Awareness and Attitudes toward Organ Donation in Rural Puducherry, India

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Transplantation Medicine
• Community Health

Background:

• Organ transplantation is crucial for end-stage organ diseases, but organ availability often falls short of demand.
• Successful organ transplantation programs necessitate increased public awareness and positive attitudes towards organ donation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess organ donation awareness and attitudes in a rural population.
• To identify sociodemographic factors associated with organ donation awareness.

Main Methods:

• A community-based cross-sectional study involving 360 participants from four villages in Puducherry.
• Data collected via face-to-face interviews using a pretested questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis performed using SPSS software.

Main Results:

• 88% of participants were aware of organ donation, with highest awareness in younger age groups (18-30), males, and those with higher education and socioeconomic status.
• Media was the primary source of information (83%). Most participants viewed organ donation as life-saving (88%) and believed healthy adults are eligible donors (91%).
• 70% were willing to donate organs post-death; family refusal was the main reason for unwillingness (57%).

Conclusions:

• A high level of awareness regarding organ donation was observed in the rural population studied.
• A significant majority expressed willingness to donate organs, highlighting potential for increased organ donation rates.