| dc.description.abstract | Introduction:The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that blood donation by 1% of the total
population is generally the minimum needed to meet a nation’s most basic blood requirements The study
was about the factors affecting acceptability of blood donation exercises in rural compared to urban areas
in Mbarara District. The objectives of the study were; to find out the individual factors, establish
environmental factors, and investigate the cultural factors influencing the acceptability of blood donation
in rural and urban areas in Mbarara district.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional study design, descriptive and analytical in nature
involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis. The population of
study were perceived blood donors in Mbarara district from which a sample size of 384 perceived blood
donors were recruited. Of the 384 respondents, 192 were gotten from rural areas and 192 were from urban
areas in Mbarara District. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used to examine
associations between acceptability of blood donations and the independent variables i.e., individual factors
environmental and cultural factors.
Results:384 participants recruited in this study. Of these, 192 were recruited from rural area and 192
recruited from urban centers.The study findings revealed that the individual factors affecting acceptability
of blood donation exercise in rural and urban areas in Mbarara District were blood donation experience of
4-6 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 1.22 – 1.36, P =0.004) and household decision making by the husband
(AOR=0.15, 95% CI = 0.03 – 0.78, P = 0.024). Topography of place of residence (AOR=0.18, 95% CI =
0.03-0.94, P=0.043), mode/means of transport (AOR=0.48, 95% CI = 0.10-0.22, P<0.001), and distance to
blood donation points (AOR = 0.157, 95% CI = 0.69 – 0.36, P < 0.001) were the environmental factors
affecting blood donation exercises in both rural and urban areas. The results finally revealed no significant
association between cultural factors (religion, culture, social norms) and acceptability of blood donation
exercises in both rural and urban areas.
Conclusions:Blood donation experience of 4-6 years and household decision making by the husband are
individual factors affecting acceptability of blood donation exercise in rural and urban areas in Mbarara
District. Topography of place of residence, mode/means of transport, and distance to blood donation
points the environmental factors affecting blood donation exercises in both rural and urban areas. No
significant association between cultural factors (religion, culture, social norms) and acceptability of blood
donation exercises in both rural and urban areas.
Recommendations:The ministry of health in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Uganda
Red Cross Society and Uganda Blood Transfusion Service should intensify blood donation sensitization
campaigns so as to encourage more people to voluntarily donated blood from where they can acquire
blood donation experience. Additionally, the sensitization campaigns of these stakeholders should also
target husbands to allow their wives to make personal choices and decisions regarding blood donation.
The ministry of health in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Uganda Red Cross Society and Uganda Blood Transfusion Service should set up more blood collection points in different areas so as to
ease movement of potential blood donors to the nearest blood collection points. This would also help to
minimize geographical barriers to acceptability of blood donation. Finally, blood transfusion services
across Africa should consider designing additional culturally appropriate interventions to boost blood
donation. Such interventions must take into account the languages spoken by the target audience and the
types of myths about blood donation to be demystified. | en_US |
