Abstract

Millions of lives are saved each year through blood transfusions. Blood donation is therefore considered as a humanitarian act and a positive behavioural phenomenon. To explore intention to donate blood among Hawassa city population, southern Ethiopia, 2017, a qualitative study using the theory of planned behaviour was employed. Data collection was done using a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions. Focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interviews were employed for data collection. Data analysis begun with translation as it was the first step in data analysis for the qualitative study. Transcripts were coded using the Atlas.Ti.7 software. For coding the data, the basic constructs of the theory of planned behavior was used. Almost all participants do not know the minimum and maximum age to donate blood. Television and friends are mentioned as the main source of information about blood donation. Majority of the participants had mentioned that it is very difficult for them to know for whom the donated blood is given. Almost all participants in this study see blood donation as a humanitarian act. For married participants, wives and husbands were stated as subjective norms. The influence of subjective norm is not so much considered. Majority of the participants stated that they had fear that they will suffer from some health problem if they donate blood. Being anemic and weak is reported by the majority.

Key words: Blood donation, voluntary donation, qualitative research, Hawassa, theory of planned behaviour.