Factors Affecting Voluntary Blood Donation Among Students at Rushoroza Seed School, Kanungu District

ABSTRACT Globally, a 2015 World Health Organization theme blood donor day campaign was “thanks for saving my life” on June 14, strongly encourages more people to donate blood voluntarily and regularly with slogan “Give freely” give often blood donation matters worldwide. Uganda with population of 34 million who needs about 250,000 units of blood to be able to meet its national needs but couldn’t get these big units due to many challenge. The main purpose of this study was to assess factors affecting Voluntary Blood Donation among students at Rushoroza Seed School, Kanungu District. This study was conducted in Rushoroza Seed School. A cross-sectional descriptive and quantitative study was employed. The results found out that participants those who had ever donated blood showed that the majorities with 45% were in age range 16-19 years 67% (45) participants had never donated blood voluntarily, 33% (22) ever donated blood voluntarily. Out of 67 participants majority with 35(52.2%) donated for the reasons that to get biscuits and soda after the donation while 22(32.8)% encouraged by friend to donate blood, 6(8.95%) heard appeal for blood donation on radio and 4(5.97%) relative/friend needed blood to be transfused. Out of 67 participants’ reasons for not donating blood voluntary 35(52.3%) fear to be tested for medicine illness like HIV, 25(37.3%) fear of needles prick and only 7(10.4%) fear of looking at blood to avoid fainting. The participants with 63% (42) said they think blood donation is necessary, 24% (16) did not think of it importance and 13% (9) No(not necessary).