Willingness to voluntarily donate blood among high school students in Addis Ababa: Assessment of determinants using the theory of planned behavior
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2008-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Back ground/ Statement of the Problem: Various researches indicate that among
the different types of blood donors the safest blood comes from voluntary blood
donors that donate blood purely out of altruism. WHO, EU and Red Cross discourage
replacement and remunerated blood donation. In Ethiopia, however, largest
proportion (76.6%) of blood is obtained by hospital based replacement donation. The
need to shift to voluntary non-remunerated blood donation necessitates
understanding of the determinants of voluntary blood donation among eligible
segment of the society. High schools take the lion’s share of voluntary blood donation
thereby attracting the attention of the blood bank and this study. Theory of planned
behavior has been repeatedly demonstrated to contain better constructs like self
efficacy that can help predict blood donation behavior.
Objective: To determine prevalence and assess factors associated with voluntary
donation of blood among secondary school students in Addis Ababa using the theory
of planned behavior.
Methodology: A cross sectional survey of high school students in A.A. using
anonymous, structured, self administered questionnaire supplemented by FGDs and
an in-depth interview were used in accordance with the theory of planned behavior to
investigate the determinants of willingness to voluntarily donate blood.
Results: 450 high school students, 42% females, were studied of which 70% were
willing to voluntarily donate blood without remuneration. The proportions of students
that had previously donated and regular blood donors are 10% and 1% respectively.
Among socio-demographic variables sex was found to be associated with willingness
to VNRBDP (P=0.000, OR=2.68 (1.70, 4.22). Among the constructs of theory of
planned behavior self efficacy, attitude and personal moral norm were found to be
determining willingness to voluntary donate blood.
Conclusion: Compared to the proportion of students that have actually donated
blood those who are willing to do so are significantly higher. TPB provides important
constructs as determinants of willingness to VNRBDP. ERCS/Blood bank can use
promotional activities that address donor’s gender, perception of weight and
knowledge, attitude, self efficacy and personal moral norm.
Description
Keywords
Willingness to voluntarily donate blood among high school