Socioeconomic and Cultural Determinants of Blood Donation Practices Among Underserved Populations

Blood donation is a very crucial practice to make a safe and reliable blood supply, however, there are still some populations with lower blood donation rates who have barriers that often limit their participation.

The aim of this study was to identify the social, economic, and cultural factors that influence blood donation in rural communities.

A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in two rural districts. The data collection process involved administering a pretested structured questionnaire to the participants. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ ² tests, t-tests, and logistic regression, where the significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Non-donors showed less awareness of blood donation eligibility (50% vs. 85% of donors; p < 0.001) and perceived safety (60% vs. 92%; p < 0.001). The most common reasons indicated by non-donors for not participating in blood donations were lack of awareness (30%; 95% CI: 22.5-38.3), fear of pain or discomfort (25%; 95% CI: 18.0-33.4), cultural or religious objections (18%; 95% CI: 12.0-25.9), and financial constraints like transport costs and lost wages (15%; 95% CI: 9.6-22.3). Case of logistic regression revealed that lack of awareness (OR 3.4, 95% CI: 1.9-6.2) and cultural/religious beliefs (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3-5.5) were the significant predictors of non-donor status.

Targeted interventions consisting of community education, culturally sensitive campaigns, and financial support for transport and time costs are urgently called for to increase donation rates and strengthen blood supply systems in Kenya.