Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Associated Factors Regarding Safe Blood Donation Among Students of Public Universities in Afghanistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study explores students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices about safe blood donation in Afghanistan, finding good awareness but low actual donation rates due to access and encouragement issues.

Contribution

The study identifies key demographic and logistical factors influencing blood donation practices among Afghan university students.

Findings

Most students had adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes toward blood donation.

Only 19.2% of students had donated blood, with access and encouragement as major barriers.

Faculty type, education year, and marital status were significantly associated with donation practices.

Abstract

Blood transfusion is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, saving millions of lives annually. However, ensuring a stable and safe blood supply remains a challenge in low‐income countries like Afghanistan. Students, as young and educated individuals, can play a vital role in promoting voluntary blood donation. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factors regarding safe blood donation among students of public universities in Afghanistan.

This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 395 students between November and December 2024 using a multi‐stage stratified sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27 with frequencies, percentages, chi‐square tests, and Spearman's correlation to assess relationships between variables. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses evaluated associations between knowledge, attitude, practice, and demographic factors. p‐values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Of the 395 distributed questionnaires, 385 were completed and returned. The response rate in this study was 97.46%. The highest number of participants in this research were in the age range of 21–25 years. The findings revealed that most students (52.7%) had adequate knowledge about safe blood donation, and the majority of students (98.4%) exhibited a favorable attitude. Only 19.2% of students reported having donated blood. The main barriers to blood donation were limited access to blood donation centers (37.4%) and not being asked to donate (59.2%). A significant association was found between faculty type and knowledge (p < 0.001), year of education and practice (p = 0.02) and marital status and practice (p = 0.04), based on Chi‐square tests.

Although most students had adequate knowledge and positive attitudes regarding blood donation, their actual donation practices were low. Major barriers included logistical issues and lack of encouragement. These results underscore the need for targeted awareness campaigns, educational interventions, and improved access to blood donation facilities to enhance safe blood donation practices in Afghanistan.