Prevalence of Anaemia and Associated Factors Among Blood Donation Candidates in Luanda, Angola

Background: Anaemia among blood donors threatens both donor health and blood supply adequacy in sub-Saharan Africa, nevertheless data from Angola remain scarce. Understanding the determinants of anaemia in donor populations is essential for developing targeted interventions and ensuring sustainable blood transfusion services. Herein we investigate the prevalence of anaemia and associated factors among blood donation candidates in Luanda, the capital city of Angola. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional with 189 blood donors at Angolan National Blood Institute from June 2025 to February 2026. Hemoglobin levels were measured using Auto Hematology Analyzer. Anaemia was defined when <12.0 g/dL. Sociodemographic and donation history data were collected, and logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with anaemia. Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia was 66.7%. Mean age was 31.9 ± 8.92 years, with no difference between donors with and without anaemia (31.6 ± 8.53 vs. 32.1 ± 9.67 years, respectively, p=0.381). Donors aged ≥30 years presented a lower probability of anaemia (OR: 0.83, p=0.536). Gender was associated with anaemia (p<0.001), with male donors showing 88% lower odds [OR: 0.12 (95% CI: 0.05–0.29), p<0.001]. Donors with more than two previous donations had a higher likelihood of anaemia (OR: 1.91, p=0.333). No associations were observed for education level, residence, and employment status (p>0.05). Conclusions: Anaemia prevalence among Angolan blood donors is markedly high, with younger, female gender, and previous donation history as the putative risk factor. These findings underscore the urgent need for donor management strategies, including extended inter-donation intervals for women and routine iron supplementation programs, to safeguard donor health and maintain blood supply sustainability in Angola.