Abstract :
Introduction: Globally young people play a pivotal role for voluntary non remunerated blood donation. Good knowledge and positive attitude towards blood donation among young people specially those who are attached to health care delivery system not only recruit them to donate blood but also help to increase awareness in the community. Objective: To determine knowledge attitude and practice of blood donation among undergraduate students. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted which included first year undergraduate students from medical, physiotherapy and audiology institutes during August-September 2016. A sample of 161 students was contacted in their classroom to give brief information about the research. A predesigned, pretested questionnaire was given to the students to collect the basic demographic details of study participants, their knowledge, attitude and practice towards voluntary blood donation. Data were presented using tables and graph after calculating percentage for different variables under study.Results: There were 161 students who were included in the study, out of which 62%, 27.3% and 10.7% were M.B.B.S. students, B.P.T. and B.A.S.L.P., respectively. Among all 62.7% were having good knowledge regarding blood donation. Nearly 92.5% were ready to donate blood and around 95% replied that voluntary blood donation was the safest. Out of total students, only two students (1.2%) had donated blood once in recent past and felt discomfort after donating blood. Conclusion: In spite of having good knowledge and positive attitude towards blood donation, very few students had donated blood. Attempt should be made to include the students in the blood donation camps, encourage them to willingly donate blood and propagate the information to their peer group.
Keyword :
Attitude, Blood Donation, Knowledge, Practice, Undergraduate Students