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Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards blood donation in Barbados
Author(s) -
Atherley, A. E.,
Taylor C. G.,
Whittington A.,
Jonker C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
transfusion medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1365-3148
pISSN - 0958-7578
DOI - 10.1111/tme.12359
Subject(s) - deferral , donation , blood donor , medicine , turnover , family medicine , blood donations , educational attainment , demographics , population , demography , test (biology) , environmental health , immunology , paleontology , business , accounting , management , sociology , economics , biology , economic growth
Objective To obtain information to devise strategies for a voluntary blood donor mobilisation campaign in Barbados. Background The World Health Organization ( WHO ) recommends that 100% blood should be collected from voluntary non‐remunerated donors ( VNRD ), yet the majority of blood donations (75%) in Barbados are family/replacement donations. Increasing VNRD is paramount to achieving a safe, reliable blood supply, and understanding the population is a strategy suggested by the WHO to inform donor recruitment and education. Methods Participants in Barbados ( n = 429) completed a self‐administered questionnaire in 2014. The questionnaire comprised 31 questions, including demographics (age, gender, highest educational attainment) and blood donation‐related knowledge, attitudes and practices. Analysis of variance, t ‐test and linear regression were used to analyse data. Results A total of 53% ( n = 219) of participants had previously donated blood; almost half were family/replacement donors, and over one‐third (36·2%) were lapsed donors and had not donated within the past 2 years. Knowledge deficits included blood donation requirements, deferral factors and maximum yearly donations. Most participants (79%) were willing to donate with more information. Participants with higher educational attainment and previous donors had higher total knowledge and attitude scores ( P < 0·01). Single, female and younger participants were less likely to donate blood ( P < 0·05). Conclusions Barbados can likely increase voluntary blood donation rates by addressing knowledge deficits through education campaigns and increasing awareness of the need for donation.