International Journal of Scientific Reports

Limaye D et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2018 Jun;4(6):142-146

http://www.sci-rep.com

pISSN 2454-2156 | eISSN 2454-2164

Original Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20182202

Knowledge and attitude towards voluntary blood donation among students from Mumbai University

Dnyanesh Limaye1,2,3*, Pooja Naik4, Tejal Varekar4, Priyanka Salunkhe4, Chaitali Shah4, Arlan Sydymanov1, Vaidehi Limaye1, Ravi Shankar Pitani5, Sushama Sathe6,7, Atul Kapadi6,7, Gerhard Fortwengel1

1Faculty III, Hochschule Hannover, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hannover, Germany

2Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

3Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany

4Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

5Community Medicine, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

6Research Institute of Health Sciences and Management, Pune, Maharashtra, India

7Chetan Dattaji Gaikwad Institute of Management Studies, Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Received: 03 April 2018

Accepted: 15 May 2018

*Correspondence:

Dr. Dnyanesh Limaye,

E-mail: dnyanesh.limaye@hs-hannover.de

Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Background: Blood is scarce; its demand far outweighs the supply. In addition to limited supply, the issue of safety especially with regard to the risk of transfusion transmissible infection is also an issue of utmost concern especially in the developing countries. Blood transfusion services in India have gained special significance in recent years and forms a vital part of national health care system. Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donation (VNRBD) is the safest of all types of blood donations. One of the potential sources that can be tapped for blood donation is the young and physically fit students from educational institutions across India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students from Mumbai University, India during May–June 2017. Two hundred and fifty students were approached to participate in the study of which 201 agreed to participate (males: 104; females: 97). Pretested questionnaire was distributed and collected data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23.

Results: High number of participants agreed about encouraging general public about voluntary blood donation (96%; 193/201), lack of awareness about VBD in general public (82%; 164/201). But not a single participant was able to respond to the knowledge part of the questionnaire with 100% accuracy. Almost all the participants had correct knowledge about blood groups (98%; 196/201) and blood matching need (195/201; 97%).

Conclusions: Participants showed good attitude but demonstrated poor knowledge about voluntary blood donation. Details about blood donation should be incorporated in the undergraduate curriculum and periodic awareness programs should be organized for students.

Keywords: Voluntary blood donation, University students, Knowledge, Attitude, Mumbai, India

INTRODUCTION

Blood is scarce; its demand far outweighs the supply. There is shortage of active blood donors to meet the increased demands of blood.1 In addition to limited supply, the issue of safety especially with regard to the risk of transfusion transmissible infection is also of utmost concern especially in the developing countries. Donor blood procurement from voluntary non remunerated donor has been adjudged the safest source of blood. Hence the World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a policy aimed at 100% voluntary non-remunerated donor blood procurement by the year 2020.2

Blood transfusion services in India have gained special significance in recent years and forms a vital part of national health care system as it saves millions of lives each year, permits complex medical and surgical interventions, improves life expectancy and quality of life in variety of acute and chronic conditions. Because of increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS, blood safety program was initiated in India in the year 1989-1990 and subsequently became an integral part of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).3 Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donation (VNRBD) is the safest of all types of blood donations.4 Voluntary blood donors are not under pressure to donate blood and they meet the standard criteria of blood donation of low risk behavior and can easily be motivated to become regular and permanent voluntary donors. The factors impacting voluntary blood donation decision are varied and complex. The prediction of blood donation behavior can be determined by intention to donate, which in turn is affected by knowledge, positive or negative attitude, and factors like social pressure and perceived ease or difficulty in performing the blood donation.5,6

One of the potential sources that can be tapped for blood donation is the young and physically fit students from educational institutions across India. They can meet the blood demands of our country and provide safe and quality blood and blood components collected from healthy voluntary donors. In order to be able to tap this valuable source of safe blood, it is pertinent to have information regarding their attitude towards blood donation and whether they have adequate knowledge to make the decision to donate blood and what factors are associated with their knowledge as well as donation behavior. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the knowledge and attitude about voluntary blood donation among students from Mumbai University.

METHODS

Study design and respondents

This descriptive study was performed in May – June 2017, among students from Mumbai University, India. The study protocol was approved by V. V. research Independent Ethics Committee, Mumbai, India. Two hundred fifty students were contacted by study team members in their classrooms and were given a brief introduction about the research project. Those who desired to participate were explained the purpose and objectives of the study. On the basis of the eligibility criterion (those who gave a written informed consent and are registered students of Mumbai University) 201 students were selected for the present study.

