BLOOD DONATION AND TRANSFUSION: PERCEPTION OF PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING THE ANTENATAL CLINIC AT USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOKOTO

*Dr. Ibrahim Rukayya, Prof. Panti Abubakar A., Dr. Alhassan Ummulkulthum N., Dr. Garba Jamila A., Dr. Umar Amina G., Dr. Bello Saratu and Dr. Ghazali Sakina

ABSTRACT

Background: Obstetric heamorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide and the recommended model for procurement of safe and cheap blood available round the clock is through non remunerated voluntary blood donation from low risk population. Aim: To assess the perception of pregnant women to blood donation and transfusion. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study carried out at the antenatal clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire over a 12 weeks period. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics was done and presented in means, standard deviation and percentages. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between categorical variables and a p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: The mean age of the respondents was 27.24 ± 5.5 years. The youngest was 18 years while the eldest was 42 years. The modal parity was nullipara. Most of the respondents have tertiary level of education yet about 42% were unemployed. Majority have good perception of antepartum blood donation (83.30%) and 93.3 % will accept antepartum donation if the need arises. However, they have poor perception about effect of blood donation on the donor. Conclusion: The study revealed good perception and acceptability of antepartum blood donation among women attending the antennal clinic. However, they have poor perception about effect of blood donation on the donor.

Keywords: Antenatal blood donation, Perception, Acceptability.