Behavior disparities towards blood donation in Sikkim, India.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the current research was to determine disparities in blood donation motives among the general mass of Sikkim.

AIMS

To identify the reasons for people donating and not donating blood voluntarily.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Population based cross-sectional study in Gangtok, East Sikkim.

PARTICIPANTS

300 adults by two-stage cluster sampling technique.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Correlates of attitudes towards blood donation. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE: The data collection tool used for the study was a pre-tested structured interview schedule by which the principal investigator collected the data using interview technique.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Percentages and ODDS ratio were used in this study.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Out of 300 respondents, overwhelming majority (78.7%) of the respondents in the present study felt that people donate blood to save a friend or a relative. On the contrary, minority respondents (46%) were ready to donate blood voluntarily. Only 12.7% of the respondents had ever donated blood while 87.3% had never donated. Among ever donors, gender wise men donors were found to be more; 89% were married, half were from the 30 to 39 years age group. As the per-capita income or level of education increased, so did the percent of blood donors.