ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: In developing countries with a high prevalence of bleeding disorders, safe and adequate blood supply has persisted as a major challenge. Blood transfusion and donation in Pakistan are based on replacement donor’s primitive practice whereas voluntary donors worldwide replaced replacement donors. The present study objective was to evaluate the blood donor’s knowledge, attitude, and practice towards blood donation to measure their understanding of blood donation.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 till June 2021 at the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, LUMHS Hyderabad. A pre-tested, self-administered survey form was utilized to investigate a total of 350 respondents. Out of the total, 160 were healthcare workers, 90 were medical students, and 100 were general public. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: Of the total 350 respondents, the prevalence of blood donors and non-donors were 114 (32.6%) and 236 (67.4%) respectively. Out of 114 blood donors, 87 (76.3%) were male and 27 (23.7%) were female donors. The overall mean age was 37±6.45 years. The prevalence of knowledge, attitude, and practice among health workers was 56%, 64%, and 41% whereas students had 77%, 56%, and 22%, and the general public had 19%, 48%, and 78% respectively. The main reasons for not donating blood were fear of needles or sight of blood, weight loss/gain, lead to anemia, decreased immunity, and no one asked to donate with respective prevalence 11%, 17%, 39%, 21%, and 41%. About 56% of donors donated blood for the first time followed by 37% more than once.

Conclusion: The knowledge, attitude, and practice survey concluded that a rational design, voluntary blood donation campaign, targeted strategies, and awareness program could be planned to utilize and increase blood donors on a community level.