Publications

Blood transfusion is an indispensable component of health care. It contributes to saving millions of lives each yearin both routine and emergency situations. The present study determined the knowledge, attitude and practice ofprospective blood donors aged between 18 to 35 years at KIU, Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, southwestern Uganda”This was a cross-section conducted among 384 Students at KIU-WC who consented. These participants wereselected based on simple random sampling techniques and data was obtained from all the participants using aquestionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The analyzed data was then presented in the form of frequencytables and graphs. The majority 215 (53.4%) of the participants were males, many 166(43.2%) were 3rd-yearstudents, 245(63.8%) participants were Christians and lastly, and 209 (54.4%) participants were from the Schools ofHealth Sciences. 49.2% have good knowledge of blood donation. Many 220(57.3%) knew that the best source ofblood was voluntary donors, majority 362(94.3%) knew that blood cannot be manufactured, many 246(66.6%) knewthat the recommended age to start donating blood is 18 years and above, majority 250(65.1%) knew that theminimum weight for the eligible blood donor is 45 kgs, many308 (80.2%) knew that nothing harmful can happen toblood donor, 246(64.1%) knew that temporary weakness happened to the blood donor during and after donation.Lastly, 268(69.8%) knew at least one condition where blood donation is required or used. many 186 (48.4%) thoughtthat blood donation is good, the majority 269 (70.1%) encouraged others to donate, and 194 (50.4%) believeddonating blood is too. Much of an inconvenience, 270 (70.3%) were less likely to donate blood even if they were paidto do so and lastly many 231 (60.2%) were not willing to donate blood in future. many 318(82.8%) had never donatedblood. Of the 66 (17.2%) who had ever donated blood, many 44(66.7%) donated once. Of the 318 who had neverdonated blood, the main reason was fear of needles/pain suggested by 117(30.5%). This study observed found lowlevels of knowledge and practice. The rate of positive attitude was relatively low and a high were not willing todonate blood in future. The main reason for not donating blood was fear of needles/pain.