Investigación de aspectos socio-culturales relacionados con la donación de sangre en Costa Rica

it is a cross-sectional, analytical, observational, comparative study using a qualitative methodology in blood banks. the stage of gathering information began at the end of november, 2001 and concluded in november, 2002. the sample consisted on three blood banks located in the metropolitan area: the blood donation point of hospital nacional de ni？os (bs-hnn), the blood donation point of hospital san juan de dios (bshsjd) and banco nacional de sangre (bns). this work seeks identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation of people apt to donate, as well as the general public (including non-donors and potential donors), and the health personnel in regards to blood donation, internal operation in the 3 blood banks, and the interaction between health personnel and the donors. it is also oriented to determine the necessities of information, education and communication that motivate or limited the voluntary donation of blood. this information will be used like an input for development of strategies of communication and education to promote the voluntary donation and to retain current donors who are within that category. as a total, it was made 92 interviews to donors, 6 to non-donors and workers of blood banks, 30 observations to the interaction donor-personnel, observations to the physical facilities of each bank and 12 focus groups. the study will allow to obtain some findings that will guide future communication and education actions at national, regional and local levels, oriented to motivate the altruistic voluntary donation, as long as they are a part of an integral and permanent strategy. also, they will help to improve some aspects related to the services of the studied blood banks.