Blood Donation Behaviours and Challenges: Insights from University Students in Saudi Arabia.

Background and Aims: Blood transfusion is vital in treating conditions such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. However, many students hesitate to donate due to limited awareness of its importance and related guidelines. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation among university students in Saudi Arabia, while identifying major challenges. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 385 university students by administering a self-structured pre-validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was performed using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. The chi-square test was utilized to assess the association between categorical variables. Results: About 6.5% of participants demonstrated good knowledge of blood donation, 53.2% showed moderate knowledge and 40.3% poor knowledge, with no significant associations found between knowledge levels and the assessed variables. A positive attitude was observed in 95.1% of students, with marital status being the only variable significantly linked to attitude. While just 31.9% had previously donated blood, approximately 83.6% expressed willingness to donate in the future. The main barriers to donation were chronic illness (78.4%), fear of infection (67.8%) and fear of fainting (63.9%). Conclusion: Despite strong willingness, students showed limited understanding of eligibility and health aspects of blood donation. Focused educational interventions are needed to correct misconceptions and enhance participation.