A systematic approach for reviewing research capacity within Zimbabwe’s national blood service

Background Blood services need to undertake research to improve their strategic goals, operational effectiveness and promote evidence-based policies. NBSZ has along history of active research and undertook a systematic review of its research capacity to guide its new research strategy. In the absence of a published approach for research capacity assessment for national blood services, a frame-work to assess research capacity in African universities was used. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 85 NBSZ internal and external stakeholders. The interview topics were based on eight areas covered by the framework used to assess universities’ research systems. Information was ver-ified through triangulation, and recommended actions emerging from the review were validated at a national stakeholder workshop. The appropriateness of the framework for use in the setting of blood services was also evaluated. Results Synthesis of information from the multi perspective interviews high-lighted key areas of NBSZ’s research capacity for improvement, in particular better dissemination of NBSZ’s research priorities and closer ties with academics and their institutions for preparing research proposals and jointly undertaking research projects. With minor adaptations, the framework was found to be applicable to NBSZ, and no aspects of research capacity were identified which were not covered by the framework. Discussion Our results indicate that it is feasible and useful to apply a structured process to review the research capacity of blood services. However, the frame-work needs to be tested in blood services and other non-university setting to assess its usefulness and transferability

Incidence of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn in Harare, Zimbabwe

Background: Haemolytic Disease of Newborn is responsible for a number of neonatal deaths and complications worldwide. Its incidence in Zimbabwe is not clearly understood. Objective: To find out incidence of Haemolytic Disease of Newborn in Harare and ability to identify antibodies associated with HDN. Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and National Blood Service, Zimbabwe (NBSZ). We studied 22493 infants at Parirenyatwa Hospital during the 1995-1997 and 2002-2003 periods. The main outcome measures were ABO and Rh blood group results, Direct Antiglobulin Test and Maternal Antibody Screening and Identification Results were obtained from the NBSZ. Results: One hundred and ninety-one (0,85%) infants had Haemolytic Disease of Newborn. One hundred and sixty-three (85.34 %) of these were due to anti-AB, twenty five (13.09%) were due to anti-D and three (1.57%) due to anti-Kell. Incidence of Haemolytic Disease of Newborn during 1995-1997 and 2002-2003, were 0.93% and 0.64 %, respectively (p = 0.014). ABO Haemolytic Disease of Newborn showed a statistically significant difference during the two periods (p=0.003). Rhesus Haemolytic Disease of Newborn showed no statistically significant difference during same periods (p=0.317). Conclusion: The incidence of Haemolytic Disease of Newborn at Parirenyatwa Hospital is comparable with that found in other countries. It is recommended that K antigen be included in the pretransfusion testing to avoid anti-K related Haemolytic Disease of Newborn.Articl

T-REC: Strengthening capacity for blood transfusion research in Ghana and Zimbabwe

Without home-grown expertise to initiate and carry out highquality research, the capacity of blood transfusion services in sub-Saharan Africa to produce context-specific evidence to inform policy and practice is limited. Since 2011, the T-REC consortium of academics and health service practitioners and policy makers has been collaborating to bring academic rigour and research expertise into the transfusion services in Ghana and Zimbabwe, equipping individuals with research skills while strengthening research systems within transfusion services. T-REC provides funding and support for PhD students undertaking research addressing the highest priority needs of the transfusion services, a Professional Diploma course in Project Design and Management to build the competence and confidence of health service professionals in research and drive the development of institutional research systems, and bursaries allowing university students and their supervisors to explore the wealth of opportunities for research that is available within the transfusion service. This article provides an update on the project to date, and illustrates its successes and challenges with reference to some of the students, courses and institutions involved. The range of projects successfully undertaken within T-REC suggests that the lack of research funding opportunities targeted specifically towards blood transfusion should and can be addressed. Future research collaborations beyond the time span of the project should be promoted between transfusion services and academic institutions to strengthen the research ethos and put sustainable structures and systems in place.Keywords: Blood transfusion, research, capacity strengthening, Afric