Examining demographic and socio-economic correlates of accurate knowledge about blood donation among African migrants in Australia

Objectives: To develop and test a knowledge questionnaire about blood donation in African migrant communities in Australia, which is applicable to other communities, and to assess the relationship between the demographic and socio-economic characteristics and knowledge of the African migrant community. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey of 425 African migrants and refugees living in Victoria and South Australia, we assessed the knowledge questionnaire for readability, item difficulty, point-biserial correlation and reliability. The relationships between demographic and socio-economic factors and knowledge about blood donation were then evaluated using hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The knowledge scale was found to have good psychometric properties and to be reliable: a Flesch reading ease score of 64•7; an average index of item difficulty of 0•42; a point-biserial correlation of 0•38 and a Kuder-Richardson-20 coefficient of 0•78 indicating strong internal consistency. A quarter of respondents (26•1%; 95% CI: 21•9, 30•3) had poor knowledge about issues related to blood donation; 51•1% (95% CI: 46•3, 55•8) had moderate knowledge and 22•8% (95% CI: 18•8, 26•8) were highly knowledgeable. Factors associated with blood donation knowledge were religion, pre-migration area of residence, country of birth, length of stay in Australia, and previous blood donation status. Age, gender, educational attainment, migration and employment status were non-significant. Conclusion: Knowledge and awareness of issues associated with blood donation is important in regard to blood donation decisions, and this article has developed a measure using African migrant communities in Australia that has appropriate psychographic properties. The measure can, therefore, be used by researchers when studying the role of knowledge in relation to blood donation across cultural groups in Australia and other countries. It also identifies that demographic characteristics affect knowledge, which suggests that targeted interventions might be needed, especially when dealing with migrant and refugee communities.