Abstract
Context: Blood transfusion is an essential medical procedure conducted with various purposes
to provide patients with blood needed. The procedure saves patients’ lives, as blood
cannot be manufactured artificially and can only be obtained from human blood sources.
Aims: To assess the awareness of, perceptions of, motivations regarding, and barriers
to blood donation among a sample of Jazan University students in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA). Settings and Design: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among the undergraduate students
of Jazan University. Materials and Methods: Stratified random sampling was used to collect information from 440 students, and
a predesigned, structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the study variables.
Statistical Analysis: Involved descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. SPSS was used for data
analysis. Results: The prevalence of blood donation was 29.0% (95% CI, 25.0–33.3), significantly higher
for males at 44.3% (95% CI, 38.3–50.4) than for females at 10.5% (95% CI, 7.3–16.0;
P < 0.001), and with odds ratio (OR) = 6.8; [95% CI, 4.1–11.2] than females. Students’
level of knowledge regarding blood donation was low. The main barriers to blood donation
were identified as being unqualified for blood donation (57.5%) and risk of contracting
infectious disease (48.7%) and the desire to donate in the future to a close friend
(38.6%). The main motivations for donating blood were identified as religious reasons
(77.5%), altruism (77.5%), and to serve the homeland and meet the call of need (77.5%).
Conclusions: The prevalence of blood donation was found to be low, and students’ knowledge regarding
blood donation appeared to be lacking. The development of awareness programs among
the university’s students will address students’ misconceptions about blood donation
and encourage them to join donation campaigns.
Key Messages: Students’ knowledge regarding blood donation appeared to be lacking. The prevalence
of blood donation was also not satisfactory. Being unqualified for blood donation
and fear and misconceptions regarding blood donation were observed to be the main
causes of non-donation. The development of awareness programs among the university’s
students will encourage them to join donation campaigns.
Keywords
Blood - donation - knowledge - motivations and barriers
