Abstract:
Background: Blood transfusion is both a life-saving practice and a high-risk invasive
procedure. Nurses and midwives who are actual administering blood to the patient, however,
the current status of knowledge and practice of nurses and midwives to deliver safe blood
transfusions is not further stated.
Objective: to assess knowledge, and practice of blood transfusion and its associated factors
among nurses, and midwives at public hospitals in West Shawa, Ethiopia
Method: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 01 to 30 2021
among 278 participants. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from
randomly selected participants, coded and entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to
SPSS version 25.0 for cleaning and analysis. Bivariate logistic regression model analysis was
conducted, and variables having a p-value less than 0.25 were transferred to multivariable
regression analysis. The odds ratio was used for a measure association between variable and
a p-value of < 0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance. Result: Of 267
participants were involved in the study with 96 % response rate. About (57.30%) participants
had inadequate knowledge and (51.70%) had inappropriate practice of blood transfusion.
Work experience (AOR=2.51, 95% CI: 1.04, 6.08), availability guidelines inward (AOR=
2.75, 95% CI: 1.50, 5.01), and reading guidelines (AOR= 5.43, 95% CI: 2.91, 10.16) were
significant association with knowledge of blood transfusion. While, work experience
(AOR=5.80, 95%, CI: 2.30, 14.65), and having training on blood transfusion (AOR=8.08,
95% CI: 4.26, 15.30) were significant association with practice of blood transfusion.
Conclusion: More than half of Nurses and midwives had inadequate knowledge and
inappropriate practice of blood transfusion. Work experience, availability of blood
transfusion guidelines, and reading guidelines were significant associations with knowledge
score. Work experience, and having blood training, was significantly associated with the
practice of blood transfusion. Recommendation: Provide continuous in-service training, and
educational programs to improve the knowledge and practice of participants about blood
transfusion.
