Medicina Comunitária e Educação em Saúde

Abstrato

Voluntary Blood Donation: Attitude and Practice among Indian Adults

Verma S, Sharma RK, Sharma M and Pugazhendi S

Background: Human blood is universally recognized as the most precious and essential element of human life. The collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors is an important measure for ensuring the availability and safety of blood transfusion. Adequate and safe blood supply is a demanding challenge in developing countries like India. Every year, state like Uttarakhand which is visited by lakhs of visitors during pilgrimage season and where natural calamities and accidents are very common, the availability of blood is of utmost importance.

Material and Method: A quantitative approach with exploratory descriptive research design was undertaken on 198 adults by convenient sampling technique to assess the attitude and practice of adult population regarding voluntary blood donation. Attitude scale and practice checklist were used as data collection tool.

Results: Result of the study shows that half of adult participants were between the age group of 18 to 29 years. More than half of the samples were females (55.1%) and majority (72.7%) of them were Hindus. Students (15.7%) and homemakers (32.3%) constituted half of the study participants. There was a statistically significant association (p=0.021) of age and attitude at the significant level of p=0.05.

Conclusion: Voluntary blood donation was lacking among adult population. There was a gross difference between attitude and practice regarding blood donation. Factors associated not donation of blood were fear, pain related to needle prick, hesitation, anemia, beliefs, custom and weakness after donating. The study concluded that there is need of community awareness programs to motivate the general public for voluntary blood donation.