FACTORS HINDERING DONORS' BELIEF FOR BLOOD DONATION AMONG PATIENT'S RELATIVES AND ATTENDANTS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Background: Blood donation is an indispensable component of modern healthcare, yet voluntary participation remains insufficient in many low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Reliance on replacement donors continues to dominate, often influenced by sociocultural beliefs, misconceptions, and systemic challenges. Understanding the behavioral and perceptual factors affecting donation among patient relatives and attendants is essential for designing effective, context-specific interventions that promote safe and sustainable blood donation practices. Objective: To investigate factors hindering blood donation beliefs and behaviors among patient relatives and attendants using the Health Belief Model framework. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the blood banks of two tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar over six months. A total of 384 participants were recruited through convenient sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire based on Health Belief Model constructs, including perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and cues to action, measured on a 4-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, applying descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, and composite scoring for each construct. Results: The majority of participants were aged 29–39 years (32.6%), with males comprising 60.0%. Perceived benefits (mean 2.88 ± 0.73) and cues to action (mean 2.87 ± 0.76) demonstrated the highest scores. However, notable barriers were reported, including fear of needles (48.7%), concern about contracting diseases (48.1%), side effects affecting daily life (48.2%), and time constraints (47.9%). Perceived severity scored 2.69 ± 0.92, while perceived susceptibility was lowest at 2.53 ± 0.81. Only 34.6% expressed intention to donate blood, with higher willingness observed among males (39.1%) compared to females (28.6%). Conclusion: Blood donation reluctance is driven by a combination of psychological fears, cultural perceptions, and system-related barriers. Addressing these factors through targeted education, improved donor experiences, and community-based strategies is essential to enhance voluntary blood donation practices. Keywords: Blood Donation, Health Belief Model, Pakistan, Patient Relatives, Public Health, Transfusion Medicine, Voluntary Blood Donation