Study instrument

The survey questionnaire was prepared in English after reviewing the literature for similar studies. The questionnaire was framed to gather information on demographics and knowledge and attitude towards voluntary blood donation.

A pilot study was done with a sample of 30 students, to know the average time required for face to face interview for completing the questionnaire and to ensure that it is appropriate and understandable to students. Pilot population was not part of the final study.

Collection of data

Students were interviewed face to face in the student office with prior appointment by a study team member. The purpose of the research was explained to the respondents, anonymity and confidentiality were guaranteed and maintained. The researchers complied with the international ethical guidelines for research. The data was recorded into the predesigned case report form (CRF) by interviewers.

Data entry and analysis

Collected data from individual CRF was entered into Microsoft excel and was verified by the authors other than interviewers. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistical methods and a bivariate analysis was conducted with all relevant independent variables. P value ≤0.05 was considered as significant. IBM SPSS version 23 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Table 1 represents the participant details regarding gender, education, and awareness about voluntary blood donation. It also shows the bivariate analysis to determine if any, the association between the awareness of voluntary blood donation (VBD) and the gender of the respondents. There were total 201 respondents comprising of 104 (52%) males and 97 (48%) females. The first column of the table shows the input variables to measure the awareness about VBD. Second column gives all the expected correct answers, and next columns represent the gender wise responses to the questions. Rest of the columns show bivariate analysis i.e. chi square and p value.

High number of participants agreed about encouraging general public about voluntary blood donation (96%; 193/201), lack of awareness about VBD in general public (82%; 164/201). Not a single participant was able to respond to the knowledge part of the questionnaire with 100% accuracy. Regarding the knowledge about VBD except for knowledge about blood groups (98%; 196/201) and blood matching need (195/201; 97%), participant’s knowledge about VBD was poor. Very less participants were aware about who can donate blood (55%; 111/201), appropriate age for blood donation (69%; 138/201), minimum hemoglobin level (39%; 78/201), frequency of blood donation (35%; 70/201), minimum weight of the donor for VBD (54%; 114/201) and amount of blood one can donate at a time (48%; 96/201). Good attitude towards blood donation was observed by high number of participant mentioning that VBD is a noble work (95%; 191/201), can save someone’s life (99%; 199/201). Substantially higher number of male (65%; 68/104) than female participants (51%; 49/97) opined that there are lot of misconceptions about VBD (χ2value=4.56, p=0.03). Regarding the question on knowledge substantially more number of female (49%; 48/97) than male (29%; 30/104) participants were aware about minimum hemoglobin level for VBD (χ2value=9.002, p=0.003).

Table 1: Voluntary blood donation awareness.
Table reproduced from source PDF page 3

DISCUSSION

Even after combined efforts from the Government and International Agencies such as Red Cross Society and World Health Organization, the supply of safe blood is still in short of global demand.7 Escalating demand for safe blood and its availability in our country can be only ensured through enhancing voluntary blood donations. Role of youngsters in voluntary blood donation is crucial to meet the demand of safe blood and more over youngsters having a better understanding on healthcare requirements of our country should come in forefront. Therefore understanding the various factors contributing to knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary blood donation among healthcare students is important.

The present study shows that high number of participants agreed that general public should be encouraged regarding the voluntary blood donation (96%; 193/201). The findings of this study were in agreement with a cross sectional study done among students from Bhubaneswar, India which showed a large majority (85.5%) of students said that they would encourage others to donate blood.8 Ministry of health and family welfare, India 2017 guidelines for national blood transfusion services advises that donor motivation should be done by volunteers from the community using various communication methods to draw prospective donors to come to a blood bank or to a blood donation camp.3 Eighty two percent (164/201) of the study participants agreed that there is a lack of awareness regarding VBD in the general public. Similar findings have been reported in studies conducted among students in Nigeria, India, Nepal, Ethiopia and Tanzania where in those studies it was also found that many students did not donate blood because of lack of enough knowledge.9-13 Ninety eight percent and ninety seven participants had correct knowledge about blood groups and blood matching need before blood donation respectively. Similar results have been observed in a study form Nigeria.14 Less participants were aware about who can donate blood (55%; 111/201), appropriate age for blood donation (69%; 138/201), minimum hemoglobin level (39%; 78/201), frequency of blood donation (35%; 70/201), minimum weight of the donor for VBD (54%; 114/201) and amount of blood one can donate at a time (48%; 96/201). Our results are in contradiction to similar studies done among undergraduate students form Patiala and Puducherry, India which showed better knowledge compared to our study participants. This difference could have originated because those studies were done specifically in medical students as compared to non-medical students in present study.15,16 Good attitude towards blood donation was observed by high number of participant mentioning that VBD is a noble work (95%; 191/201), can save someone’s life (99%; 199/201). Our results are in line with a study done in Dehradun, India.17 Out of 15 questions about VBD there were no significant differences between male and female respondents. Substantially higher number of male (65%; 68/104) than female participants (51%; 49/97) opined that there are lot of misconceptions about VBD (χ2value=4.56, p=0.03). Regarding the question on knowledge substantially more number of female (49%; 48/97) than male (29%; 30/104) participants were aware about minimum hemoglobin level for VBD (χ2value=9.002, p=0.003).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that although students have positive attitude towards VBD, there is pressing need to improve the knowledge about it. Educational Institutions across India house lakhs of potential blood donors in the form of young and healthy students which can meet the safe blood requirements of our country. Details about blood donation should be incorporated in the undergraduate curriculum and periodic awareness programs should be organized for students. These steps can motivate them to become regular voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.

