Voluntary Blood Donation Among Bahir Dar University Students: Application of Integrated Behavioral Model, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization recommends that 1% to 3% of a country's population should donate blood to meet its demand and should focus on young people to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation. The aim of this study was to assess voluntary blood donation among Bahir Dar University students by using an integrated behavioral model. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Bahir Dar University students from March 1-21, 2020. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied to select 625 study participants. Data were entered in Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 23.0 for analysis. Path analysis was done using Stata 15 to check the causal effect of the integrated behavioral model constructs on voluntary blood donation. Internal consistency and validity of constructs were checked using Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis, respectively. Multivariable linear and logistics regression were used to predict independent predictors on intention and voluntary blood donation, respectively. The significant independent predictor was declared at 95% confidence interval and P-value < 0.05. RESULTS: One hundred and four (16.8%) university students donated blood voluntarily. Being female (AOR = 1.92 (1.15-3.22)), being third year (AOR = 2.88 (1.55-5.35)), knowledge (AOR = 1.53 (1.32-1.77)), descriptive norm (AOR = 1.10 (1.01-1.12)) and intention (AOR = 1.42 (1.28-1.57)) were positively associated with blood donation. Injunctive norm (B = 0.06) and self-efficacy (B = 0.36) have significant association with intention. Intention, descriptive norm and knowledge have significant effect on blood donation with path coefficient 0.0, 0.09 and 0.48, respectively. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of voluntary blood donation was low as compared to other similar studies. Descriptive norm, intention, knowledge, sex, year of study were significant predictors associated with voluntary blood donation. Therefore, behavioral change health communication strategies should develop to address these factors among the students. Researchers should conduct prospective analytical study design to examine the causal relationship of constructs of the model to develop better interventional strategy.