Determinants of practice of blood donation among undergraduate students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria
Journal Title: Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health - Year 2018, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Objective: Aim of study was to determine the factors affecting the practice of blood donation among undergraduate students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, southeast Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study design was employed. A three stage sampling technique was used to select 300 students of the institution. Information was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Outcome measure of the study is the proportion of the students that has ever donated blood. Good knowledge of blood donation was determined by the proportion of students who correctly answered seven of the ten variables used to assess knowledge. Results: The mean age of the students was 23.2±3.0 years and majority, 60% were females. Majority, 86.7% were aware of blood donation. Majority, 69.3% had good knowledge of blood donation. A minor proportion, 36.3% were certain blood in blood bank were safe, while 59.3% were willing to donate blood in the future. A minor proportion, 13.3% have ever donated blood of which 55% of them have donated once. Major reasons for not donating blood included fear, 53.8%, no interest/ignorance, 19.6% and cultural/religious belief, 9.2%. Predictors of being a blood donor included being male, (AOR=3.8; 95% CI:1.7-8.2), willingness to donate blood in future, (AOR=3.1; 95% CI:1.3-7.5) and being of low socio-economic status, (AOR=0.4; 95% CI:0.2-0.9). Conclusions: Majority of respondents had good knowledge of blood donation but only a minor proportion has ever donated blood, however, majority were willing to donate blood in the future. The major barriers to the practice of blood donation among the students were based on misconceptions and lack of information. There 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 especially in developing countries.
Authors and Affiliations
Ossai Edmund Ndudi, Eze Nelson C, Chukwu Okwudiri, Uguru Ugochinyere A, Ukpai Ezinne C, Ihere Ezeogo
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP326766
- DOI 10.17352/2455-5479.000032
- Views 79
- Downloads 0
Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and Associated Maternal Socio-Demographic Factors among Mothers Attending Imo State Specialist Hospital, Owerri, South-Eastern Nigeria
Introduction: Breast milk is unique and contains the entire nutritional requirement a new born infants needs for the first year of life. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as the consumption of no other food or liquids e...
Public Policies of Infamy: Four Cases in Health - Mexico
This article invites to a transdisciplinary reflection, in which the policies should be part of the social benefit in this health case, here are presented four elements of analysis, maternal mortality, homicide, chronic...
Palliative Care for Cancer: A Public Health Challenge in India
Palliative care is an emerging discipline worldwide which focuses on improving the quality of life of patients with chronic life threatening condition like cancer. Globally, palliative care is sparsely distributed in dev...
Comparative study for efficacy of termination in first trimester pregnancy using Misoprostol and Mifepristone
Background: The best method for medical abortion depends fundamentally on pregnancy duration and the final result varies on medical stuff’s experience. The aim of this study pertained to investigate the effectiveness of...
Transition Coach Program Implementation Associated with Thirty-Day Readmission Rates in a Community Hospital Setting
Background: With implementation of Medicare policies affecting reimbursement for readmissions, there has been increased emphasis on quality of care during transition from hospital to home. Several models for improved c...