Barriers and Motivators for In-house Blood Donation: A Cross-sectional Study from Tertiary Care Hospital, Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Most Sri Lankan blood donations (93%) are from mobile blood donation campaigns. Restricted community gathering during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected the blood supply. Further, Kilinochchi has lower blood donation rates than other Sri Lanka areas.

Aim: To describe the level of donor satisfaction, identify the barriers and factors to increase in-house blood donors of a District General Hospital, Kilinochchi.

Materials and Methods: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 193 in-house voluntary blood donors in blood bank at District General Hospital (DGH) Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka, from April 2021 to July 2021. Donors with atleast one year of residence in Northern Province were included, and data was collected by pretested, self-administered questionnaire. The parameters assessed were socio-demographic data, donor satisfaction, blood donation information receiving methods, factors affecting blood donation, and factors to improve blood donation. Data entered and analysed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0.

Results: Out of total 193, 120 (62.17%) were regular donors. Majority donors were male donors, 168 (87.04%) and among 25-35 years group, 85 (44.05%). Most had completed grade 13 exam, 66 (34.19%), only 28 (14.5%) had a degree and 106 (54.92%) donors were within 10 km from the blood bank. The majority of 122 (63.21%) were aware from a friend, and 16.06% (n=31) were aware from YouTube. Gaining information from a friend was statistically associated with the distance to the blood bank (p-value=0.036). A majority 190 (98.44%) of the in-house blood donors were satisfied with the services provided by the blood bank staff, and 188 (97.40%) had stated they are confident about the facilities provided by the blood bank for in-house blood donation.

Conclusion: Majority of the in-house blood donors were satisfied with the services provided by the blood bank staff and blood bank facilities. Delivering information regarding blood donation via friends to the population who reside close to the blood bank and awareness programs by healthcare workers would be the best method to improve in-house blood donations in this area