Blood transfusion is an indispensable component of health care. It saves millions of lives every year in routine and emergencies, increasingly allows complex medical and surgical interventions, and dramatically improves patients’ life expectancy and quality of life with all kinds of acute and chronic conditions. Timely availability of safe blood or blood products is essential for all health care facilities where transfusion is performed. However, there is still a considerable gap between the need for blood and blood availability in many developing and transitional countries [1].

Voluntary non-remunerated blood donation is recognized as essential to the safety and sustainability of the national blood supply. The World Health Organization recommends this type of voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation. Systems based on replacement donation by family or friends of patients in need of transfusion are rarely able to meet clinical demand. In contrast, remunerated donations pose severe threats to both recipients’ and donors’ health and safety [1].

Developed countries with well-structured health systems and blood transfusion services based on voluntary blood donation can generally meet blood and blood products’ demand. On the other hand, in developing and transition countries, chronic blood shortages are common. Large urban centers may have sophisticated health care provision, but a large proportion of the population, particularly in rural areas, often have access to more limited health services where blood transfusion may be at risk or only unavailable [1].

There is a continuous growth in the need for blood products in Senegal, which means that the demand is greater than the supply. This situation is a factor of morbidity and mortality, especially among women in labor. Hemorrhages are responsible for a quarter of maternal deaths in Senegal [2].

This deficiency in blood products is observed to varying degrees in different geographical areas and is dependent on blood donation rates. In high-income countries, the voluntary donation rate is 32.1‰ compared to 4.6‰ for low-income countries [3]. In Senegal, the rate is estimated at 6.2‰, with an estimated shortfall of 40% in 2017 [2].

In Fatick, the rate of blood donation in the overall population is evolving positively since the blood bank’s opening in 2015. It thus went from 0.9‰ in 2015 to 2.9‰ in 2018. The evolution of donations in fixed cabins (volunteers who come to the bank) remains low, with rates ranging from 12% in 2015 to 16% in 2018. The mobile cabin trips collected 32 pockets per trip in 2015 and 49 bags in 2018 [4].

The WHO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are committed to efforts to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation and have a long history of collaboration in the area of blood safety and availability [1].

Studies conducted elsewhere show a correlation between Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices and voluntary blood donation [1] [5] [6]. Factors that may influence blood donation are age, with an increase in donors over 50 years of age [7] [8] [9] [10], while younger donors are declining in donations. The reasons young people donate blood are more likely to be related to external social pressures or promises of reward [11] [12]. Surveys in most Western countries indicate that more men than women donate blood [13] [14]. Men donate 30% more often than women [15]. In most non-Western countries, men donate more regularly than women [9] [12] [16] [17] [18].

Few studies have addressed the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of individuals and the factors influencing blood donation in the Fatick health district. The results of this study will provide solutions for the timely availability of blood and blood products in health facilities. Thus, the general objective is to study the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and factors associated with blood donation among people aged 18 to 65 in Fatick health district in Senegal.

A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among the health district of Fatick population from April 1 to 15, 2019. The study’s target population consists of individuals aged 18 to 65 years old living in the health district of Fatick. From this population, all individuals aged 18 to 65 years old residing for at least 6 months in the Fatick health district and present at the survey time are included. In addition to these criteria are the criteria of non-inclusion that are non-consent and the status of health worker.

The sampling is based on two types of units: survey units, in this case, the concessions and statistical units represented by men and women aged 18 to 65. The study aims to produce results representing the Fatick health district, urban and rural areas, and the district’s 09 communes. The sample was drawn stratum by stratum.

Thus, the sample is based on a stratified, two-stage survey. At the first stage, 17 strata (Primary Survey Units—UPS) were drawn from the list of Enumeration Areas (EAs) established during the 2013 General Census of Population and Housing, Agriculture and Livestock (GCPHAL), using a systematic draw with probability proportional to size, the size of the UPS being the number of households. An enumeration of households in each of these strata provided a list of households. A sample of 22 households per cluster was drawn at the second stage, in urban and rural areas, with equal probability systematic sampling. A total of 384 households were selected. The concessions’ selection is made randomly with the alea function in Excel and the selection of the concession households is carried out from the right.

