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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health Education and Promotion
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1485864

Knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors about voluntary blood donation among regular undergraduate students of Wachemo University, Southcentral Ethiopia: a crosssectional study

Provisionally accepted
Abdulhakim Mussema Abdulhakim Mussema 1*Bethelhem Nigussie Bethelhem Nigussie 2Biruk Anmaw Biruk Anmaw 3Habtamu Abera Habtamu Abera 4Habib Negaso Habib Negaso 5Solomon Gebre Bawore Solomon Gebre Bawore 2Amina Shemsu Amina Shemsu 2Dagmawi Woldesenbet Dagmawi Woldesenbet 2Kemal Mohammed Kemal Mohammed 2Abdurezak M. Seid Abdurezak M. Seid 2Dawit Admasu Dawit Admasu 2
  • 1 Wachemo University, Hosaena, Ethiopia
  • 2 Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia
  • 3 Medical Laboratory Science, public hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 4 public hospital, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 5 Negele Arsi General Hospital and Medical College, Arsi Negele, Ethiopia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Human blood plays a crucial role in transporting metabolic waste and essential minerals, including oxygen, to cells. Blood transfusions are a critical intervention in various situations such as trauma, inherited bleeding disorders, childbirth, and numerous medical and surgical procedures, often being the only means to prevent death. A significant challenge, particularly in developing nations, is maintaining a sufficient supply of safe blood. An individual's mindset, beliefs, and familiarity with blood donation significantly affect their willingness to donate. This research aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and related factors concerning voluntary blood donation among undergraduate regular students at Wachemo University in Southcentral Ethiopia.A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 19 to November 10, 2023, using a stratified random sampling method to select participants. Data were gathered through self-administered structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The responses regarding knowledge, attitudes, and practices were analyzed using SPSS version 24 and presented through text, figures, and tables.Result: A total of 393 respondents participated in the study (97.76% response rate), comprising 59% males and 41% females. Of the participants, 77.6% demonstrated adequate knowledge, 79.6% exhibited positive attitudes, while only 19.3% had engaged in blood donation. Factors influencing these outcomes included knowledge, previous residence, and college background. Reluctance to donate blood was primarily linked to fear and concerns about time constraint.The findings indicate that while a majority of students possess good knowledge (77.6%) and favorable attitudes (79.6%) towards blood donation, only a small fraction (19.3%) actively participates in the practice. It is recommended that the institution collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address the factors affecting voluntary blood donation among students. In addition, incorporating topics on blood donation and its significance into the university curriculum can foster a culture of generosity among students. This strategy is essential for improving blood donation rates in this region.

    Keywords: Attitude, Ethiopia, knowledge, Practice, Voluntary blood donation

    Received: 25 Aug 2024; Accepted: 31 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Mussema, Nigussie, Anmaw, Abera, Negaso, Gebre Bawore, Shemsu, Woldesenbet, Mohammed, Seid and Admasu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Abdulhakim Mussema, Wachemo University, Hosaena, Ethiopia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.