Changes in Attitudes towards Organ Donation among Bosnian Immigrants in Sweden from Gender Perspective

The present study aimed to assess changes in the perception of and willingness to participate in organ donation (OD) among immigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina living in Sweden from the perspective of gender differences.

A cross-sectional study with 60 participants born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and living in Sweden was performed. Data were collected using a self-administrative questionnaire, providing demographic characteristics, information about opinions, awareness, and knowledge on the donation process and religious approach to the subject, willingness to donate/ receive organs, and possession of a donor card.

Our results showed significant differences between genders regarding the definition of transplantation (P<0.0001), information about OD (P<0.0001), knowledge (P<0.0001) and importance of OD (P<0.003), religious permitting (P=0.0001), and religious opposing (P=0.0007) to OD. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed regarding the preferred recipient (P=0.0062) and the possession of the donor card (P<0.0001). Regression analysis showed that female gender and higher income were statistically significant in prediction of positive attitudes toward OD (P=0.0027, P=0.0002, respectively).

Change of social background and integration into Swedish society undoubtedly led to change in the attitudes toward OD, regardless of the perspective of gender differences. However, women were found to have more positive attitudes toward OD.