Assessment of legal and regulatory compliance in blood donation practices in Nigeria

In compliance with WHO standards, the Nigerian government established laws to prevent paid blood donation. However, Nigeria struggles to provide safe and adequate blood supply, negatively affecting health indicators. This study compared blood donation practices in Nigeria with existing laws using primary and secondary data. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted in Akure, Nigeria, involving 805 eligible donors (aged 18–65) and 102 healthcare workers between April 2022 and August 2023. Primary data were collected via structured questionnaires assessing knowledge, practices, and perceptions. Secondary data from a hospital blood bank captured donation types. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests for associations. Among 805 potential donors, 38.5% had donated blood at least once while 8.0% donate blood regularly. Awareness of the legal framework prohibiting paid donation was low (29.7%). Secondary data showed < 1% voluntary donations. Healthcare workers reported frequent delays (72.0%) and patient deaths (43.0%) due to blood shortages. Gender was significantly associated with willingness to donate voluntarily (p = 0.001). Compliance with voluntary non-remunerated blood donation laws is poor in Nigeria, leading to blood shortages. Key recommendations include phased transition from paid to voluntary systems, enhanced public sensitization, establishment of donor databases, and stricter enforcement with penalties for non-compliance.