Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health, Sciences College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2024 Jan 5;19(1):e0295600. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295600. eCollection 2024.
Ghana is a majority youthful population, but is only able to meet 60% of its annual blood donation requirements. Although tertiary students in Ghana may serve as important blood donor resource by virtue of their higher educational attainment, data about their blood donation processes-specific knowledge are scarce. This study therefore explored the perspectives, and experiences of young adults regarding blood donation processes. This exploratory study employed mixed-methods approach (semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussion, [FGD]). Data collection was sequential; the questionnaire distribution was completed before FGD commenced; themes that emerged from the questionnaire responses guided FGDs. Convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 382 young adults (15-49 years). All statistical analyses were undertaken using the two-tail assumptions; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Majority (79.3%) of the participants were in their twenties, with only 1.3% being 40-49 years old. Although two-thirds of participants expressed willingness to donate blood, less than a-third (31.7%; 127/382) had previously donated blood. Overall, less than one-third of participants could correctly identify the minimum weight (26.4%), or the inter-donation interval (14.7%); 37.4% and 58.1% could respectively indicate the required donor age or ≥3 infectious agents screened for prior to blood collection. Among previous donors, 37.2%, 28.1% and 43.0% could identify the required weight, acceptable inter-donation period, and donor age respectively. Two-thirds and a-third of participants preferred voluntary unrelated, and paid donations respectively. Whereas 42.4% of participants indicated intrinsic health benefits of blood donation, 17.0% suggested that blood donation was associated with disease risks. Both previous donors and non-donor groups considered lack of education, fear of post-donation health issues and lack of privacy at blood collection centers as main hindrances to donor recruitment. Targeted intentional blood donation-specific educational campaigns are warranted to address the blood donation processes knowledge gap among the study population.
加纳是一个人口以年轻人为主的国家，但每年只能满足其 60%的献血需求。尽管加纳的大学生由于受教育程度较高，可能成为重要的献血资源，但关于他们献血过程相关知识的数据却很少。因此，本研究旨在探索年轻人对献血过程的看法和体验。本探索性研究采用混合方法（半结构式问卷和焦点小组讨论，[FGD]）。数据收集是顺序进行的；在开始 FGD 之前完成了问卷的分发；从问卷回复中出现的主题指导了 FGD。采用便利抽样技术招募了 382 名年轻人（15-49 岁）。所有统计分析均采用双侧假设；p<0.05 被认为具有统计学意义。大多数（79.3%）参与者处于二十多岁，只有 1.3%为 40-49 岁。尽管三分之二的参与者表示愿意献血，但只有不到三分之一（31.7%；127/382）曾献血。总体而言，不到三分之一的参与者能够正确识别最低体重（26.4%）或献血间隔时间（14.7%）；37.4%和 58.1%分别能够指出献血前所需的年龄或筛选的≥3 种感染物。在以前的献血者中，37.2%、28.1%和 43.0%分别能够识别所需的体重、可接受的献血间隔时间和献血年龄。三分之二和三分之一的参与者分别更喜欢自愿的无关联和有偿献血。虽然 42.4%的参与者表示献血具有内在的健康益处，但 17.0%的参与者认为献血与疾病风险有关。无论是以前的献血者还是非献血者都认为缺乏教育、对献血后健康问题的恐惧以及在采血中心缺乏隐私是阻碍招募献血者的主要因素。需要有针对性地开展关于献血过程的特定知识宣传教育活动，以填补研究人群中的这一知识空白。
