A STUDY ON AWARENESS AND PRACTICES ABOUT BLOOD DONATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN MADRAS MEDICAL COLLEGE, CHENNAI, 2011

Abstract : BACKGROUND - Blood and blood products are precious because they can be obtained only from individuals who donate blood. Understanding the knowledge level and practices about blood donation among medical students is essential since they are expected to convey the information regarding the need for voluntary blood donation to the general population. OBJECTIVES -To assess the awareness level and practices regarding blood donation among medical students in Madras Medical College, Chennai. MATERIALS AND METHODS - A cross sectional descriptive study was done among 135 students studying Final Year MBBS in Madras Medical College, Chennai during the months of September to October 2011. A pre tested and semi structured questionnaire was used and information was collected on their awareness and practices towards blood donation after getting their consent. Chi square test and Fishers exact test were used for analysis. RESULTS -The results revealed that students were well aware of the minimum age limit for blood donation (95.5 percent), frequency of blood donation (89.6 percent), recommended type of blood donation (94.8 percent) and the measurements to be taken before donation (88.8 percent). However, the maximum age limit (8.8 percent), minimum weight (34 percent) and amount that can be donated by an individual of 60kg (22.2 percent) were areas of poor knowledge among the students. 54 percent of the students had ever donated blood. The reasons attributed by those who had not donated blood were anaemia (41.9 percent), underweight (14.5 percent) and fear (4.8 percent). There was no significant difference in awareness among males and females, but blood donation practices were found to be significantly higher among males . CONCLUSION - It was seen that even though the knowledge of medical students about blood donation was fair, there are areas which lack adequate awareness. It was seen that more than half of them have donated blood. They have to be motivated in the right path to promote blood donation practices since they are a potential source of voluntary donors and also they are going to be the future health care providers. Keyword :Blood donation, voluntary, awareness, practices, medical students