Improving blood donation efforts in schools and communities
Enhancing Blood Donation at Schools and Beyond: An Implementation Science Study
This study is all about finding better ways to encourage school students in Malawi to donate blood regularly, helping to solve the shortage of blood supplies for patients who need it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Malawi Blood Transfusion Service NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blantyre, Malawi) |
| Project ID | NIH-10914875 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing blood donation in Malawi, particularly among school students, to address the critical shortage of blood supplies. It aims to identify effective strategies for recruiting and retaining regular blood donors, especially from the youth demographic, who are less likely to transmit transfusion infections. The study will implement various phases to assess and improve donor engagement and retention, ensuring a sustainable supply of safe blood for patients in need.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are young individuals, particularly secondary school students, who are interested in donating blood.
Not a fit: Patients who are not in need of blood transfusions or those who are not eligible to donate blood due to health conditions will not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the availability of safe blood for transfusions, potentially saving lives in Malawi.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in increasing blood donation rates through targeted recruitment strategies in similar populations, indicating that this approach has potential.
Where this research is happening
Blantyre, Malawi
- Malawi Blood Transfusion Service — Blantyre, Malawi (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mbaya, Bridon — Malawi Blood Transfusion Service
- Study coordinator: Mbaya, Bridon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.