Local public knowledge of blood donation systems in Trinidad and Tobago and in other places

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Trinidad and Tobago (TRT) public’s knowledge of donation procedures locally and in the United States (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) and its effect on willingness to donate blood locally. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample from adults in TRT concerning knowledge and attitudes towards blood donation. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. 529 responses were received. Analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 21. Chi-squared testing was done to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Of 529 respondents, 141 (26.7%) had donated previously, 34 (6.4%) had been excluded and 354 (66.9%) had never donated. 76.8% of those who had donated did so for a friend or family member. 53.6% of respondents rated their knowledge of TRT’s system, and 86.2% rated that of the US and UK, as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Knowledge of the local system was directly correlated to willingness to donate blood in TRT (p<0.001). No relation was found concerning knowledge of the foreign systems and local willingness to donate (p=0.423). Factors deemed most ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to influence people to donate included if donation was for an ill family member (87.7%) or friend (77.9%); if the blood donation system in place was a replacement system (70.9%) and if more information was given to the public about blood donation (67.3%). CONCLUSION: Public knowledge of the blood donation system of TRT affected willingness to donate while knowledge of the US and UK systems had no effect.