Willingness to Voluntarily Donate Blood among High School Students in Addis Ababa: Assessment of Determinants Using the Theory of Planned Behavior.
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Date
2008-07
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: 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 there by 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.
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Keywords
Voluntarily Donate Blood , High School