Factors Influencing Voluntary Blood Donation Among Students At Clarke International University .

Abstract

Background: Safe blood is a vital component in improving health care. Globally, millions of lives are saved each year through blood donation. Voluntary blood donation refers to the willingness of a person to offer him/herself to a blood collection agency and /or recruiter to donate blood. It is the only way of acquiring safe and sufficient blood and blood products for transfusion to save life in critical health conditions. The World Health organization recommends that donated blood should be tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen, Antibody of Hepatitis, Antibody of HIV, usually subtype 1 and 2, Serological test for syphilis. Other blood tests are done based on requirements in different countries

Objective: The purpose of study was to investigate the factors influencing voluntary blood donation among Clarke International University student Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive, employing quantitative method of data collection was used to assess in CIU. A total of 329 students using disproportionate stratified sampling technique were selected and were interviewed using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires, data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: From the data analyzed, the proportion voluntary blood donation was 46.9% and family history of donating blood (OR=3.22 (1.49 – 6.97), P=0.003), knowledge on the individual bold group (OR=2.79 (1.18 – 6.62), P=0.020), fear of fainting (OR=0.27 (0.10 – 0.77), P=0.014), willing to donate for a relative (OR=4.14 (1.48 – 11.64), P=0.007) and inspiration from adverts to donate (OR=19.68 (7.94 – 48.80), P=0.000) were significantly independently associated with voluntary blood donation

Conclusions: In conclusion, this study revealed that the proportion of voluntary blood donation among the student was low. Therefore the study recommends that there is is the need for adequate public enlightenment and regular blood donation awareness campaigns in the university and the society at large. The aim of such campaigns which should emphasize the benefits of blood donation would be to target those who are willing to donate blood in the future as they could be the mainstay of blood donation if properly motivated.