Evaluating Factors Influencing Voluntary Blood Donation Practices

This study sought to evaluate factors influencing voluntary blood donation practices among students of private universities in Thika town, Kiambu County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional study, which included students of Mount Kenya University and Gretsa University in Thika Town, Kiambu County, Kenya. The study found that Knowledge and the time respondents received information on blood donation in university were predictive factors influencing blood donation. The study also found that slightly over 50% of respondents had an average level of knowledge on blood donation. Respondents having an average knowledge were nearly twice (AOR=2.147, 95% CI: 1.220 - 3.779) as likely to donate, and respondents having good knowledge (15%) were nine times (AOR=9.585, 95% CI: 4.263 - 21. 551) more likely to donate blood compared to respondents who had poor knowledge (34%). Similarly, respondents who received information in university less than six months ago had higher chance of donating blood with an adjusted odds ratio(AOR=2.023, 95% CI: 1.090 - 3.753) in comparison to respondent who did not.