Gendered Patterns and Societal Drivers of Living Kidney Donation in North India

Background The status of women in society has been fluid throughout history, experiencing periods of power and subordination. This study examines the donor profile in kidney transplants and explores how women's social status influences their role as donors. Materials and Methods The research was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India, using a mixed-methods approach. Data from all live kidney donor records between 2013 and 2022 were analyzed, focusing on age, biological sex (male/female), donor-recipient relationships, and state of residence. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 92 randomly selected female donors (10% of the total) to explore their motivations and sociocultural contexts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. Results Among 1,171 kidney transplants, 79% of donors were female. The average age of female donors was 44 years, compared to 49.4 years of male donors. In terms of the donor-recipient relationship, donating women were predominantly mothers (50.1%) and wives (35.6%). Among men, fathers were predominant at 53.7%. Interviews with female donors revealed an average of 38 years, with approximately 50% undergraduates and 75% aware of organ donation and its associated risks. Motivations cited for female donors included perceived inferior position in society (51.8%), economic dependence (33.2%), and altruism (15%). Conclusion The high number of female donors in India can be linked to women's social status. This finding correlates with India's lower sex ratio and female literacy rate, as reported in the 2011 census. Addressing these disparities is crucial for promoting gender equity in organ donation.