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Background-Access to a safe and sufficient blood supply could avert up to 150,000 pregnancy related deaths globally each year. At minimum, the World Health Organization estimates that a country needs 1% to 3% of its population to donate blood to meet its need.Yet, many African countries including Ethiopia are far below the minimum blood collection rate. This gap between blood supply & demand has a significant impact on maternal mortality in SSA countries where 26% (16–72%) of maternal hemorrhage related deaths were due to lack of blood for transfusion. Different studies in developed and developing countries show a knowledge gap on the benefit of blood donation, unfavorable attitude & poor practice of blood donation. In Ethiopia, however, there are few studies conducted on this important area.
Objective- To assess knowledge on maternal health benefits of donated blood, attitude & practice of blood donation & associated factors among Addis Ababa Science & Technology University students.
Methods- A cross-sectional study was conducted among 421 students in Addis Ababa Science and Technology University who were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data through a face to face interview. The data was coded and entered into EPI info version 7.0, cleaned in SPSS version 20.0 and analyzed in STATA 12.1. Then, descriptive statistics and two step (bivariate and multivariate) logistic regressions analyses was applied.
Result- Among 421 respondents, 245 (58.19%) respondents had good knowledge about maternal health benefits of donated blood & 221 (52.49%) respondents had favorable attitude towards blood donation. About a quarter of study participants (105, 24.94%) had donated blood. Studying in biological science [AOR, (95% CI), 2.95 (1.16, 7.49)], being from wealthier families [AOR, (95% CI), 2.85 (1.36,5.97)] , family history of blood transfusion [AOR, (95% CI), 3.49 (1.89,6.45)], good knowledge about maternal health benefit of donated blood [AOR, (95%CI), 3.94 (1.97, 7.89)] & favorable attitude towards blood donation [AOR, (95%CI), 5.03 (2.63, 9.62)] were significantly associated with blood donation.
Conclusion/recommendation- Knowledge about maternal health benefit of donated blood, favorable attitude and practice of blood donation is low. So, NBBS of Ethiopia should work jointly with all stakeholders (Government institutions, NGO’s, Community Based Organizations, Media and Private organizations) to create more awareness and sensitization about the need of blood for maternal health & increase number of blood donors. |
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