ABSTRACT
Background: Voluntary blood donation is promoted in order to make the blood banking safe and successful. Research in the area of blood donation has found that, iron stores are influenced by regular blood donation if dietary intake of iron is inadequate. Awareness and knowledge among blood donors regarding iron and B12 deficiency and its prevention is very much required. Objective: To assess the knowledge and awareness about iron deficiency and megaloblastic anaemia among blood donors. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the 500 voluntary blood donors during the span of 1 year at one of the blood bank of tertiary care hospital using prestructured questionnaire on the various aspect of iron and B12 deficiency/folate deficiency anemia. The data was analysed with the help of Microsoft excel and SPSS. Results: Out of 500 blood donors, 15.6% donors were regular blood donor. It was observed 60% blood donors were having knowledge of anemia in general. Iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency were known to 42% and 31.6% donors, respectively. Only 20% donors could able to answer the acceptable level of hemoglobin require for donating the blood. About 42% donors were aware about importance of iron, folate and vitamin B12 in maintaining normal hemoglobin level. Majority (82.7%) of regular blood donors were willing to get information regarding iron, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency. Conclusion: Significant lack of awareness regarding iron and vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in regular voluntary blood donors. The present study recommends the provision of health education on iron and vitamin B12 deficiency as well as Iron, folate and vitamin B12 rich foods to regular blood donor to prevent anaemia among them.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: In these days of fast life nobody knows when he or she will be in urgent need of human blood for surgical or accidental causes. That is why to keep a record of blood donors with their blood groups may be of lots of help. This study was conducted to record the ABO & rhesus blood group pattern in blood donors at Blood Bank of GMERS Medical College, Dharpur - Patan. Methods: This is a retrospective study. After the permission of Departmental head and Medical Superintendant we used the data available at blood bank. Results: From the month May 2012 to June 2013 total 652 donors donated their blood. Out of which 640 were males and 12 were females. The commonest blood group found was B blood group in 42.63%, followed by O blood group in 26.38% , A blood group in 19.94% and AB blood group in 11.04%. While 96.01% donors were Rh positive and 3.99% donors were Rh negative. The maximum numbers of donors were between in age group 21-30 years. Conclusion: Blood group B is the commonest blood group followed by blood group O, A and AB. Most common age group is 21-30 years amongst the all donors.