To donate or not to donate: An analysis of blood donors and blood donation knowledge, attitudes and practices in Northwestern China

Background. Blood donor demographic and donation characteristics are poorly understood in China. This study was conducted in order to generate data with which blood centers in northwest China can better understand their blood donor populations and to better recruit and retain donors by learning more about why some individuals donate their blood while others do not. Study design and methods. The study consisted of two study populations: (1) 29,784 blood donors who donated blood either at the Urumqi City Blood Center or at one of its mobile blood collection buses located throughout Urumqi city during a one year period; (2) 1,280 individuals comprising 8 unique population groups in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Donor records from the first population were analyzed with respect to specific demographic and donation characteristics. The second population was administered a KAP survey instrument which addressed specific factors associated with blood donation. Results. The typical blood donor in Urumqi can be characterized as male, less than 36 years of age, Han Chinese, having a high school education or better, being a first-time donor and donating at a mobile blood collection bus. About a third (33.4%) of participants surveyed believed blood donation to be harmful or potentially harmful. Overall rates of TTIs were low (3.35%) although rates were higher among first time donors and donors who donated at the blood center. Motivations for blood donation included altruistic influences as well as social pressures. Inhibitions toward blood donation included feeling that donating blood is harmful, fear of needles, fear of contracting a TTI, specific health conditions as well as general feelings of poor health. Conclusions. This study reiterates the findings of a number of studies done worldwide that first time blood donors pose a higher risk to the blood supply than repeat donors. In addition, in this setting, coercion plays an important role in the blood donation decision. These data suggest that much work needs to be done to effectively disseminate accurate knowledge about the blood donation process in order to dispel erroneous information and cultural prejudices and about the role of blood centers in the community.