Gender based knowledge, attitude and practice study about blood donation among medical students in a sub-Himalayan state

Abstract

Background: WHO is advocating a policy towards 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation by year 2020. The youth in general and medical students in particular constitute the core group for recruitment and retention of voluntary donor population in order to ensure safe and sustainable blood transfusion practices in India. The objective of the present study is to elucidate the knowledge, attitude and practices about voluntary blood donation among medical undergraduate students.Methods: A pretested, close ended questionnaire was administered to second and third year MBBS students of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Northwest India. Results were expressed in proportions and chi-square test was used as a test of significance (p<0.05).Results: More than 90% of the respondents knew the suitable age for blood donation and interval between two blood donations. Knowledge parameters like age for blood donation, minimum weight for blood donation and volume of blood collected for blood donation were found to be statistically significant (p<0.5) between boys and girls. More females than males had positive attitude for voluntary blood donation which was statistically significant (p<0.05). In the practice part, voluntary blood donation rate was 26.69%.Conclusions: Every opportunity should be availed to sensitise medical students about voluntary blood donation after their entry into medical colleges. It can greatly enhance the movement for voluntary non-remunerated blood donation and ensure safe and adequate quality of blood.

Factors associated with knowledge and attitude toward blood donation among college students in southwest Ethiopia

“…Blood can only be gained from generous donors [ 7 ]. Youths, particularly medical students, constitute the core group for recruitment and retention of voluntary donor populations to ensure safe and sustainable blood transfusion [ 8 , 9 ]. The process of blood donation (BD) is affected by several factors, among which people´s level of knowledge and attitude are the key determinants [ 10 ].…”

“…Several studies conducted Worldwide regarding knowledge and attitude towards blood donation revealed that 48.2% and 79.2% in Gondar [ 13 ], 40.4% and 47.4% in Ambo [ 9 ], 54% and 65.8% in Samara [ 5 ], 82.6% and 58.7% in Woliyta Sodo [ 7 ], 56.8% and 82% in Gondar [ 14 ], 43.5% and 32.9% in Harar [ 15 ] studies in Ethiopia, 66.7% and 68.7% in Saudi Arabia [ 16 ], 97.1% and 88.8% in Malaysia [ 17 ], 98% and 67% in Pakistan [ 18 ] and 15.5% and 17.69% in Iran [ 2 ] of the respondents had good knowledge and positive attitude towards blood donation respectively. The factors that affect the level of knowledge and attitude towards blood donation are varied from region to region based on deference´s in age, gender, residence, academic year, parent education and experience of blood donation [ 2 , 8 - 10 , 15 , 17 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Assessment of Blood Donation Practice and Its Associated Factors Among Wollega University Undergraduate Students, Ethiopia

“…The previously conducted studies in different parts showed that the magnitude of blood donation practice range from 10% to 35.69% in Asia 14–16 and 10.64% to 61.69% in Africa 11 , 17 , 18 which was relatively incomparable with high-income countries. It was found to be 29% in Saudi Arabia, 19 26.7% in India, 20 27.1% in Ghana, 21 15.3% in Nigeria 22 and 22.6%–47.8%, 5 23–28 in different regions of Ethiopia. On top of this, various factors are identified as the factors that hinder blood donation practice.…”