A Cross-Sectional Study of Sociodemographic Profile of Blood Donors and Their Knowledge about Blood Donation in a Rural Area of Kerala

BACKGROUND Even in the presence of sufficient voluntary blood donors, the need of blood is not met yet. We wanted to evaluate the causes that hinder the smooth functioning of well-maintained blood transfusion services (BTS). METHODS This is a population based cross-sectional study conducted among blood donors from voluntary outreach blood donation camp for period of one year. Total 1536 blood donors from 32 blood donation camps were subjected to study for the sociodemographic characteristic and their knowledge of blood donation. Statistical analysis of data was done using Microsoft Excel, analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) ver.16 software. RESULTS A total of 32 blood donation camps were conducted during the study period that provided 1536 donors. In most of the camps, male donors (75 %) were more than female donors. Donors of age group of 30 to 39 years (43.9 %) were more when compared to others. Donors those who were married accounted for 79.9 %. Blood donors of Hindu religion (53 %) were more. CONCLUSIONS The main hindrance for blood donor motivation is lack of knowledge. Literacy and chance to mingle in society have a positive effect on blood donor motivation. Targeting of effective donor motivation, recruitment, and retention were attained by conducting awareness classes, seminars, workshops, and visual communication modalities. KEYWORDS World Health Organization, Altruistic Blood Donor, Blood Transfusion Services, Transfusion Transmitted Infections, Blood Components and Plasma Derivatives, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), National Blood Transportation Council (NBTC)

Are charity galas still relevant? An examination of generational differences in attitudes towards gala fundraising events

Prompted by the scandal in 2018 concerning sexist behaviour at the Presidents Club’s charity gala in London in the UK and by the emerging literature within the field of philanthropy that finds generational differences in donor motivation and behaviour, this study examines whether the charity gala continues to be a relevant method of fundraising.<br />Taking a mixed-methods research approach, using surveys and interviews, the study captures the views and attitudes of 108 affluent donors and 53 fundraisers in the UK. Aside from a few minor differences, the study finds that donors across generations share similar attitudes towards galas, concluding that this fundraising method is still relevant, providing the charities have willing supporters with appropriate social networks.<br />The findings, of interest to scholars and practitioners alike, address a gap in empirical evidence regarding donor attitudes towards a specific type of fundraising as well as contributing to the broader discussion as to why people engage with philanthropy.

A study of blood donor motivation in South Africa

This chapter looks at a study of blood donor motivation in South Africa, which was commissioned by the Natal Blood Transfusion Service and carried out in Durban. Much of the fieldwork was done by six trained Bantu graduates which helps to explain the perceptive nature of some of the interview data elicited from poor and semi-literate Bantu workers. The study shows that the Bantu donor is statistically rare. They come mainly from institutional groups such as factories and schools and tend to be younger, better educated, and with higher incomes than the average Bantu adult in Durban. The concepts of blood held by the average manual worker Bantu closely link blood with health and are unfavourable to blood donation. Moreover, in the Bantu population at large there is widespread ignorance about, and fear of, blood donation. A marked characteristic of the Bantu blood donors is that they tend to give blood only once or twice.