Blood Donation Practice among Undergraduate Students in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Voluntary blood donation is a reliable source of increasing the demand for blood transfusion. Medical students are the potential pool of blood donors. This study aims to find the prevalence of blood donation practice among medical students of a medical college in Nepal.
 Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a medical college of Nepal among students studying from the first year to final year MBBS. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of the Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences (Ref no. 245). A stratified random sampling technique was used to collect data. A self-administered pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016.
 Results: The prevalence of blood donation practice among medical students of the medical college is 41 (22.20%) (17.35-27.05 at 95% Confidence Interval). The practice of blood donation is seen more among students of the final year 15 (35.71%) and the least among first year 3 (8.57%). Most of the donors, 24 (58.54%), have donated blood only once before. The most common reasons for donating and not donating blood before are ‘behavior of altruism’ 12 (29.27%) and ‘I am not fit/disapproved’ 44 (30.56%) respectively.
 Conclusions: This study shows less prevalence of blood donation practice among medical students. It points to the need for more extensive studies to explore the factors deterring medical students from donating blood. Definitive strategies are also needed to encourage medical students to increased voluntary participation in blood donation.

Blood donation practice and its predictors among undergraduate college students in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

“…Similarly, a study conducted at Arsi University and Adama Science and Technology University found that health science students have higher blood donation practices as compared to nonhealth science students (27.2% versus 22.8%). 27 However, the practice of health science students' blood donation in the present study is in contrast to a study carried out in South India 10.75%, 27 Spain, 32.62%, 32 Nepal, 22.2%, 33 Saudi Arabia 30.1% 34 and Northeast Ethiopia 12.4%. 35 This might be due to the difference in the implementation of blood donation campaigns and different barriers to blood donation including being unqualified for blood donation and fear of contracting diseases.…”

Perception and Practice of Blood Donation Among Medical Students in Southern Rajasthan, India

“…Another study carried out by Dawadi P et al also found that blood donation practice was more among final year students 15 (35.71%) and the least among first year 3 (8.57%). 14 It was found in the present study that 19 (16.1%), 34 (32.7%) and 55 (44.4%) students who had donated blood belonged to the first year, the second year, and final year while a study done by James T et al showed 9.1%, 37.9% and 42.4% of students who have donated blood belonged to the first year, second year and a final year respectively. 16 The present study showed that there was a significant difference in attitude between male and female students while in contrast, the study done by Suresh S et al showed that there was no statistically significant difference in attitudes between males and females (p-value = 0.17).…”

“…The study done by Chopra D et al found that 72 % male and 28% female students had donated blood and the difference was statistically significant (p-value-0.00). 10 Dawadi P et al 14 showed that out of 126 males, 28 (22.2%) and out of 59 females, 13 (22.03%) were found to have donated blood previously. The present study showed that there was a significant association between blood donation with male students exceeding female students in actual blood donation.…”

“…The study by Chauhan R et al observed that 30 (55.6%) students had donated blood only once and 24 (44.4%) had donated more than once. 8 Another study by Dawadi P et al 14 showed that among 41 students who have donated blood, 24 (58.54%) students had donated blood only once and 17 (41.46%) had donated more than once. The low share of students donating blood in the present study indicates the need to inspire them towards a noble cause.…”