KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF STUDENTS OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY SCHOOLS PERTAINING VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION: A SURVEY IN BAUCHI, NIGERIA

Abstract

Modern days are days of increased rate of emergencies that require sufficient supply of blood. That is only properly achieved by voluntary blood donation. This study examines the characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of respondents regarding voluntary blood donation. Students are good candidates for voluntary blood donation (VBD) because they are supposedly healthy, and educated. This study applied survey descriptive study method that uses a 400 questionnaires from students of health technologies in Bauchi, Nigeria. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of respondents are Muslim (83.5%), male (60%), and between 18-30 years old (54%). Most respondents work in urban areas (60%) and have a Diploma in the medical field (40%). Awareness/education is the main motivator for blood donation (47.8%), while lack of awareness (60%) and fear (40%) are significant impediments. Although 64.3% of respondents are willing to donate blood voluntarily, only 41.5% have ever practiced voluntary blood donation. It is significant to intensify health education in schools and in the public arena to encourage people to donate blood voluntarily to help public health.