Factors Influencing the Involvement of Urban Households in Blood Donation Practice in Gondar City, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: currently more than 70 countries in the globe had a blood donation level less than the optimal level of 10/1000 population even though the practice was started early in 17th century. Thus WHO recommended the countries at least 1% of the population needs to donate blood to meet the minimum requirement. To this end, community based cross-sectional study was conducted among the included 343 study samples who were surveying and thirteen (13) FGD with seven (7) key informant groups were analyzed among the discussion. A multistage and simple random sampling technique was employed followed by systematic random sampling technique. Schematic presentation was used in order to select the targeted three sub cities. Simple descriptive statics like frequency distribution and mean was used in a quantitative method. While, on using qualitative, a purposive selection of sampling was employed for FGD and Key informants. The study reveals that the overall prevalence of VBD practice was 23.1%. Respondents (N=73) duo to “saving the lives of peoples” was reported the major. While, “Yet, “the religious influence” and “influenced by blood bank staff” were reported as the least motivators‟ factors. Where, among the promotional communication, “electronic mass media” and those, TV was widely reported. Among the study participants who had never been donate a blood (N=270), “no more additional information about blood donation practice” was reported majorly while, “not know where” were (41%). Since, “distance” covered (63%), participants who were “far from any periodic sensitization” (42%), “inopportunity” (41%) and “fear” (20%) accounted among the major factors. However, “lack of time”, 32 (12%) and “theirs religion prohibition”, (5 %) were the least reasons. FGD and the key informant‟s interview beliefs reveal the mass media coverage (electronic) had a good contributor for practice of blood donation. According to this study‟s implications, beside to work for integrated among the social work professional person, being informed communities about the VBD and its life-saving benefits either via the electronic mass media or direct presenting donors witness on TV/Radio and involvements on the education design with constructing several blood banks and made of frequent blood donation campaign in different places could people more likely to be going to donate blood voluntarily and satisfies the minimum WHO requirement. ,