Perceptions of donors and recipients regarding blood donation

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the perceptions of blood donors and recipients regarding the act of donating blood.MethodThis descriptive study with a survey design focuses on subjective and cultural aspects. Twenty donors and 20 recipients in the blood bank at the time of data collection participated in the study. Interviews were analyzed according to deductive thematic analysis.ResultsTwo themes emerged – perceptions of donors and perceptions of recipients. Both groups saw the act of donating blood as something positive, though donors associated their reports with the experiences of people close to them who needed blood transfusions, while the recipients associated donations with the maintenance of their lives as, for them, a blood transfusion was a necessary medical treatment.ConclusionsPerceptions regarding blood donations are culturally constructed, as the participants associated knowledge acquired in the social world with moral issues and their life experiences. Hence, in addition to helping others, these individuals feel socially and morally rewarded.

Predicting intention to donate blood among secondary school students in Eastern Uganda: An application of the theory of planned behavior

“…This finding is similar to that of a previous study conducted among residential students and their teachers in Bangladesh which found that majority of the respondents were willing to donate blood to an unknown person [22]. This could be attributed to the fact that donating blood can potentially save lives [23] and therefore, most people are willing to donate so as to save lives. Considering that students already have a high intention to donate blood, it is therefore important that they have the appropriate information regarding blood donation and are also provided with avenues to donate blood.…”

Current approaches to increase blood donations in resource‐limited countries

“…This was well addressed by two studies from the same group supported by the US REDS programmes (Zago et al, ; Conceição et al, ). The first study targeted a relatively large population representative of the Brazilian population of Belo Horizonte where 31% had never donated blood (Conceição et al, ). Donors were significantly characterised as black males, over 30 years of age, with higher level of education but rather low income and, interestingly, involved in their community by having formal employment, being the head of a family or participating in campaigns and political activities.…”

“…There was a considerable interest in Brazil for studying blood donor motivations, deterrents to donate and identifying population segments to be specifically targeted to improve blood donation (Zago et al, ; Gonçalez et al, ; Oliveira et al, ; Zangiacomi Martinez et al, ; Conceição et al, ; Moreno et al, ). This was well addressed by two studies from the same group supported by the US REDS programmes (Zago et al, ; Conceição et al, ). The first study targeted a relatively large population representative of the Brazilian population of Belo Horizonte where 31% had never donated blood (Conceição et al, ).…”

A Gift of Blood: Opinions and Experience of Voluntary Blood Donors on Repeat Blood Donation

“…Blood donation is an immensely important practice as it has the power to save countless lives every year [1]. Through blood transfusion, critically ill patients suffering from life-threatening conditions like severe hemorrhage can receive the treatment they need.…”