Factors affecting Voluntary Blood donation in Zambia

Abstract

The study attempted to investigate those factors that affect voluntary blood donation - in relation to the supply of a safe and adequate blood to hospitals in Zambia. A'cross sectional survey of a systematic, randomly selected, secondary school students, was done using a self administered questionnaire. A self administered questionnaire was also used to inquire about the prescription and use of blood among doctors working in four major hospitals in Zambia. Discussions were held with blood bank staff in the four hospitals using the Focus Group Discussion model.In all,165 students, 16 prescribers and 14 blood bank staff, from Lusaka, Livingstone,Kitwe and Ndola cities were included.The outcome of the study showed that:The fear of the HIV test discourages people from voluntarily donating blood.The lack of a blood donor recruitment programme has had an adverse effect on voluntary donations. Lack of knowledge in communities on blood donation adversely affected voluntary blood donation. The supplies of blood to the hospitals were inadequate.