with pre-donation questionnaire revision (Round B and C). Chi-square test and multivariable regression analysis were performed.
Of 3085 donors recruited, 968, 1036 and 1081 completed the surveys in Round A, B and C, respectively. The non-compliance rate of MSM remained stable at 0·6% (3/497), 0·4% (2/551) and 0·5% (3/587) among male donors in Round A, B and C, respectively. Two MSM donors from Round C complying with the prevailing policy were identified. About two-thirds (60·7%) of respondents from Round B and C were unaware of the policy change. Overall, over 80% were either neutral or positive about the change.
Our study showed a consistently low non-compliance rate of MSM over the three periods. The generally high level of acceptance of time-limited deferral among donors lends support to science-based policy development to protect blood safety. The identification of compliant MSM donors suggests that the 12-month deferral is effective and acceptable to MSM. With a deferral period far exceeding the window period, it is a step towards a more equitable policy.
血液安全不仅取决于延迟期的科学原理，还取决于潜在献血者对现行政策的遵守情况。本研究旨在调查香港男男性行为者（MSM）两阶段限时延迟政策实施前后献血者的知晓率、态度和遵守情况。
2017 年 7 月至 2019 年 6 月期间进行了三轮问卷调查，涵盖了实施前（第 A 轮）、实施后无和有献血前问卷修订（第 B 轮和第 C 轮）的三个阶段。进行了卡方检验和多变量回归分析。
在招募的 3085 名献血者中，分别有 968、1036 和 1081 名献血者在第 A、B 和 C 轮完成了调查。在第 A、B 和 C 轮中，男性献血者中的 MSM 不符合规定的比例分别稳定在 0.6%（497 人中有 3 人）、0.4%（551 人中有 2 人）和 0.5%（587 人中有 3 人）。第 C 轮中有 2 名 MSM 献血者遵守现行政策。约三分之二（60.7%）的 B 轮和 C 轮受访者不知道政策的变化。总体而言，超过 80%的人对变化持中立或积极态度。
我们的研究表明，在三个时期，MSM 的不符合规定率一直保持较低水平。献血者对限时延迟的普遍高度接受为保护血液安全提供了科学政策制定的支持。符合规定的 MSM 献血者的鉴定表明，12 个月的延迟对 MSM 是有效且可接受的。由于延迟期远远超过窗口期，这是朝着更公平政策迈出的一步。
