Blood Donation: Beliefs And Perceptions in Western Cameroon

The need for blood and blood products is universal, but access to them is a major public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Cameroon, where demand far exceeds supply. Blood donation practices vary around the world, which affects the availability of blood when needed. These differences are partly due to the different beliefs and perceptions that populations have about blood donation. This study was initiated with the aim of contributing to improving the availability of blood in health facilities in western Cameroon by assessing the beliefs and perceptions that people in this region have about blood donation. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from November 20, 2023, to June 7, 2024, in five selected health facilities and among the population of the city of Bangangté. It included people aged 18 to 65 who were encountered at the time of the survey and who gave their free and informed consent. Data were collected using a pre-established questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical tools provided by Excel 2016. 400 participants were recruited, and the results show that: the predominant gender was female (55.2%); 72.3% of participants were between 18 and 35 years of age; 52.8% of them were single. University and secondary education levels were the most represented, with 47.8% and 46.8% respectively. The assessment of knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs showed that in the study population, 34% had good knowledge about blood, 49% had good knowledge about blood donation; 71% had good beliefs, as they believed that blood donation saves lives, and 74.5% had good perceptions and believed that it is a humanitarian or civic act. The main barriers to blood donation identified were the misconception that blood is sold after donation (23%), fear of needles (20.5%), and fear of disease transmission (16.2%). Taking into account these different beliefs, perceptions, and barriers to blood donation provides advantage for implementing a policy to improve voluntary blood donation.