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Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation in the general population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and enrolled 416 people between 18 and 65 years old at random, living in three health zones in the city of Bukavu in eastern DRC. These subjects responded to a questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation. Results: Our sample consisted of 61.5% men, 70.9% of people from one level of education at the secondary level and 60% unemployed. According to the surveyed subjects blood was considered as a fuel of the body in 44.6% and as a source of life in 44.1%. Sixty-one percent of the population did not know the practice of blood donation; this knowledge differed significantly (p < 0.0001) according to the level of education. 67.1% of people knew that the blood had negative effects and 27.4% did not know where the blood bags were stored. Channels of knowledge about blood donation practices were associations of blood donors (30.9%), awareness campaigns (18.2%), school (17.3%) and media (15.5%), churches (10%), and friends (8.1%). Approximately 85% of subjects who knew blood donation agreed with blood donation and blood transfusion but only 54.9% had donated blood in their lifetime, with a proportion of loyalty to blood donation (31.8%). In the population 59.4% were willing to donate blood. Motivation to donate blood most common (66%) was volunteerism while 19.1% were willing to donate blood for a J. M. Kabinda et al. 2526 family member and 12.6% willing to donate blood against money. The reasons for refusal to donate blood identified were fear of contracting diseases especially HIV, lack of information, religious beliefs, the sale of the collected blood by medical staff, and fear of test result for HIV. Conclusion: Factors of refusal to donate blood were identified. Efforts and new strategies tailored to these factors must be developed and implemented to increase blood donation.

IntroductionAssessing the knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviors among blood donors in South Kivu and identify risk factors for viral markers.MethodsA descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study involved 595 blood donors in the city of Bukavu (Head city of the province of South Kivu) in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.ResultsOur sample consisted of 70.3% men with a median age of 23 and 77% of young people fewer than 30 years. The score of knowledge and attitude of blood donor's volunteer on blood safety were assessed at 23.5% and 79.1%. A statistically significant difference was observed between the loyal and new blood donors volunteer (25.1% vs 64.6% p < 0.001); between blood donors volunteer of low and high education level (p = 0.04). Motivation to donate blood in 95.9% of cases respect ethical rules of donation. The prevalence of viral markers in blood donors is as follows: 4.8% hepatitis B, 3.9% hepatitis C, 1.6% HIV. For HIV, the low level of education and replacement blood donors are most at risk, the antigen of hepatitis B is observed in blood donors over 30 years, blood donors living couple.ConclusionGeneral knowledge on blood safety is very low in the first link in the chain transfusion (blood donors). A good education of this population conducted by the transfusion service reinforced building (training and support) is needed.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of providers in blood transfusion, HIV infections and hepatitis B and C in the province of South Kivu (eastern DRC). Methods: This study is comparative cross-sectional. It covered all the staff care. Our sample was composed by doctors, nurses, midwives, and agents' rapid training in activity in health sector in South Kivu between 1 December 2011 and 30 December 2011. Those medical and paramedical staffs came from 12 general reference hospitals, 11 hospitals and 65 health centers in the province of South Kivu. Three hundred and ninety three people were interviewed including 6.5% of physicians, 87.4% of nurses and 5.1% of midwives. Among them, 25.5% had received training in blood transfusion. Results: Overall, 11.7% of providers responded correctly to questions on knowledge and attitude on blood safety. The proportion of correct answers on the knowledge and attitude on exposure accidents was 53.8%. The frequency of caregivers who responded well to the basics of HIV and hepatitis B and C was 15.5%. Notions about the type of donor blood and the risk of blood transfusion received an overall rating of 17.8% and the proportion of correct answers on the knowledge and practice base of blood transfusion was 16.7%. During the six months following the survey, 54.4% of providers have experienced accidental exposure to blood. Conclusion: The lack of knowledge of the medical staff in transfusion is obvious. We must therefore have the possibility of organizing regular training and follow-up activities.

The prevalence of HRSV is high among children visiting the PGHB for ARI. HRSV infection and lower age are independently associated with the risk of ARI being diagnosed as LRTI.