EXAMINING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ AWARENESS, ATTITUDES, AND ACTIONS TOWARD VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION

Background: Voluntary blood donation is a critical component of healthcare systems, ensuring the availability of safe blood for transfusions and life-saving interventions. The World Health Organization recommends that at least 1% of a country's population should donate blood to meet the global demand. Despite this, low-income countries, including Pakistan, face acute shortages due to misinformation, cultural myths, and unfavorable attitudes that discourage participation. Understanding the awareness, perspectives, and behaviors surrounding blood donation among young adults is essential to address these challenges effectively. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness, perspectives, and actual donation practices of undergraduate students regarding voluntary blood donation. It further sought to identify key factors influencing their participation and explore the relationships among awareness, attitudes, and behaviors to inform targeted interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 197 undergraduate students aged 17–35 years. Data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed across multiple academic departments to ensure a diverse sample. The questionnaire assessed awareness, perspectives, and behaviors related to blood donation. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hypothesis testing were performed using SPSS version 23 to analyze the data. Key variables were explored for their interrelationships, focusing on awareness levels, attitudes, and donation behaviors. Results: The study revealed that 27.9% of participants (55 out of 197) had donated blood voluntarily. Awareness was generally high, with 85.8% knowing their blood group, while 10.2% were unfamiliar with it. However, only 42.6% were aware of the storage duration of blood, indicating knowledge gaps. Positive attitudes toward donation were evident, with 91.9% supporting the idea of blood donation and 82.7% expressing willingness to donate in the future. A statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.257, p < 0.01) was found between awareness and attitudes, while awareness and actual donation behavior demonstrated a minimal correlation (r = 0.014, p = 0.843). Conclusion: The findings highlight a significant gap between positive attitudes and actual donation practices among students. Targeted educational programs addressing misconceptions and logistical barriers, along with strategies to translate awareness into action, are essential to increase voluntary blood donation rates. These measures can support a sustainable and safe blood supply for healthcare needs.