Improving Blood Donations in Schools and Communities
Enhancing Blood Donation at Schools and Beyond: An Implementation Science Study
This project aims to find better ways to encourage young people in Malawi to donate blood regularly, helping to ensure a steady supply for those 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-11138716 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many lives in Malawi are lost due to a shortage of blood, especially for conditions like malaria-related anemia and complications during childbirth. This effort focuses on understanding why some young people donate blood in school but don't continue later. We want to discover the best strategies to both attract new young donors and help them become regular, long-term donors. By doing this, we hope to make sure there's always enough safe blood available for patients across the country.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who require blood transfusions due to conditions like severe anemia or obstetric hemorrhage would be the primary beneficiaries of increased blood availability.
Not a fit: Patients whose medical needs do not involve blood transfusions would not directly benefit from this specific effort to increase blood donations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could significantly reduce preventable deaths by ensuring a more reliable and safe blood supply for patients in Malawi.
How similar studies have performed: While the Malawi Blood Transfusion Services has increased capacity, this specific focus on youth donor retention and recruitment strategies is a targeted approach to an ongoing challenge.
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.