1.

0 Introduction
Blood is universally recognized as the most precious element that sustains
life. It is also the single most important fluid that cannot be created artificially
and acts as the strongest support system that separates life from death.
In the course of eighty nine years blood banking has developed from a
bench in a corner of clinical pathology into a speciality of Transfusion Medicine.
Beautiful, well, designed buildings with glow sign and sophisticated plant,
equipment, instruments, furniture and fixture manned by trained doctors,
technologists, nurses supported by modern computer and information technology
cannot ensure the desired service in time of need of any ailing or dying patient
unless blood is readily available.
Replacement of ancient glass bottles by modern poly bags, introduction
of gamma ray sterilized disposable transfusion sets, extended shelf life of blood,
use of blood components and plasma products, technology of pheresis and
modern laboratory technologies have changed the quality of blood banking and
blood transfusion service. But one thing that has not change since the dawn of
first blood transfusion of modem era is the need of human volunteers to donate
blood.
In spite of the significant progress in modern medical care services, blood
continues to save innumerable lives across the word in a variety of clinical
conditions. The demand for blood and blood products is bound to rise
exponentially with complicated surgeries becoming commoner and patients with
trauma and malignancies having greater access to health care services. Modern
medical science is very much dependent on blood transfusion service. Without
blood there can be no blood transfusion service. Without human blood donors,
there can be no blood for transfusion. Blood is most precious and unique gift that
a human being can give to a fellow person.
Safety of the blood is most essential feature of any blood transfusion
service (BTS). Safe blood indicates freedom of blood from infectious agents.
Blood is considered safe when it is:

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 → Donated by a health voluntary non-remunerated donor enrolled after
careful selection;
→ Free from infective agents that could be life threatening,
→ Processed by reliable methods of testing, and
→ Transfused only when needed.

People who donated blood should be in good health and should not suffer or
have suffered from any serious illness. Receiving blood should not harm the
recipient :giving blood should not harm the donor. People are generally not self
motivated to donate blood.
Naturally, to motivate people to donate blood is a fundamental task for
any transfusion service. Awareness has to be generated for regular voluntary
blood donation in the community. Misconceptions, fear complex and prejudices
have to be removed scientifically by rationally emphasizing that blood donation
is harmless to the donor; a social necessity and a friendly gesture of caring and
sharing for the human society crying for compassion and respect.
Philosophy and science of blood donation together with blood need for
transfusion have to be propagated in a sustained, systematic and scientific
manner in a listener friendly language in the community.
Starting point of the services is blood donor recruitment through
education and motivation. Every year a large number of young adults are
attaining the age of blood donation. Every year regular blood donors are moving
out from donor base owing to old age, ailment or change of residence. This paper
intend to study on motivation of voluntary blood donors.
Motivation is concerned with the factors that direct and energize the
behavior of humans and other organisms.
Psychologists who study motivation seek to discover the particular
desired goals the motives that underlie behavior. Such motives may be
exemplified by behavior as basic as drinking to satisfy thirst or as
inconsequential as taking a stroll to obtain exercise. To the psychologist

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specializing in the study of motivation, underlying motives are assumed to steer
one’s choice of activities.
The study of motivation then, consists of identifying why people seek to
do the things they do. Psychologists studying motivation ask questions such as
these: “Why do people choose particular goals for which to strive?”.” What
specific motives direct behavior?” “What individual differences in motivation
account for the variability in people’s behavior?”. “How can we motivate people
to behave in particular ways such as eating certain foods, quitting smoking, or
engaging in safer sex practices?”.
Whereas motivation is concerned with the forces that direct future
behavior, emotion pertains to the feeling we experience throughout the course of
our lives.

