Statistical analysis of the attitudes towards blood donation and transfusion in Mali.

Abstract

The demand for blood transfusion in Mali is high, because of the high prevalence of anemia, which is mostly caused by malaria, malnutrition and pregnancy-related complications. In this study a classic KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE (KAP) SURVEY was conducted on 323 individuals in Mali. Questions asked were aimed at finding what people in the study know about blood donation, how they feel about donating and receiving blood, and how they behave when asked to donate blood. The objective of this study is to develop a theoretical framework to better understand the attitudes toward blood donation and transfusion in Mali, thereby identifying factors that motivate and deter blood donation, and also to identify interventions to improve the supply of blood transfusion. A main effect logistic regression model was carried out to the model the relationship between willingness status of blood donating and thirteen explanatory variables. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to confirm the results obtained. Due to the nonresponse in the survey, techniques used to handle missing data values were also explored. More than 50% of individuals in the study responded as non-donors, however a vast majority of respondents reported their intent to become future donors. Also, the male population responded as majority donors at 58.8%. Results found, indicate that females were less likely to be donors in the Mali population and individuals that had knowledge about the different type of blood groups were more inclined to be donors. Overall results produced from the statistical methods employed in this study were consistent across the methods.