Title: Gender based knowledge, attitude and practice study about blood donation among medical students in a sub-Himalayan state
Abstract: Background: WHO is advocating a policy towards 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation by year 2020. The youth in general and medical students in particular constitute the core group for recruitment and retention of voluntary donor population in order to ensure safe and sustainable blood transfusion practices in India. The objective of the present study is to elucidate the knowledge, attitude and practices about voluntary blood donation among medical undergraduate students.Methods: A pretested, close ended questionnaire was administered to second and third year MBBS students of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Northwest India. Results were expressed in proportions and chi-square test was used as a test of significance (p<0.05).Results: More than 90% of the respondents knew the suitable age for blood donation and interval between two blood donations. Knowledge parameters like age for blood donation, minimum weight for blood donation and volume of blood collected for blood donation were found to be statistically significant (p<0.5) between boys and girls. More females than males had positive attitude for voluntary blood donation which was statistically significant (p<0.05). In the practice part, voluntary blood donation rate was 26.69%.Conclusions: Every opportunity should be availed to sensitise medical students about voluntary blood donation after their entry into medical colleges. It can greatly enhance the movement for voluntary non-remunerated blood donation and ensure safe and adequate quality of blood.