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2.0 Theory background

Over 5000 years ago, in ancient Egypt, the physicions were learning more
about blood. In a document written at the time, the heart and the circulating
system the blood moving system were described. This document also tells about
the pulse for the first time: “If a doctor puts a finger on the neck, head, hands,
arms, feet or body, the doctor will find the heart there, for the heart reaches out to
every part of the body and speaks in the blood vessels of every part.”
In 1665 a talented young doctor Richard Lower attempted to transfuse
blood from one dog to another. Dr Jean Baptist Denis started transfusing animal
blood to human beings from 1667.
The first transfusion is the modern sense may be said to have been
performed in the nineteeth century, James Blundell studied the possibilities of
blood transfusion from 1814 -1816 and used only human donors. The first
transfusion of human blood was performed by Blundell on December 22, 1818.
The first major contribution of blood transfusion was that of Karl
Landsteiner, who in 1901 discovered the ABO blood groups and pointed out that
blood group differences could explain the serious reaction to blood transfusion.
In 1902, two of his students Dr Struli and Dr Decastello discovered a fourth
group AB.
Reseachers carried on and in 1914, the soldiers who were wounded in the
second world war were treated by blood transfusion. They believed that is there
was no blood clothing a patient should be survived by blood transfusion. Hustin,
Lewisohn and Weil made am experiment, they discovered the ways for blood
transfusion.
In 1933, Yudine from Russia, established the first blood bank in order to
perform the chance whenever needed the blood transfusion. In 1939, there was
another blood bank in England.
Next in important is the Rh blood factor, which Landsteiner and Dr
Alexander S.Wiener, reported in 1940, although the work had been performed
and completed in 1937 by Levine and Stetson.

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 ation suggest that people are motivated to behave in ways that maIn 1939
during the second world war a blood bank was established in Yangon General
Hospital Myanmar in order to obtain the emergency blood transfusion for the
patients. On 14 December 1962 the Revolution Council Government upgrade the
blood bank of Y.G.H to National Blood Bank and organized National Blood Bank
committee. Every year in December central National Blood Bank committee
celebrates Donor’s day. Donors are awarded certificates and badges on that day.
Donor day is celebrated yearly and special ceremonies such as annual award
ceremonies are held to acknowledge and congratulate donors who have donated
many times.
Motivation refers to the influences that govern the initiation, direction,
intensity, and persistence of behavior (Evans, 1989). Motivation can be described
as an intervening variable which is a variable that is not observed directly but
that helps to account for relationships between various stimuli and responses to
them are often related because of some motivational factor that intervenes, or
comes between them.
Philosophers have assumed for centuries that reason and free will guide
human behavior. Psychologists began to study other factors that might serve as
sources of motivation. These sources fall into four categories. These are
biological factors, cognitive factors, emotional factors and social factors.
The work of ethologists researchers who observe animals in their natural
habitat has long emphasized the importance of instincts. Instincts are automatic,
involuntary, and unlearned behavior patterns that are consistently released in the
presence of particular stimuli (Tinbergen, 1989).
According to drive reduction theory, much motivation arises from
imbalances in homeostasis. When an imbalance occurs, it creates a need, a
biological requirement for well being. This need, in turn, creates a drive a
psychological state of arousal that prompts the organism to take action to restore
the balance and, in the process to reduce the drive (Hull,1943).For example if
you have had no water for some time, the chemical balance of your body fluids is

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disturbed creating a biological need for water. This need is a drive - thirst that
motivates you to find and drink water.
Arousal theories of motivintain what is for them, an optimal level of
arousal (Fiske & madd:,1961; Hetb,1955). In general, people are motivated to
increase their arousal level when it is too low and to decrease it when it is too
high.
Instinct, drive, and arousal theories of motivation all have one thing in
common: they focus on internal processes that push people to behave in certain
ways. Incentive theory, in contrast emphasizes that environmental stimuli may
motivate behavior by pulling people toward them. According to incentive theory,
behavior is goal-directed, actions are directed toward attaining positive
incentives and avoiding negative incentives.

