Knowledge, attitude and practice on blood donation among nurses in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi

Abstract

Background: There is some evidence to suggest that the greater one’s knowledge in the blood donation process and the need to donate blood, the more likely one would donate blood. Generally, the lack of knowledge among participants in most studies on blood donation issues seems to be a major concern. There is a perception that among health professionals, nurses are in the group that donate fewer units of blood on yearly basis and this has been blamed on several factors that have not been scientifically verified.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation among Nurses in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH); and to identify the factors that prevent nurses from donating blood.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted which made use of a close ended questionnaire to ascertain the knowledge, attitude and practices of nurses in eight clinical directorates at KATH. The data obtained were entered into a database which was designed using EpiData v3.1. The data were then analysed using StataIC 12.

Results: 170 nurses took part in the study. Females formed 85.3% of the respondents and the rest were males. The Regular voluntary nonremunerated donor was affirmed as having the highest chance of donating safe blood. The most frequently mentioned importance of blood donation was to save lives (87%). Out of the 27.1% of the respondents who have donated blood before, only 1.6% were regular donors. The results showed that the nurses had limited knowledge about blood donation, but a rather positive attitude towards blood donation. There was however poor practice of actual blood donation among the nurses.

Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of blood donation among the nurses in KATH are limited. There is need for more specific.

Keywords: knowledge, attitude, practice, nurses, blood donation