Abstract
Blood donation is vital for saving lives and supporting healthcare systems worldwide. However, many countries, including Georgia, face challenges due to insufficient blood supplies. Despite its importance, there is limited data on public knowledge and attitudes toward blood donation in Georgia. In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 385 participants through social media to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and the barriers they face regarding blood donation. Our findings showed that only 35% of participants had good knowledge, and just 38.4% demonstrated a positive attitude. Sociodemographic factors such as gender, age, residence, education level, and medical background were significantly associated with knowledge and attitudes. The most commonly reported reasons for not donating included health issues like anemia and hypotension (49.5%), lack of opportunity (29.2%), and unwillingness to donate (12.7%). Encouragingly, 83% of participants expressed willingness to donate blood in the future. As the first study of its kind in Georgia, these results emphasize the need for educational initiatives and awareness campaigns. Improving public understanding and attitudes could help translate this willingness into higher blood donation rates, contributing to a more reliable and sufficient blood supply in the country.