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3.0 Methodology

3.1 Purpose
This study is on motivation of voluntary blood donors.

3.2 Subjects
Twenty subjects between 18 to 60 years of age were used.

3.3 Material
A questionnaire containing (20) questions was used.

3.4 Procedure
A questionnaire is given to the subject and the duration is (20) minutes.
The subjects had to answer “Yes” or “No” to the questions asked. The duration
for the test is (5) days for (20) subjects. The data was calculated by percentages.

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4.0 Date Analysis and Discussion

Table (A) General status of the subjects

No Discription of subjects Frequency

1 Religious person 1
2 Farmers 2
3 Sellers 4
4 Dependent 2
5 General worker 3
6 Government personnel 8
Total 20

Table (A) shows the general status of the subjects. In this table we can see
that (1) religious person, (2) farmers, (4) sellers, (2) dependent, (3) general
worker and (8) government personnel are included.

Table (B) Age group distribution of blood donors.

No Age group Frequency Percentage

1 18 -30 1 5%
2 31 – 40 4 20%
3 41 -50 8 40%
4 51 -60 7 35%
Total 20 100%

Table (B) showed that (40%)of the blood donors are aged between (41)
years to (50) years and (35%) of the donors are aged between (51) years to (60)
years.

Table (C) Education status of blood donors.

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No Education Status Frequency Percentage
1 Primary 2 10%
2 Middle 8 40%
3 Higher 10 50%
Total 20 100%

Table (C) showed the education status of blood donors. In this table 50%
of the donors have higher education level.
Table (D) Frequency of donation of blood donors.

No Frequency of donation Subjects Percentage

1 1 – 10 4 20%
2 11 – 20 1 5%
3 21 – 30 2 10%
4 31 – 40 1 5%
5 41 – 50 3 15%
6 50 and above 9 45%
Total 20 100%

Table (D) showed the frequency of donation. In this table most of the
subjects’ frequency of donation is 50 and above and percentage is (45%).

Table (1) Responses to the question “I want to donate blood since I was young”.

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 16 80%

No 4 20%

Total 20 100%

Table (1) showed that 80% of subjects said they want to donate blood
since they were young.
Table (2) Responses to “Blood donation can save someone’s life”.

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 Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table (2) showed that 100% of subjects said that blood donation can save
someone’s life.

Table (3) Responses to “I am satisfied for giving my blood to a patient, someone

who needs blood.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table (3) showed that 100% of subjects said that they are satisfied for
giving their blood to a patient, someone who needs blood.

Table (4) Responses to “I want to donate blood every four month because blood
donation can save someone’s life”.

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table (4) showed that all the subjects said that want to donate their blood
every four months because blood donation can save someone’s life.
Table (5) Responses to “ I donate my blood because I wanted to be honored.”

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 Response Subject Percentage

Yes - -

No 20 100%

Total 20 100%

Table (5) showed that 100% of subjects donate their blood not because
they want to be honored.

Table (6) Responses to “I have sympathy when I see the patients who need
blood.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table (6) showed that 100% of subjects said that they have sympathy
when they see the patients who need blood.

Table (7) Responses to “ I feel happy although there are no benefits from blood
donation”.

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 19 95%

No 1 5%

Total 20 100%

Table (7) showed that 95% of subjects said that they feel happy although
there are no benefits from blood donation.

Table (8) Responses to “Blood donation can support someone’s health.”

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 Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%
Table (8) showed that 100% of subjects said that blood donation can support
someone’s health.

Table(9) Responses to “ I feel very sad for the patients who are already dead
because they cannot take blood transfusion during their illness”.

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table(9) showed that 100% of subjects said that they feel very sad for the
patients who are already dead because they cannot take blood transfusion during
their illness.

Table(10) Responses to “ My greatest goal is saving someone’s life by donating

blood.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 19 95%

No 1 5%

Total 20 100%

Table(10) showed that 95% of subjects said that their greatest goal is
saving someone’s life by donating blood.”
Table(11) Responses to “ I feel very pleased at the moment of blood donation.”

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 Response Subject Percentage

Yes 19 95%

No 1 5%

Total 20 100%
Table (11) showed that 95%of subjects said that that they feel very
pleased at the moments of blood donation.

