Assessment of the level and factors associated with knowledge, attitude and practice of blood donation among medical and paramedical personnel in ALERT Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Though there was a high blood supply need in response to high communicable disease and increased emergency conditions; the practice of health professionals and non-health professionals on voluntary blood donation is still unexpectedly low in Ethiopia. Health professionals and non-health professionals working in the health sectors are pivotal in taking the lead to reverse the effect of inadequate blood supply system in the country. Therefore, the study aimed to understand the level and contributing factors of knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary blood donation among health and non-health professionals in ALERT Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among health professionals and non-health professionals in ALERT hospital from 5 to 30 June 2018. A total of 394 hospital staffs participated in this study. A well-structured self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice about voluntary blood donation. The statistical analysis was carried out using R.

Results: A total of 203 (51.5%) participants were females. Only 142(36%) of the participants had voluntary blood donation practice. Among these, 60 (42.3%) of them were donated blood more than once. Occupation is the only factor significantly associated with blood donation practice; health professionals had almost two-fold donation practice than non-health professionals (AOR=1.62; 5% CI: 1.02, 2.57, p=0.042). Occupation has also a strong relationship with knowledge, health professionals had better knowledge than non-professionals with (AOR=2.39; 95% CI: 1.39, 4.12; p=0.002). The result also showed that the educational status of the participants was strongly associated with the blood donors’ attitude with (AOR=3.62; 95%CI: 1.1, 11.93, p=0.035). One hundred and two (72.3%) of the blood donors were motivated to donate blood for charity, 133 (94.3%) individuals were felt good after blood donation and lack of request was the major reason 88.6% that causes the respondents not to donate blood frequently.

Conclusions: Low blood donation practice of health professionals and non-health professionals was identified from this study. Occupation had significantly associated with blood donation practice. Therefore, targeted interventions aimed at mobilizing hospital staffs and develop accessible blood donation centers are recommended to reverse the effect of inadequate blood supply system in Ethiopia.

Significance for public health

Health professionals and non-health professionals working in the health sector are pivotal in taking the lead so as to reverse the effect inadequate and unsafe blood supply system in the country. The reasons for this fact are these groups of population are likely to be informed of the necessity of blood to manage disease or problems of some patients and know more regarding the safety, risk and procedures of blood donation. Moreover, front line managers who can deal with the shortage and safety related issues especially in an emergency situation. Together with other concerned bodies, they are the one who should influence their family, the community around, and the students. However, only few percentages of individuals from this sector come forward to donate blood on a regular basis. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to understand the level and various factors contributing to knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary blood donation among medical and paramedical personnel in the health sector.