Knowledge and attitude towards voluntary blood donation among Dhaka University students in Bangladesh.

This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among the students of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, to assess their knowledge and attitudinal variables towards voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation. Two hundred students were selected to participate in this study and were interviewed face to face on various aspects of blood donation using a structured questionnaire. Eighty two per cent of the participants showed a positive attitude towards blood donation, however, only 16 per cent of the respondents in this study had actually ever donated blood voluntarily. Among the non-donor respondents, physical harm and fear were found to be the common reasons for not donating blood. The results also showed that a high number of respondents (93%) had a negative attitude towards paid blood donation. We suggest that appropriate motivational campaign should be launched immediately among this young section of the population to convert this favourable "attitude" towards blood donation into a regular "practice" in order to increase the voluntary blood donation in Bangladesh.