BLOOD DONATION

BLOOD DONATION PERCEPTION AND WILLINGNESS IN PEOPLE VISITING RAWAL GENERAL & DENTAL HOSPITAL, ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the perception of people about blood donation, to
determine the willingness of people to donate blood voluntarily to blood banks and to identify
the frequency of people who have ever donated blood. Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Setting: Rawal General and Dental hospital, Islamabad. Period: Three months from March 2015
to May 2015. Methods: 119 people (patient’s attendants) visiting the hospital were included by
using the non-Probability convenience method of sampling. A semi structured questionnaire
was filled by interview method by the researcher. The variables were the questions asked about
their age, gender, education, occupation, willingness to donate blood and perception about
blood donation in terms of social obligation and effects on health. The variables of Perception
and willingness was compared in relation to age, gender, education and occupation of the
respondents and then were tested for statistical significance using Chi Square (χ2) test of
independence. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21 version. Results: Regarding blood
donation (70 %) of the respondents were willing to donate blood voluntarily to the blood banks.
The percentage of people who had ever donated blood in their life was (36.1%). Regarding
perception of blood majority (82.35 %) perceived it as a beneficial thing for health and (91.6%)
considered it as a social obligation. (81.5 %) people said that there are no bad effects of blood
donation. More young and male respondents were willing for blood donation. Conclusion: In
this study, willingness to donate blood was found in majority of people and the intention was of
helping others and as a social obligation. But few of them had practically donated blood due
to fear of anemia and weakness. Most of the people perceived it as a social obligation and a
beneficial thing for health.