Table (12) Responses to “I usually help the patients who immediately need blood
transfusion.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%
Table (12) showed that 100% of subjects said that usually help the
patients who immediately need blood transfusion.

Table (13) Responses to “Although I do not benefit from blood donation, I will
donate blood regularly because the patient benefits”.

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table (13) showed that 100% of subjects said that although they do not benefit
from blood donation, They will donate blood regularly because the patient
benefits.

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Table (14) Responses to “Although there are objections to my blood donation,
the desire to donate blood does not decrease.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%
Table (14) showed that 100% of subjects said that although there are
objections to their blood donation, the desire to donate blood does not decrease.

Table (15) Responses to “Blood donation can show affection to someone who
need blood.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 19 95%

No 1 5%

Total 20 100%
Table (15) showed that 95% of subjects said that blood donation can
show affection to someone who need blood.

Table (16) Responses to “I regard myself as a valuable person because I donate

blood.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 17 85%

No 3 15%

Total 20 100%

Table (16) showed that 85% of subjects said that they regard themselves as
valuable persons because of blood donation.

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Table (17) Responses to “As long as I am healthy, I want to donate blood.”
Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table (17) showed that 100% of subjects said that as long as they are
healthy, they want to donate their blood.
Table (18) Responses to “I am very proud of being a blood donor.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 19 95%

No 1 5%

Total 20 100%
Table (18) showed that 95% of subjects said that they are very proud of
being a blood donor.

Table (19) Responses to “When I see the patients who needs blood, I want to
urge the people from my environment to donate blood”.

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 20 100%

No - -

Total 20 100%

Table (19) showed that 100% of subjects said that when they see the
patients who needs blood, they want to urge the people from their environment to
donate blood.
.

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Table (20) Responses to “I wish to organize a voluntary blood donor
association.”

Response Subject Percentage

Yes 19 95%

No 1 5%

Total 20 100%

Table (20) showed that 95% of subjects said that they wish to organize a
voluntary blood donor association.

From the findings of this study, it was found that most of the blood
donors wanted to donate blood since they were young. This is due to their strong
belief that blood donation can save someone’s life when they are in need. The
sympathy for patients also is the main motivating factor for their donations.
Most of the subjects want to donate their blood every four month and they
feel happy although there is no benefit from blood donation. Most of the subjects
greatest goal is blood donation because it can save someone’s life and they feel
very pleased for blood donation.

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5.0 Conclusion
At the present situation, donated blood can not only save the life of the
patients but also can cause dangerous life long complications for them. This is
due to the fact that blood can transmit infectious as well as dangerous agents to
the recipients.
Testing the donated blood alone cannot give 100% safe blood to the
patients because of the window periods of the infectious agents such as HIV,
Hepatitis virus etc.
The behavior (or) life style of the blood donors which is the cause of
transmission for these dangerous virus, become the most important key factors
for prevention of transmission of these virus.
From this study we can see that all of the subjects donate their blood
because blood donation can save someone’s life and they feel sympathy for the
patients who need blood. All of the subjects are satisfied for their blood donation
and they are proud for donating blood. So we can see that most of the subjects
have strong motivation for blood donation.

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 REFERENCES

1. Australion Red Cross Blood - the vital factor

Transfusion Service (1998)

2. Dr Thida Aung (2001) - Facts about Blood and Donation of

Blood.

3. Douglas A. Bernstein, Edward J.Roy, -Psychology (Second Edition),

Thomas K. Srull, Houghton Mifflin Company,
Christopher D.wickens (1991) Boston

4. National AIDS Control Organization, - National Guidebook on Blood

Government of India (1990) Donor Motivation, NewDelhi

5. Robert.S.Feldman (1996) - Understanding Psychology

(Fourth edition), Mc Graw –Hill,
Inc, New York.

6. W.H.O (1998) - Strategies for safe blood

Transfusion

7. W.H.O (2001) - Blood Transfusion Services

in South- East- Asia

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