FROM WILLINGNESS TO WITHDRAWAL
UNDERSTANDING BLOOD DONATION BARRIERS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS
Keywords:
young adults, non-donor, barriers, Malaysia, blood donationAbstract
This study investigates barriers that prevent young adults in Malaysia from donating blood. Data were gathered using a self-administered survey questionnaire distributed to individuals aged between 18 and 30, resulting in 311 valid responses from participants had never donated blood. The data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the underlying dimensions of these barriers. The analysis revealed three main categories of barriers: 1) external constraints, such as time limitations, lack of opportunities, and inconvenient donation locations; 2) psychological and emotional barriers, including fear of needles and discomfort with medical procedures; and 3) health and medical eligibility concerns, such as anemia or other health related disqualifications. These findings highlight the factors influencing blood donation hesitancy and point to the need for targeted awareness campaigns and supportive strategies to encourage greater participation among young adults.
Downloads
References
Bednall, T. C., Bove, L. L., Cheetham, A., & Murray, A. L. (2013). A systematic review and meta-analysis of antecedents of blood donation behavior and intention. Social Science & Medicine, 96, 86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.07.030
Benedict, S., Harris, J., & Thompson, R. (2012). Barriers to blood donation among young adults: The role of accessibility and convenience. Journal of Community Health, 37(3), 552–559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9452-3
Bernama. (2025). 2,000 beg darah diperlukan setiap hari untuk pastikan bekalan cukup – Dzulkefly. Retrieved from https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/2000-beg-darah-diperlukan-setiap-hari-untuk-pastikan-bekalan-cukup-dzulkefly-460560
BMJ Open. (2024). Factors influencing blood donation among university students. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e086700
France, C. R., France, J. L., Gilchrist, E., & Zucoloto, M. L. (2018). Blood donation fear, perceived rewards, self-efficacy, and intention to donate again: A social cognitive perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 683709. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.683709
Frontiers in Public Health. (2024). Knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors about voluntary blood donation. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1485864/full
Galan, A., Jimenez, C., Salvador, J., & Montoro, J. (2002). Adolescents and blood donation: motivations, hurdles and possible solutions. Transfusion Medicine, 12(4), 287–297. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3258989/
JournalGrid. (2024). Attitudes, Prevalence and Barriers towards Voluntary Blood Donation. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://journalgrid.com/view/article/rnjph/12434363
Ova. (2025). From likes to lifesavers: how digital ecosystems are empowering Malaysia’s blood donation movement. Retrieved from https://ova.galencentre.org/from-likes-to-lifesavers-how-digital-ecosystems-are-powering-malaysias-blood-donation-movement-dr-farzana-rizwan-dr-imam-shaik/
PMC. (2008). Hong Kong young people's blood donation behavior. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3082718/
PMC. (2018). A study to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices about blood donation. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6132011/
PMC. (2024). Mixed-methods exploration of the knowledge of young adults about blood donation. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10769017/
Zainuddin, N., Ismail, R., & Abdullah, N. (2013). Knowledge, attitude and practice towards blood donation among students in Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Asian Journal of Transfusion Science, 7(2), 121–125. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6247.120397