The sample calculated according to Schwart’s formula ( n = ( ε α 2 ⋅ p ⋅ q ) / i 2 ) taking into account a p equal to 50% (the rate of blood donation in the district is not known), a precision of 5%, a cluster effect of 1.1 and a percentage of non-respondents of 10%, is 466 individuals.

Data are collected from a questionnaire developed from the literature review of studies dealing with voluntary blood donation. The questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, respondent behaviors, knowledge about blood donation, attitudes towards blood donation, and user satisfaction. The collection was done through individual interviews. The collection was made by interviewers, trained on the content of the questionnaire and the collection methodology. The questionnaire was pre-tested on a small sample.

Data analysis was done on Epi Info 7.2.1.0. A descriptive and analytical study was conducted. In the descriptive part, position and dispersion parameters were calculated for quantitative (mean, standard deviation, median) and qualitative (absolute and relative frequencies) variables. The bivariate analysis made it possible to assess the links between the variables and blood donation practice. The statistical tests of Pearson’s Chi2, Fisher’s test, and Student’s test were required with a 5% risk of alpha error.

Variables like knowledge level were created from variables that describe knowledge. Thus a rating made it possible to calculate a score and to define the good, average and bad knowledge. The socio-economic level was assessed on the basis of the materials available in the household. A rating of these materials gave a cumulative score. The latter made it possible to create three classes corresponding to the level (high, medium, low) of economic well-being. The materials consisted of air conditioner, television, telephone, refrigerator, radio and also included the characteristics of the dwelling, the source of drinking water supply, energy for lighting and cooking.

Informed consent of study participants was obtained. The data collected is confidential and kept in a safe place.

The study involved 466 people aged 18 and 65, with a 100% response rate.

This study’s overalls limitations were the lack of multivariate analysis, which would have made it possible to adjust for certain factors and eliminate confounding factors, and the design of cross-sectional study.

The level of knowledge of individuals about blood donation was low at 91.85%. However, they had good attitudes towards blood donation (53.65%). About a quarter of the people interviewed (24.68%) had already donated blood, 80% of whom had made voluntary non-remunerated donations. Factors associated with blood donation were age, sex, level of education, level of knowledge and attitude towards blood donation, monthly income, the existence of a relative’s blood donor, and the need for authorization from a parent or spouse.

In the study, 24.68% of the population interviewed had already donated blood. These results are close to those of F. Mousavi et al. [10], who found a proportion of 26% in Iran in 2011. Akbovia et al. [19] found a proportion of 31.7% in Lomé. Different proportions in different countries (27.6% in China, 6.1% in Haiti, 42% in Moldova, 26.4% in Tanzania, 31.7% in Togo, and 38% in Uganda) were found in the general urban or rural population by E. Lownik et al. [20]. This indicates that less than half of the general populations engage in blood donation. Awareness-raising is needed to urge people to donate blood to remedy this situation. In our study 80% of cases were voluntary non-remunerated donations and the recipient was anonymous. These results confirm those found at the national level. Senegal has indeed reached the objective of 80% voluntary donations, set by the WHO-AFRO regional strategy. Significant progress has been made in the regions [21]. Donations were repeated at least once in 26.09% of cases. It is therefore important to target more first-time donors and to communicate on aspects related to retention.

The mean age was 38 years (±13) among donors and 34 years (±13) among those who had not donated blood with p = 0.0019. The study showed that age could influence blood donation. People over 40 years of age were 3 times more likely to donate blood. Duboz P et al. [12] found the same for this age group. F. Mousavi et al. [10] found 1.4 [1.05 - 1.86] (ORb) times and 1.6 [1.21 - 2.24] (ORa) times higher risk in people aged 35 - 65 years.

