Knowledge and attitudes on transfusion transmitted infections and reactions to blood transfusions among recipients of Blood at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

Abstract

The objective of this descriptive study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes on transfusion transmitted infections and reactions to blood transfusions among recipients of blood. Knowledge on transfusion transmitted infections was assessed using a scoring system. Only 5.4 had good knowledge with a majority having fair degree of knowledge (63.9). The knowledge amongst 29.8 of the subjects were poor. The 5.4 of the subjects were poor. The 5.4 individuals who had a good knowledge had an educational background of A levels or above. The existing knowledge of transfusion transmitted infections was mainly acquired from newspapers in both males and females (58.9 individuals who had a good knowledge had an educational background of A levels or above. The existing knowledge of transfusion transmitted infections was mainly acquired from newspapers in both males and females (58.9 and 59.3 respectively), but the preferred media for future knowledge in both males and females was the television (79.8 and 63.2 respectively). Attitude on future transfusions showed that 7.3 of all recipients (45 of those who have studied up to A levels and 80 of those with above A level qualifications) preferred antilogous transfusions. 21 of recipients preferred directed donations (from relatives) while the majority (57.1) did not mind receiving blood from donors unknown to them. One third of the recipients believed that consent from the patient prior to transfusion was necessary, with higher percentages with the same view in the more educated groups. Post transfusion reactions were commoner in males (48.8) than females (27.6)