Kebadnew Mulatu, Tamiru Hailu, Addisu Yegezu and Bezuayehu Tena
Background: Blood transfusion is a vital component of the health care delivery system of every country. Though it is often delegated to a non-governmental organization, it is the responsibility of government to ensure adequate, safe supplies of blood, blood products and services to meet the needs of all patients in a timely, cost effective and efficient manner. Donor blood procurement from voluntary non remunerated donor has been considered the safest source of blood. Globally total safe blood supply was obtained from voluntary blood donors.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of blood donation among residents of Aman Sub-City, South West Ethiopia, from June 1-15/2015 G.C.
Methods: Community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1-15/2015. Simple random sampling method was employed to select study participants, data were collected through standardized and pre tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS and presented by using frequency distribution tables, graphs and deferent charts. Dissemination of results was made for respective bodies. Ethical clearance was obtained from college of health science.
Result: Among the total respondents 226(90.4%) knew about blood donation; from those respondents 190(76%) had good knowledge, while the rest had poor and average knowledge. More than 2/3 of our respondents 212(93.8%) had positive (good) attitude whereas, the rest had negative attitude. Even though most of the respondents have good knowledge and positive attitude only 66(26.4%) of them have practiced blood donation. Among these 34(51.2%) have donated only 3 times in their life time and 25(37.9%) was donated when needed and also 30(45.5%) of them donated for their relatives/friends as a replacement donor while only 18(27.3%) donated voluntarily.
Conclusion and recommendation: The study participants had good awareness and most of the respondents had positive attitude towards blood donation. However, they had low practice of donation. Therefore, zonal health office has to disseminate information on blood donation through mass Medias. Health professionals and Red Cross have to educate the community to increase the uptake of blood donation.