The proportion of female blood donors was 19.94%, and the proportion of male blood donors was 35.17%. This study shows that men donated blood more than women (ORb = 2.18 [1.40 - 3.37]). This trend towards masculinization of blood donation is not recent. H. Javadzadeh Shahshahani et al. [22] found similar results, with women in Yazd donating blood less than men; as did F. Mousavi et al. [10] in a fitted model. Studies in a majority of Western countries also claim that more men than women donate blood Piliavin and Callero [13], Marantidou et al. [14]. Men donate more often than women Cloutier & CoL [15]. Similarly, in most non-Western countries, men donate more regularly than women [9] [10] [17]. Physiological constitution and unavailability due to pregnancy are factors that hinder blood donation in women. Many women also stop donating when they become pregnant and do not return afterward. Problems with anemia, more intense physical reactions to blood donation, problems with minimum weight limits, cessation of pregnancy, and breastfeeding are the main reasons cited for the relative absence of women in blood donation practice [23] [24] [25].

According to education levels, populations with higher levels of education were 3.33 [1.47 - 7.59] times more likely to donate, those with secondary education 1.95 [1.12 - 3.41], and those with primary education 1.88 [1.04 - 3.40] times more likely to donate. Thus, the higher level of education increases the practice of donating blood. The results are similar to those of F. Mousavi et al. [10]. Duboz P et al. [9] showed that higher education graduates were also more likely to be donors.

This study showed that the higher the level of knowledge about donating blood is, the more the person engages in the practice of donating blood (ORb = 2.14 [1.07 - 4.26]). Overall, the level of knowledge of the interviewees was low in 91.85% of the individuals. These results are in line with H. Javadzadeh Shahshahani et al. [22], who also found that 54.2% of the information on blood donation was obtained through radio and television. For our study, this value was estimated at 52.00% (television) and 42.00% (radio). K.-K. Agbovi et al. [19] found that men (41.7%) were more likely than women (20.7%) to be aware of the practice of blood donation, with the media (29.8%), friends (25.5%), and public awareness (23.4%) as sources of information. Similarly, good attitudes towards blood donation favor this practice (OR = 5.27 [1.83 - 15.18]).

The existence of a relative donor is a factor that can contribute to the practice of blood donation. Indeed, individuals with a close donor are more likely to donate blood (OR = 3.4 [2.19 - 5.26]). According to several surveys, family and friends’ influence on the first donation significantly impacts [24] [26] [27] [28]. Moreover, studies show that one of the main reasons mentioned by non-donors for not having donated blood before is simply that no one invited them to do so [9] [24] [26].

The study objectified a relationship between the need for authorization or not from a third party (parent or spouse) to donate blood. Individuals who do not necessarily require parental or spousal permission are more likely to donate blood (OR = 3.37 [2.13 - 5.31]). The influence of a parent or spouse is often essential and decisive in health decisions in our regions.

This work’s objective was to study the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and factors that influence voluntary blood donation in the Fatick health district. A problem was noted in the communication of blood donation for the communities. Some factors related to genders, such as age, sex, and education level, influenced the practice of blood donation. There was a statistically significant relationship between voluntary blood donation and the positive or negative influence of relatives. It is necessary to develop mass communication and outreach strategies and strengthen the blood bank in terms of human resources and logistics to increase the district’s voluntary blood donations. More and better planning and coordination of mobile clinic outings with health development committees and the community network’s use to integrate blood donation communication can facilitate and improve voluntary blood donation by improving accessibility to this service.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Diongue, F.B., Bassoum, O., Tine, J.A.D., Sall, A., Niang, K., Leye, M.M.M., Diallo, A.I. and Faye, A. (2021) Knowledge Attitudes, Practices and Factors Associated with Blood Donation in the Fatick Health District in 2019 (Senegal). Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 11, 132-146. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpm.2021.114011