Blood Donation Practices, Motivators, and Barriers in Nigeria: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Achieving safe and adequate blood supply remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, the majority of blood donations still originate from family replacement or commercial donors, exposing the system to safety and sustainability risks. Understanding the practices, motivators, and barriers to blood donation is critical for building a robust voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD) system. This narrative review synthesizes peerreviewed and grey literature from 2005–2024 focusing on Nigeria and related sub-Saharan contexts. Databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, supplemented by reports from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), WHO, and hospital records. Studies addressing donor characteristics, motivators, barriers, and programmatic interventions were reviewed and analyzed thematically. Blood donors in Nigeria are predominantly young males aged 20–40 years, with family replacement donors significantly outnumbering VNRBDs. Altruism, family obligation, and health check-ups were identified as key motivators, while barriers included fear of needles, cultural misconceptions, poor staff attitude, limited privacy, and logistical constraints. Interventions such as student-targeted campaigns, donor recognition programs, and mobile blood drives showed short-term improvements, but sustainability remains a challenge. Nigeria requires multi-faceted strategies to address donor misconceptions, improve donor care, and institutionalize VNRBD. Evidence highlights the importance of donor retention systems, iron supplementation, community engagement, and improved service delivery. Sustained investment and programmatic innovation are crucial to meeting WHO recommendations for safe blood supply.