Abstract:
Background: Hemorrhage is the major cause of maternal death worldwide. This problem is more
prevalent in developing countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, availability of adequate blood supply
and timely transfusion has paramount importance in reducing maternal deaths. In this aspect, assessing
knowledge, attitude, practice, future willingness and associated factors towards voluntary blood donation
among attendants can contribute in alleviating the scarcity of blood for transfusion.
Objective: to assess knowledge, attitude, practice, willingness and associated factors towards voluntary
blood donation in obstetrics and Gynecology patients’ attendants in JUSH
Methods and materials: The study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology wards of JUSH from
June to November, 2014. Descriptive cross sectional study design was used. Selected attendants of
obstetrics and gynecology patients according to inclusion criteria were included in the study. The sample
size was calculated by using single population proportion formula, assuming there was a large
population but that we did not know the variability in the population. To get the desired information for
the study, semi-structured interview questionnaire was employed. The data was coded, cleaned, edited,
and fed to computer and analyzed using SPSS version 20. All variables with P<0.25 during bivariate
logistic regression analysis were used for multivariate logistic regression analysis. P value < 0.05 was
declared as statistically significant. Results were presented using frequency tables, figures and texts.
Results and Discussion: From 424 study participants, 335(79%) had good knowledge level, 320(75.5%)
had favorable attitude and 85(20%) had practice of blood donation. Respondents with good knowledge
level on blood donation are 7.37 times more likely to donate blood than those with poor knowledge level
(AOR=7.374, 95%CI: 1.671, 32.538). Favorable attitude has significant positive association with
practice of blood donation (AOR=3.586, 95%CI: 1.324, 9.715).Female respondents are 0.57 time less
likely to donate blood when compared with males (AOR=0.570, 95%CI: 0.330, 0.988). Respondents who
donated blood previously has strong willingness for farther donation when compared with non donors
(AOR=5.495, 95%CI: 2.086, 14.418). Multiple misconceptions and wrong beliefs on blood donation were
identified among non donors.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Majority of the study participants have good knowledge level and
favorable attitude towards blood donation but Practice of blood donation is low. Multiple misconceptions
were identified affecting practice of voluntary blood donation. It needs continuous education for
correction of misconceptions and wrong beliefs to improve the practice of blood donation.
