A Comparative Study between Blood Donors and the General Population in Uttar Pradesh, India, to Analyse the Triggers for Donation
Keywords:
Blood donation, blood donors, voluntary donation
Abstract
Background- Despite its large population, access to safe blood is disproportionately low in India. To recruit more members from the general population into the pool of voluntary donors, it is essential to understand the differences in their knowledge, attitudes and practices; and utilise the existing resources to eliminate them.Methods- A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 180 donors and an equal number of potential donors randomly selected from the community, using a structured questionnaire containing questions on attitudes and practices. Knowledge was assessed by interview by a single observer.Results- Donors were found to have a highly significant difference (p<0.00001) from the general population in age, gender distribution, marital status and socioeconomic status and significant difference in educational level (p<0.05). Knowledge about blood donation practices was significantly higher in donors (p=0.0002). Replacement donors constituted 82.2% of the donor category, while voluntary donors dominated (52.3%) in the community. Commonest reasons for non-donation in both groups included apathy. Misconceptions regarding pain, weakness, and increased chances of infection were prevalent. Donors were less likely to perceive blood donation as risky (p<0.00001). There was a highly significant difference in the attitude towards incentives (p<0.00001), the donor group supporting and the community denouncing them. Replacement credits were the most popular incentive. In the donor group, a markedly higher (p=0.0003) proportion had a history of previous donations (55% vs.36.1%). Most of them had a higher number (p<0.00001) and greater frequency of donation. Donors generally reported a better donation experience (p=0.00003) and less complications than the general population (p=0.0002).Conclusions-There is a need to recruit women and young donors from the community, and promote donor retention. Blood donation drives play important role in creating awareness, educating the masses and dispelling myths and misconceptions.References
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27.Salaudeen AG, Odeh E. Knowledge and behavior towards voluntary blood donation among students of a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Niger J Clin Pract. 2011;14(3):303-7.
28.Mathew SM, King MR, Glynn SA, Dietz SK, Caswell SL, Schreiber GB. Opinions about donating blood among those who never gave and those who stopped: a focus group assessment. Transfusion. 2007;47:729-35.
29.Schlumpf KS, Glynn SA, Schreiber GB, Wright DJ, Randolph Steele W, Tu Y,et al. Factors influencing donor return. Transfusion. 2008;48:264-72.
2.World Health Organization. Universal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2008. Available from: http://www.who.int/bloodsafety/publications/UniversalAccesstoSafeBT.pdf. Accessed on 10 April 2017.
3.Nair SC, Mammen JJ. Repeat voluntary non-remunerated blood donor is the best quality indicator for blood safety. Indian J Med Res. 2015;141:749-52.
4.WHA28.72 Utilization and supply of human blood and blood products. Available from: www.who.int/bloodsafety/en/WHA28.72.pdf Accessed on 10 April 2017.
5.Utilisation and supply of human blood and blood products. Available from: http://www.who.int/bloodsafety/en/WHA28.72.pdf. Accessed on 10 April 2017.
6.Blood safety. Available from: http://www.who.int/bloodsafety/StrategicPlan20082015AccessSafeBloodTransfusion.pdf. Accessed on 10 April 2017.
7.Blood-transfusion-services. http://www.naco.gov.in/NACO/Blood_Safety/Blood_Safety_More/ Accessed on 10 April 2017.
8.Blood Banks in India. Available from: http://www.cdsco.nic.in/writereaddata/BLOOD BANKS INDIA feb 2015.pdf Accessed on 10 April 2017.
9.Total Population- Both Sexes. World Population Prospects, the 2015 Revision. https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/ Accessed on April 10, 2017.
10.Blood Transfusion Services (BTs) data for FY 2015-16. Available from: http://www.naco.gov.in/NACO/Divisions/Blood_Safety/ Accessed on April 10, 2017.
11.Policy on research for health. Available from: http://www1.paho.org/hq/dmdocuments/2009/F4942/ Accessed on April 10, 2017.
12.Shenga N, Pal R, Sengupta S. Behavior disparities towards blood donation in Sikkim, India. Asian J Transfus Sci. 2008 Jul; 2: 56–60.
13.Bharucha ZS. Donor management in South-East Asia region (SEAR). DevBiol. 2005;120:145-53.
14.Sharma R, Madan N, Venkatesh S, Ichhpujani RL, Lal S. Factors influencing blood donations and the rational use of blood. J Commun Dis. 2010;42:185-90.
15.Dubey A, Sonker A, Chaurasia R, Chaudhary R. Knowledge, attitude and beliefs of people in North India regarding blood donation. Blood Transfus. 2014;12Suppl 1:s21-7.
16.Uma S, Arun R, Arumugam P. The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Blood Donation Among Voluntary Blood Donors in Chennai, India. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013; 7: 1043–1046.
17.Raghuwanshi B, Pehlajani NK, Sinha MK. Voluntary Blood Donation among Students - A Cross-Sectional Study on Knowledge and Practice vs. Attitude. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016;10:EC18-EC22.
18.Sekoni AO, Balogun MR, Odukoya OO, Inem V, Onigbogi OO. Blood donation practices and willingness to donate among residents of an urban slum in Lagos Nigeria. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2014;21:21-7.
19.Weinberg I, Zarka S, Levy Y, Shinar E. Why would young people donate blood? A survey-based questionnaire study. Vox Sang. 2009;96:128-32.
20.Shahshahani HJ, Yavari MT, Attar M. Knowledge, attitude and practice study about blood donation in the urban population of Yazd, Iran, 2004. Transfus Med. 2006;16:403–9.
21.Marantidou O, Loukopoulou L, Zervou E, Martinis G, Egglezou A, Fountouli P,et al. Factors that motivate and hinder blood donation in Greece. Transfus Med. 2007;17:443-50.
22.Vásquez M, Ibarra P, Maldonado M. Blood donation: knowledge and attitudes of a university population in Chile. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2007;22:323-8.
23.Wiwanitkit V. Knowledge about blood donation among a sample of Thai university students. Vox Sang. 2002;83:97-9.
24.Glynn SA, Kleinman SH, Schreiber GB, Zuck T, Combs SM, Bethel J,et al. Motivations to donate blood: demographic comparisons. Transfusion. 2002;42:216-25.
25.Sampath S, Ramsaran V, Parasram S, Mohammed S, Latchman S, Khunja R,et al. Attitudes towards blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago. Transfus Med. 2007;17:83-7.
26.Alam M, MasalmehBel D. Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation among the Saudi population. Saudi Med J. 2004;25:318-21.
27.Salaudeen AG, Odeh E. Knowledge and behavior towards voluntary blood donation among students of a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Niger J Clin Pract. 2011;14(3):303-7.
28.Mathew SM, King MR, Glynn SA, Dietz SK, Caswell SL, Schreiber GB. Opinions about donating blood among those who never gave and those who stopped: a focus group assessment. Transfusion. 2007;47:729-35.
29.Schlumpf KS, Glynn SA, Schreiber GB, Wright DJ, Randolph Steele W, Tu Y,et al. Factors influencing donor return. Transfusion. 2008;48:264-72.
Published
2017-12-19
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