Evaluating the efficacy of incentives in enhancing voluntary blood donation: A behavioral and operational approach in Bangladesh

Abstract

Blood donation is a vital component of public health, yet many regions, including Bangladesh, face challenges with insufficient voluntary donations due to various practical and motivational barriers. This thesis investigates a hybrid model that retains the humanitarian essence of donation while introducing strategic incentives, such as transportation reimbursements and potential e-commerce benefits, to overcome logistical and financial deterrents. To validate this framework, the study involved the development of a functional mobile application, Shebok, designed to transparently manage these rewards and streamline the donor-recipient matching process. The research further explores the operational efficiency of requiring donors to submit recent donation history, aiming to reduce the time spent on health screenings and ease the burden on medical staff. Based on qualitative data gathered from (N = 53) participants (50 general users and 3 institutional stakeholders) via semistructured interviews, findings confirm that non-monetary incentives are an effective mechanism to significantly increase donor motivation without compromising ethical standards. Ultimately, this research outlines a sustainable, donor-friendly system that balances humanitarian values with practical incentives to improve the overall effectiveness of blood donation programs in Bangladesh.