AWARENESS AND PRACTICES RELATED TO BLOOD DONATION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF RAJENDRA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, RANCHI.

Shalini Sunderam, Anju Prabha Kumari*, Pushpa, Santosh Kumar Soren, Manish Deo and Vivek Kashyap

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Blood transfusion services are facing a dual challenge of sufficient blood supply and safety of blood as well. Blood collection from voluntary, non-numerated donor is an important measure to ensure safe blood. Objectives: (i) To assess the knowledge and practices related to blood transfusion among the study population. (ii) To assess the factors affecting blood donation among study population. Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out for a period of one month (in November 2019) among the medical students of seventh semester, of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences. Total 119 participants were enrolled and data collected using semi structured questionnaires. Data entered in MS Excel and Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. Result: The participants were of age group 20-27 years. Majority (63.9%) of the study population comprised of females. Most of the participants (91.6%) agreed HIV as an important transfusion transmitted infection. However only less than half (45.4%) participants of the total study population have donated blood. Conclusion: The data revealed that the blood donating population is very less. At regular intervals awareness camps should be organized to sensitize the students regarding the demand of safe blood and to motivate them to come forward for the blood donation.

Keywords: Awareness, blood donation, medical students.