Awareness, Myths, and Motivation in Blood Donation: A Study on Donor Knowledge and Perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Voluntary blood donation is a cornerstone of public health; however, India continues to face chronic shortages despite extensive awareness initiatives. Persistent myths, inconsistent motivation, and limited institutional trust continue to be major barriers. This study examines the combined impact of awareness, misconceptions, motivation, and trust on individuals' willingness to donate blood, addressing a significant research gap in donor psychology within the Indian context. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 300 adults aged 18 years and above from urban, suburban, and rural areas across India. Data were collected using a validated, pre-tested questionnaire measuring awareness, myths, motivation, trust, and donation behavior. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), applying Chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, and binary logistic regression to identify predictors of donation willingness, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated moderate-to-high awareness (mean = 6.8 ± 1.9/10), though 54% endorsed at least one myth, primarily fear of weakness post-donation. Prior donation experience (OR = 2.45, p = 0.004), awareness (OR = 1.38, p = 0.011), and trust in healthcare systems (OR = 1.59, p = 0.002) significantly predicted donation willingness, whereas belief in myths reduced intent (OR = 0.81, p = 0.037). Altruism was the predominant motivator, while fear of needles and perceived fatigue remained common deterrents. CONCLUSION: The study identifies institutional trust as a pivotal mediator linking awareness to behavioral intent, extending the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) model through empirical validation. By situating these dynamics within India's sociocultural context, it highlights that dispelling myths alone is inadequate without transparent, empathetic, and culturally attuned institutional engagement. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and health agencies to strengthen trust-based, community-oriented strategies that promote sustained voluntary blood donation.