%0 Journal Article
%T Factors Associated with Intention to Donate Blood: Sociodemographic and Past Experience Variables
%A Pule Ishmael Pule
%A Boitshwarelo Rachaba
%A Mgaywa Gilbert Mjungu Damas Magafu
%A Dereje Habte
%J Journal of Blood Transfusion
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/571678
%X Background and Objectives. This study was conducted to assess the level of intention of the general public towards blood donation and the factors associated with it. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in South-East Botswana amongst participants aged 21¨C65 years. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was completed for 384 participants. Results. Of the 384 participants, 104 (27.1%) reported that they had donated blood in the past and 269 (70.1%) stated that they were willing to donate blood in the future. Thirteen out of the 104 past donors (12.5%) reported that they had donated blood in the 12 months preceding the survey and only 10 (9.6%) participants reported that they have been regular donors. In the backward logistic regression analysis, the variables that remained significant predictors of the intention to donate blood were secondary education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 2.92 (1.48, 5.77)), tertiary education (AOR (95% CI): 3.83 (1.52, 9.62)), and knowing a family member who had ever donated blood (AOR (95% CI): 2.84 (1.58, 5.12)). Conclusion. Being informed about blood transfusion and its life-saving benefits through either the education system or the experience made people more likely to intend to donate blood. Evidence-based interventions to retain blood donors as regular donors are recommended. 1. Introduction Blood transfusion is becoming a crucial component in the management of patients presenting with accident injuries, surgical conditions, malignancies, pregnancy complications, and other medical conditions [1, 2]. In high income countries, the major indications for transfusion include sophisticated medical and surgical procedures, malignancies, and trauma. Pregnancy complications and childhood anemia are the conditions that largely need blood transfusion in middle and low income countries. More than one-quarter of maternal deaths could be averted by having access to safe blood [2¨C4]. WHO estimates that at least 1% of the population needs to donate blood to meet the minimum requirement of blood for a country [1]. Globally, 70 countries have a blood donation level less than the optimal level of 10/1000 population [1]. The African continent managed to collect blood to satisfy only 41% of the demand in 2006 [5, 6]. The gap between supply and demand for blood is wider in developing and transitional countries than in developed counterparts [1, 2]. According to Botswana National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS), the country needs 36,000 units of blood annually. Records show that 23,275
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jbt/2014/571678/