Abstract:
Background: Millions of lives are lost each year due to a lack of blood and blood products for
transfusions and most of them happen in developing countries. Because of the excessive demand
for blood, there is a blood shortage that significantly increases morbidity and mortality. Regular
and voluntary blood donation practices are required to address the rising demand for blood while
maintaining an appropriate supply of blood.
Objective: This study was aimed to assess blood donation practices and its associated factors
among health professionals working in public health facilities of Ambo town, Oromia Regional
state, central Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 422 health
professionals working in Ambo town health facilities from February 15 to 30, 2022. A simple
random sampling method was used to select the study participants. The collected data were
entered into Epidata Version 4.2 software and exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis.
Descriptive analysis was done. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify
factors independently associated with practices of blood donation. Adjusted Odds Ratio with a
95% confidence interval was computed to measure the strength of association. The level of
statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05.
Results: Total of 410 participants were included in the final analysis (response rate = 97.2%).
Among these participants, 200(48.8%, 95% CI 44.0, 54.0) of them practiced blood donation.
Being male [AOR=2.35, 95% CI:(1.46, 3.78)], work experience greater than five years
[AOR=2.53, 95% CI: (1.04, 6.14)], presence of promotional activity [AOR=2.59, 95% CI: (1.64,
4.08)], good knowledge of blood donation [AOR=2.72, 95% CI: (1.65, 4.49)] and favorable
attitude towards blood donation [AOR=1.64, 95% CI: (1.07, 2.53)] were significantly associated
with blood donation practice of health professionals.
Conclusions: In comparison to other research conducted in underdeveloped countries, health
professionals' blood donation practices were low in this study. Being male, work experience
more than 5 years, existence of promotional activities, good knowledge and favorable attitude
toward blood donation of the health professional were all independently linked to blood donation
practice. As a result, health professionals must be made more aware of the need of blood
donation.
