Conditional cooperation through cultural outreach and education can rebuild trust to increase blood donations in minorities. Addressing mistrust and sharing personal experiences on social media or in person can motivate non-donors to join life-saving donation programs. @geoff-white.bsky.social

To meet the need for Ro-antigen positive blood, especially for SCD patients, rebuilding trust in healthcare is key. Through conditional cooperation and community engagement, more Black individuals can be encouraged to donate, improving outcomes and preventing complications like immune reactions.

Ro-positive blood is crucial for treating SCD, which mostly affects Black populations. Without matching blood, patients risk harmful immune reactions, making future transfusions difficult. Increasing donations from minorities is essential to ensuring equitable healthcare outcomes for SCD patients.

The study shows ethnic minorities have higher distrust in institutions, trusting individuals more, while White non-donors rely on institutional trust, such as NHSBT. Events like Brexit and the Windrush scandal shaped these attitudes. Rebuilding trust is key to improving blood donation rates.

A quasi-experimental study analysed trust in blood donation across six domains, including NHSBT, individuals, and politics, among ethnic groups. (Ferguson et al.) It found how these factors impact willingness to donate, especially for non-donors, highlighting key barriers across diverse backgrounds.

Brexit and the Windrush scandal eroded trust in the NHS. Many ethnic minorities viewed Brexit as a sign of exclusion, lowering trust in NHSBT and the Windrush scandal, involving wrongful deportations, made Black communities feel betrayed. Both events reduced participation in blood donation.

Low blood donation rates in Black communities are driven by mistrust in the NHS. Socio-political events like the Windrush scandal and Brexit significantly impact trust, leading to lower participation in NHS programs. This worsens the shortage of Ro antigen-positive blood needs for SCD patients.

SCD patients need Ro-positive blood (a rare RhD-positive subtype). Antigen-identical blood (matching Ro antigens) prevents immune reactions better than antigen-compatible blood. With demand rising 10-15% annually, recruiting more Black donors is critical to supply the gap for effective treatment.

Ro antigens are crucial for treating sickle cell disease (SCD) and are 10 times more common in Black populations. However, only 2% of UK donors have them. Low donation rates in Black communities cause a shortage of Ro-positive blood, making it hard to meet the transfusion needs of SCD patients.