Factors Affecting Acceptability of Blood Donation Exercises in Rural Areas Compared to Urban Centers in Mbarara District

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.