Blood donation knowledge, attitudes, previous donation and student community engagement at Rajshahi University, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Abstract: To assess knowledge, attitudes and previous blood donation practices among students of Rajshahi University, Bangladesh and to evaluate the association between student community engagement factors and these three variables.

Design

Cross-sectional survey using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire.

Setting

Rajshahi University, Bangladesh.

Participants

A total of 500 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students were recruited through stratified quota sampling by faculty and academic level. Participants self-reported meeting the general WHO blood-donor eligibility criteria, including age ≥18 years, weight ≥50 kg, being apparently healthy and having no acute infection or other donor-deferral condition. Clinical eligibility was not confirmed through haemoglobin testing, blood pressure measurement or blood-bank records. Dependent variables: The dependent variables were adequate knowledge of blood donation, a positive attitude toward blood donation and previous donation of blood (ever vs never). Factors associated with these dependent variables were assessed using χ2 tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses.