Abstract

Jayalaxmi Shakya*, Bedantakala Thulung, Tripti Shrestha and Preeti Shakya

ABSTRACT

Human blood is an essential element of human life and there are no substitutes to blood as yet. The need for blood is growing day by day as a result of advancement in the clinical medicine but its supply remains short. Hence, it is essential to identify significant factors affecting blood donation. For this reason, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge regarding blood donation among patients’ visitors at Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. A descriptive cross sectional study design was used. Data were collected by using non-probability purposive sampling technique with face to face structured interview schedule among 100 respondents. Data were analysed in descriptive and inferential statistics. Results of this study revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 31.55 SD=11.72. The study revealed that the proportion of individuals with knowledge on blood donation is quite high. Majority of the respondents (88%) of them mentioned that the main goal of blood donation was to save someone’s life. Sixty percent of them answered that the major benefit of blood donation was a sense of psychological wellbeing. Only onefourth of the respondents had ever donated blood. The major reason for not donating blood was the lack of opportunity to do so. It is important to increase the number of donors in order to meet the requirement of blood. Targeted strategies should be designed to increase more awareness among people about blood donation and to utilize potential donors who lack opportunities to donate blood.