Determinants of Blood Donation Practice among Selected Tertiary College Students in Homa Bay County Kenya

Abstract

Globally, most countries are struggling with inadequacy of blood. The enthusiasm of a population to give blood determines donation rate of a country. Most Kenyans are still not willing to donate with only less than 10 percent of adult Kenyans donating. Unfortunately, the country is struggling with perennial shortage of blood and KNBTS is only able to collect 16% of the one million units needed by the country way below the target. Their statistics shows blood is mainly donated by secondary school students, college and university students and 80 percent of the donors aged between 16 and 25 years. Blood donors of younger age have the potential of longer donor careers and good health, consequently directing recruitment efforts toward them is strategic to achieve universal access. Kenya has an estimated population of 47million, to claim sufficiency; 470,000 units of blood need to be collected annually. To increase adequacy of blood supply, locally relevant evidence is needed to understand the characteristics, motivators and barriers of tertiary college students. Numerous studies have been undertaken to understand the characteristics, barriers and motivators of potential donors more so in developed countries with few studies done locally in other parts of the country but not in Homa bay County. This was a descriptive cross sectional study which mixed method approach (qualitative and quantitative) for triangulation purposes. It was carried out from April 2021 to July 2021 in three public tertiary institutions and one private tertiary institution in Homa Bay County. The county is situated in western part of Kenya bordering Lake Victoria. A total of 424 participants were recruited in the study. The institutions were purposively sampled and systematic random sampling on the spot without a population list was used to sample the students. The numbers of students sampled in each institution was proportionately based on the total study population of 2627. SPSS software version 21.0 was used to conduct statistical analysis. Reliability was analyzed using test retest method and Pearson’s correlation calculated. In addition to reliability, simple percentage agreement was also calculated with values from 75% to 90% demonstrating acceptable level of agreement. Descriptive statistics (arithmetic average and standard deviation) and Chi square (x2) test for association was conducted for quantitative data while transcripts coded thematically and similarities identified for qualitative data. Logistic regression was carried out for all significant independent variables and Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) used to estimate the strength of association. The study revealed that sex OR-0.493 p =.013 and blood type A-(OR) 8.597 p=.0.009, and O+ (OR) 2.189 p=0.012 of the students were significant socio- demographic characteristics associated with blood donation, while collectivism and altruism main motivating factors. Selling of blood was the lead barrier to blood donation. Homa Bay County satellite blood bank, should come up with customized blood donation messages targeting female donors, and all donors should be motivated with non-monetary incentives like donor’s card and Community strategy should be used to share key customized massages through community health volunteers (CHVs) regarding blood donation.