Efficacy of communication interventions for promoting blood donation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Bernard Appiah, Research Program on Health Communication and Public Engagement (H-COPE), Department of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
Lucy Asamoah-Akuoko, Centre for Science and Health Communication, Accra, Ghana.
Md Koushik Ahmed, Research Program on Health Communication and Public Engagement (H-COPE), Department of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
Tara Tancred, Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
Yvonne Dei-Adomakoh, Department of Hematology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Gursimar Singh, Research Program on Health Communication and Public Engagement (H-COPE), Department of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
Cavan Reilly, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Edeghonghon Olayemi, Department of Hematology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Meghan Delaney, Division of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Christopher R. France, Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.
Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kuma, Department of Hematology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Alfred Edwin Yawson, Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Susan Telke, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Research Program on Health Communication and Public Engagement (H-COPE), Department of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
Emmanuel Nene Dei, National Blood Service Ghana, Research and Development, Accra, Ghana.
Philip Adongo, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Imelda Bates, Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-4-2025

Journal

Vox sanguinis

DOI

10.1111/vox.13799

Keywords

blood donation; communication interventions; low‐ and middle‐income countries

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), information on the efficacy of communication interventions promoting blood donation is very scarce. The present review aimed to identify specific communication interventions and their efficacy for increasing blood donation in LMICs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, AJOL and CAB Abstracts. Grey literature sources included the websites of African Society of Blood Transfusion, International Society of Blood Transfusion and World Health Organization. The outcomes of interest were donation attempt or actual blood donations. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies including nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the review. The communication interventions included social media and mass media, such as radio and television, as platforms for promoting blood donation, and newspaper articles or advertisements as an incentive for donor recruitment. Mobile text messages were used either alone or in combination with phone calls, and other interventions such as meetings and brochures. Only three of the 16 studies specifically targeted behavioural science theories, and none of the 16 studies used any implementation science framework. For some communication interventions, there was evidence of statistically significant increases in donations, but the quality of the studies was weak. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of communication interventions for promoting blood donations in LMICs remains limited due to few rigorous studies. More rigorous, theory-based studies on the use of communication interventions to increase blood donation in LMICs, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where no prior RCT were identified, are needed.

Department

Pathology

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