Assessment of knowledge of blood transfusion and its associated factors among nurses and midwives at public hospitals in Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study.

Background: Nurses and midwives administer blood to the patient, however, the status of knowledge of nurses and midwives to deliver safe blood transfusions in the current setting needs to be investigated.

Objective: To assess knowledge of blood transfusion and its associated factors among nurses, and midwives at public hospitals in West Shoa, Ethiopia, 2021.

Method: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 278 randomly selected nurses and midwives working in public hospitals of West Shoa from August 1 to 30, 2021. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire to evaluate knowledge of blood transfusion of nurses and midwives. Finally, data were entered into Epi-data v.3.1 and transferred to SPSS v.26 for analysis. Bivariate logistic analysis was performed, and variables with a p-value of <0.25 were included in the multivariable regression analysis. Statistical significance was determined at a P value of <0.05 with an adjusted odd ratio.

Result: 267 participants took part in the study, achieving a 96 % response rate, and about (57.3 %) of participants had inadequate knowledge of blood transfusion. Work experience (AOR = 2.51, 95 % CI: 1.04, 6.08), guidelines available in the ward (AOR = 2.75, 95 % CI: 1.50, 5.01), and reading guidelines (AOR = 5.43, 95 % CI: 2.91, 10.16) were significant association with knowledge of blood transfusion.

Conclusion: Over half of nurses and midwives had inadequate knowledge of the appropriate blood transfusion. Work experience, availability of blood transfusion guidelines in the ward, and reading guidelines were significant associations with knowledge. Provide continuous in-service training, and educational programs to enhance participants' knowledge of blood transfusion.