Determinants of voluntary blood donation in the city of Bahir Dar: A case-control study

In a normal adult, the volume of blood needed to maintain physiological needs ranges from 5 liters to 6 liters. Disease and traumatic conditions may decrease this volume. Medically, this condition can be treated safely by blood transfusion. However, residents of the city of Bahir Dar have a low rate of volunteering to donate blood. No study has examined this situation, and therefore, this study was designed to fill this gap.

The aim of this study is to identify the determinants of voluntary blood donation in the city of Bahir Dar.

An unmatched case-control study design was used.

The sample size was calculated using Epi-Info Software, 109 cases and 218 controls were included in the study. Data were entered into the computer using Epi-Info and were analyzed using SPSS.

Logistic regression was used. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to identify the determinants.

In this study, voluntary blood donation was more among male donors (AOR: 2.66; [95% CI: 1.03-6.88]), health professionals (AOR 18.56; [95% CI, 6.26-55.09]), negligence (AOR 0.12; [95% CI, 0.05-0.31]), lack of information (AOR 0.24; [95% CI, 0.1-0.58]), a convenient place (AOR 11.36; [95% CI, 3.61-35.73]), fear (AOR 0.26; [95% CI, 0.12-0.61]) and lack of opportunity (AOR 0.23; [95% CI, 0.1-0.52]).

Decision-makers in the area of blood collection should work hard to create awareness on voluntary blood donation. High-level decision-makers and the other partners should endeavor to make blood collection locations more convenient.