Funding: No funding sources

Conflict of interest: None declared

Ethical approval: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee

REFERENCES

  1. 1. Gillespie TW, Hillyer CD. Blood donors and factors impacting the blood donation decision. Transfus Med Rev. 2002;16:115-30.
  2. 2. Blood safety and availability. WHO. 2017. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs279/en/. Accessed on 11 April 2018.
  3. 3. Guidelines for blood donor selection and blood donor referral. Ministry of health and family welfare, India. 2017. Available from: http://naco.gov.in/sites/default/files/Letter%20reg.%20%20guidelines%20for%20blood%20donor%20selection%20%26%20referral%20-2017.pdf. Accessed on 11 April 2018.
  4. 4. Leikola J. Non-remunerated donations. Devel Biol Stds. 1993;81:51-6.
  5. 5. Ajzen I. The theory of planned behaviour. Organizational behaviour and human decision process. ELSEVIER. 1991;50(2):179-211.
  6. 6. Giles M, McClenahan C, Cairns E, Mallet J. An application of the theory of planned behaviour to blood donation: The importance of self-efficacy. Health Educ Res. 2004;19:380-91.
  7. 7. Damesyn MA, Glynn SA, Schreiber GB, Ownby HE, Bethel J, Fridey J, et al. Behavioral and infectious disease risks in young blood donors: Implications for recruitment. Transfusion. 2003;43:1596-603.
  8. 8. Raghuwanshi B, Pehlajani N, Sinha M. Voluntary Blood Donation among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study on Knowledge and Practice vs. Attitude. J Clin Diagnos Res. 2016;10(10):18-22.
  9. 9. Salaudeen A, Odeh E. Knowledge and behavior towards voluntary blood donation among students of a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Nigerian J Clin Pract. 2011;14(3):303–7.
  10. 10. Devi H, Laishram J, Shantibala K, Elangbam V. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of blood safety and donation. Indian Medical Gazette. 2012;145(1):1-5.
  11. 11. Amatya M, Prajapati R, Yadav S. Knowledge and practice of blood donation: a comparison between medical and nonmedical Nepalese students. Nepal Medical College J. 2012;14(4):283–6.
  12. 12. Demissie A. Knowledge, attitude and practice on voluntary blood donation and associated factors among Ambo University regular Students, Ambo Town, Ethiopia. J Community Med Health Educ. 2014;4(5):1-6.
  13. 13. Elias E, Mauka W, Philemon R, Damian DJ, Mahande MJ, Msuya SE. Knowledge, attitudes, practices, and factors associated with voluntary blood donation among university students in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. J Blood Transfusion. 2016;2016:8546803.
  14. 14. Benedict N, Usimenahon A, Alexander N, Isi A. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Voluntary Blood Donation among Physicians in a Tertiary Health Facility of a Developing Country. J Blood Disord Transfus. 2012;3(1):1-4.
  15. 15. Sharma A, Bhardwaj K, Singh Y. Knowledge about Blood Donation among Undergraduate Students of GMC, Patiala, Punjab, India. J Med Sci Clin Res. 2017;5(4):21057-62.
  16. 16. Kawsalya V, Vijayakumar R, Chidambaram R, Srikumar R, Reddy EP, Latha S, et al. A study on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding voluntary blood donation among medical students in Puducherry, India. Pakistan J Biol Sci. 2013:16(9):439-42.
  17. 17. Verma S, Sharma R, Sharma M, Pugazhendi S. Voluntary Blood Donation: Attitude and Practice among Indian Adults. J Community Med Health Educ. 2016;6(3):1-6.