The Impact of WhatsApp on the Blood Donation Process in Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Participants’ Demographic Information

Demographic Characteristics		Frequency	Percent
Gender	Female	83	55.3
	Male	67	44.7
Age group in years	18–28	58	38.7
	29–39	59	39.3
	40–50	23	15.3
	51 and above	10	6.7
Nationality	Non-Saudi	10	6.7
	Saudi	140	93.3

Figure 1 The variation of blood groups among the participants.

Table 2 Participants’ General Awareness About the Blood Donation Process

General Awareness About the Blood Donation Process		Frequency	Percent
What is your blood type?	O+	79	52.7
	A+	36	24.0
	B+	10	6.7
	AB+	1	0.7
	O-	14	9.3
	A-	3	2.0
	I do not know	7	4.7
Did you know there are requirements to become a blood donor?	Yes	141	94.0
	No	9	6.0
Did you know there are causes to the donor being deferred or refused from blood donation?	Yes	141	94.0
	No	9	6.0
Did you know the donor can donate blood for only one component, such as platelets?	Yes	88	58.7
	No	62	41.3

Table 3 Blood Donation History and Motivators and Inhibitors for Blood Donation

Blood Donation History and Motivators and Inhibitors for Blood Donation		Frequency	Percent
How frequent did you donate blood?	Never	83	55.3
	First time	49	32.7
	Frequently	18	12
Did you donate blood before for only one blood component?	No	130	86.7
	Yes	20	13.3
What is your motivation to donate blood?	Relative or a friend needs blood	41	27.3
	Human solidarity	39	26.0
	Personal satisfaction of helping others	34	22.7
	Beneficial to my health	23	15.3
	Seeing or receiving an advertising campaign	5	3.3
	Friends or relatives are blood donors and they encouraged me	4	2.7
	Urgent call for blood	4	2.7
What are your inhibitors to donate?	Nothing inhibits me to donate	68	45.3
	I can´t donate due to my health condition	27	18.0
	Fear of needles	21	14.0
	I have been deferred from donation before	13	8.7
	Fear of needing blood in the future	10	6.7
	Fear of infectious disease transmission	6	4.0
	The sight of blood is unpleasant	4	2.7
	I get nothing in return	1	0.7

Table 4 The Impact of the WhatsApp Platform on the Blood Donation Process

The Impact of the WhatsApp Platform in the Blood Donation Process		Frequency	Percent
Have you ever looked for a blood donor for you/relatives through WhatsApp?	No	100	66.7
	Yes	50	33.3
Has your blood donation request ever been fulfilled with blood donors by WhatsApp?	No	101	67.3
	Yes	49	32.7
How frequently do you send broadcasts or campaigning requests for blood donation on WhatsApp?	Never	108	72.0
	Sometimes	36	24.0
	Often	5	3.3
	Always	1	0.7
How frequently do you receive broadcasts or campaigning requests for blood donation on WhatsApp?	Never	48	32.0
	Sometimes	54	36.0
	Often	26	17.3
	Always	22	14.7
What are sources of broadcasts from which you receive the requests for blood donation through WhatsApp?	Families and Friends	107	71.3
	Organizations	22	14.7
	Anonymous	21	14.0
What is your most likely response when you receive the blood donation requests on WhatsApp?	I would like to donate but I cannot	40	26.7
	Share it with others only	37	24.7
	Donate blood only	13	8.7
	Donate blood and share it with others	31	20.7
	Nothing	29	19.3

Figure 2 The impact of WhatsApp in bridging the gap between blood banks and blood donors in the participants’ view.