Efficacy of Intervention Towards Blood Donation to Increase Voluntary Blood Donation

Author(s): Dr. Fatema Easmin, Dr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Dr. Shariful Islam

Introduction: Blood is essential for medical treatments, emergencies, and surgeries, yet many countries, including China, struggle with maintaining a stable and sufficient blood supply. One significant challenge is the low retention rate of blood donors. There is a need to increase blood donations from safe and voluntary blood donors.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to examine the intervention towards blood donation to increase voluntary blood donation.

Methods: This randomized-controlled trial study at the Imam Training Academy of the Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh, included 200 participants in two groups 100 of each and aged 18 above. Conducted from January 2022 to January 2025, data on before and after intervention toward voluntary blood donation were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS Version 26, considering a P-value of <0.05 as significant. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Result: The study found that the majority (61.5%) of participants were aged between 20-29 years, with 19.5% aged 30-39 years. Awareness of blood group and Rh-factor increased from 42% before to 65% after the intervention, though this change was not statistically significant (p = 0.086). We found, before intervention, the respondents were 50% exhibiting a positive attitude and 50% and after intervention, the proportion of respondents with a positive attitude increased to 80%. We also found that before intervention, 45% of respondents had donated blood, which increased to 70% after intervention. Regarding the feelings after donating blood, there was a significant increase in positive feelings from 30% before to 70% after the intervention, with the percentage of indifferent feelings dropping from 15% to 0%.

Conclusion: Regular blood donation counseling sessions could be beneficial for institutions that interact with a large number of people every day. Establishing mobile counseling, campaigns, and educational motivation units could encourage voluntary blood donation. Maintaining voluntary blood donors requires both self-identification as a blood donor and incentive changes.