A Cross-sectional Study on Awareness about Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation among Adult Population in an Urban Area

Background: Organ transplantation is the most preferred treatment for many end-stage organ disorders. The need for organ transplants in this country is much higher than its availability. Awareness of organ donation is required for a favorable attitude toward organ donation, for the transplantation program to be successful. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of the adult population concerning organ donation with a comparative study between college-going students and parents of school-going children in an urban setting. Materials and Methods: An observational and descriptive cross-sectional study was done with 556 willing participants receiving a predesigned, pretested structured questionnaire. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used to compare the data. Results: The study revealed that a majority of college students (91.36%) and parents (84.53%) were aware of organ donation and its potential to save lives, with 78.42% of students and 72.3% of parents expressing a willingness to sign up as donors if eligible. Social media and newspapers were important sources of information, while common reasons for reluctance included family concerns, doubts about authenticity, and religious beliefs. In addition, high awareness levels were observed for heart, liver, and kidney donation, at 71.09%, 75%, and 67.98%, respectively. Conclusion: College students and parents of school children generally have good awareness and acceptance of organ donation, but there is a lack of understanding about brain death. Social media is a key factor in promoting organ donation in urban areas.