Examining demographic and socio‐economic correlates of accurate knowledge about blood donation among African migrants in Australia

Abstract

Knowledge and awareness of issues associated with blood donation is important in regard to blood donation decisions, and this article has developed a measure using African migrant communities in Australia that has appropriate psychographic properties. The measure can, therefore, be used by researchers when studying the role of knowledge in relation to blood donation across cultural groups in Australia and other countries. It also identifies that demographic characteristics affect knowledge, which suggests that targeted interventions might be needed, especially when dealing with migrant and refugee communities.

Missing Minorities: Explaining Low Migrant Blood Donation Participation and Developing Recruitment Tactics

“…Another factor is the lack of knowledge about blood donations within these groups (Renzaho and Polonsky 2012;Rucinski et al 2010). Lack of knowledge can result in unreasonable fears regarding the donation of blood.…”

“…For example, regarding blood donations on which we focus in the following, many organizations in Europe (de Kort and Wagenmans 2011;Grassineau et al 2007), the United States (James et al 2012;Murphy et al 2009;Shaz 2012;Shaz and Hillyer 2010;Shaz et al 2008), or Australia (Polonsky et al 2011;Renzaho and Polonsky 2012) reported difficulties to integrate immigrants in their blood donor base (see also Fig. 1).…”

Female Gender Participation in the Blood Donation Process in Resource Poor Settings: Case study of Sokoto in North Western Nigeria

“…Similarly, previous report among female college students indicates that female college students are willing to donate blood if given convenience and support from their institution and that educational campaigns can potentially increase knowledge regarding the safety of the blood donation process and the ongoing needs of an adequate blood supply [42]. A previous report indicates that education, knowledge and awareness of issues associated with blood donation are important with regards to blood donation decisions [43]. In most settings in Africa there are erroneous belief that facilitate male gender dominance in the blood donation process including that men are healthier than women coupled with the general belief that women make monthly blood donations to nature through their menstrual cycle [20,44].…”

Donor Research in Australia: Challenges and Promise

“…Working alongside the DCR team and funded jointly by the Blood Service and the Australian Research Council, researchers at Deakin and Monash Universities are developing and evaluating a culturally adaptable social marketing intervention to increase blood donation rates among African migrant communities. This research builds on prior work on inhibitors and motivators of blood donation within this group [27,28,29]. This research will contribute to a sustainable blood supply in terms of rare blood types found in individuals from these communities [30].…”