The Attraction and Retention of
Date
2011-04-18
Authors
Duncan, Delene D
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Abstract
In South Africa, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is the
largest blood transfusion service and is responsible for the collection,
processing and issuing of blood and blood products. In 1975 the World Health
Organisation in the Safe Blood Policy recommended that all blood collections
should be based on voluntary non-remunerated donations in order to ensure
that the blood supply of the nation is as safe as possible (WHO 1975).
The purpose of this research is to understand the donation behaviour patterns
of blood donors in South Africa. Behaviour patterns that could provide
understanding of the motivators that enable blood donors to return to donate,
the deterrents to blood donation in order to prevent donor loss, and ascertaining
the factors that explain why donors stop donating blood.
244 Lapsed and Current donors were contacted telephonically and interviewed
using a structured interview guide by the Egoli Telerecruiting Department from
the lapsed donor base of the Westgate and Fairlands Donor Centres. The data
was analysed using descriptive statistics.
The reasons why donors start donating is because donors are altruistic in
behaviour and have a “giving” nature, and donors are influenced by family,
fiends and peers in the workplace and at school.
Donors continue to donate blood because of convenient venues, days and time
are necessary to keep the donors donating as well as incentives in the form of
gifts are important in encouraging donors to remain as donors.
Time constraints, medical deferrals and failure to remind the donor to donate
are the key reasons for why donors do not return to donate blood.
The recommendations are based on the facts that donors want convenience in
donor centre times, improved privacy during the pre-donation interview, donor
education and telephonic reminders to ensure that donor retention is improved
and thus ensure the sustainability of SANBS
Description
MBA - WBS
Keywords
Blood donors, South Africa, Blood transfusions, South Africa