In Cameroon (a Central African country), there is a problem with blood donor loyalty which does not bode well for the recruitment of new donors. Thus, as part of my doctoral thesis, I analyzed the satisfaction of blood donors with regard to the donation process put in place by the authorities.

My results showed that the satisfaction score of blood donors in Cameroon is low (60.33% < 80%). In order to understand what can improve this satisfaction score, our contribution matrix showed that the step of monitoring donors after their blood donation is the factor with a strong influence on improving blood donor satisfaction in Cameroon. One of its items, namely “after my blood donation, if I am reminded of the date of the next donation, I will donate” appears to be fundamental for a policy of increasing the number of blood donations from former blood donors. Also, our analysis highlights the elements which require very particular attention in the supervision of blood donors in Cameroon. These are the elements of the snack and blood collection stages because these stages do not contribute enough to improving blood donor satisfaction, but on the other hand they have a strong capacity to deteriorate donor satisfaction when they are poorly perceived by them.

Blood banks can use social media platforms like Facebook to raise awareness about blood donation. According to a study by Harrel et al. (2022), social media, particularly Facebook, has a positive impact on raising awareness about blood donation. Social media effectively engages communities through regular updates, educational content, engagement programs, community partnerships, and, most importantly, responsive communication. As a result, by utilizing social media platforms, blood banks may effectively raise awareness about blood donations and eventually encourage individuals to donate blood.

Reference:

Harrell, S., Simons, A. M., & Clasen, P. (2022, November 9). Promoting blood donation through social media: Evidence from Brazil, India and the USA. Social Science & Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953622007912

Based on the study conducted by Torrent-Sellens et al.(2021), interacting with communities and raise awareness about blood donations, blood banks can utilize digital platforms such as websites and social media to disseminate information and updates about blood donation needs and events. Additionally, they can collaborate with community organizations, such as schools and religious institutions, to organize awareness campaigns and educational sessions. Conducting educational programs in schools, workplaces, and community centers can help address misconceptions and provide accurate information about blood donation. Engaging with the media through press releases and news stories can also help raise public awareness.

To encourage voluntary blood donations in the Philippines, blood banks can focus on targeted education campaigns, engage local influencers as ambassadors, organize community blood drives, and establish personalized communication channels to address individual concerns and doubts. By implementing these strategies, blood banks can effectively enlighten the public, erase misconceptions, and promote voluntary blood donations in local communities.

Reference:

Torrent‐Sellens, J., Salazar-Concha, C., Ficapal‐Cusí, P., & Saigí-Rubió, F. (2021). Using Digital Platforms to Promote Blood Donation: Motivational and Preliminary Evidence from Latin America and Spain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Online), 18(8), 4270. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084270