Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Hepatitis B and C Among Blood Donors and Nondonors in North India.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The selection of a low-risk blood donor involves a dialogue between the trained medical staff and the volunteer blood donor, and this is where the knowledge of the prospective blood donor with regard to the risk factors for acquiring hepatitis B and C and the mode of spread through a blood transfusion is of utmost importance. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude on hepatitis B and C with regard to blood donation, in the existing and the potential donor base. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 4000 participants, including 2000 blood donors and 2000 nondonors. The study tool was a pilot-tested, self-administered questionnaire, content and construct validated using Delphi methodology. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 25.12 ± 8.43 years ranging from 18 to 60 years; 24.64 ± 8.31 years in donors and 25.61 ± 8.55 years in non-donors. The study included 69.8% males and 30.2% females, with 87.5% males and 12.6% females in donors and 52.1% males and 47.9% females in non-donors. Overall knowledge score was 51.02%, being 51.21% in donors and 50.84% in non-donors. Overall attitude score was 47.93%, being 47.09% in donors and 48.77% in non-donors. There was a low degree of significant linear correlation between knowledge and attitude in the study participants. CONCLUSION: Based on the results obtained in the study, it is evident that neither the existing level of knowledge nor the attitude of both donors and nondonors towards hepatitis B and C is adequate for being able to select a low-risk blood donor.