Public support for mitochondrial donation: an Australian knowledge and attitudes study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Mitochondrial donation offers a potential solution to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases.
• Understanding public perception is crucial for the ethical implementation of novel reproductive technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Australian public knowledge and attitudes towards mitochondrial donation.
• To evaluate public support for the clinical implementation of mitochondrial donation in Australia.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was completed by 1042 Australian adults (≥18 years).
• The survey assessed knowledge and attitudes using multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions.
• Bivariate analysis explored sociodemographic variations in support for mitochondrial donation.

Main Results:

• Only 19% of participants had prior awareness of mitochondrial donation.
• The average agreement with making mitochondrial donation available in Australia post-safety trials was 3.36/4.
• Support levels were consistently high across diverse demographic groups, including those with prior assisted reproductive technology use, specific sexual orientations, and genetic or mitochondrial conditions.

Conclusions:

• Broad public support exists in Australia for the clinical implementation of mitochondrial donation, contingent on demonstrated safety.
• Findings suggest potential guidance for other jurisdictions considering similar reproductive technologies.
• Low public awareness highlights a need for public education on mitochondrial donation.