A Survey on Awareness of Body Donation for Medical Education among a Cross-section of Semi-urban Population in Uttar Pradesh, India

Introduction: Cadaveric dissection is the best method to teach and learn anatomy. It gives the opportunity to learn basic surgical skills for medical graduates and to master advanced surgical procedures for postgraduates of different specialties. Vertical integration of cadaveric dissection with clinical subjects has a key role in the medical curriculum. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of body donation for medical education among the adult population of Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: The survey used a validated questionnaire containing 12 items. The sample size consisted of 1000 individuals. Results: A total of 1000 participants took part in the survey. Participants of the study were from different age groups and educational backgrounds. The frequency distribution of individual scores of study participants shows that 237 (23.7%) participants scored between 0 and 3 (poor), 543 (54.3%) participants scored between 4 and 6 (average), 198 (19.8%) participants scored between 7 and 9 (good), and 22 (2.2%) scored between 10 and 12 (excellent). Conclusion: We conclude that irrespective of age, sex, and educational qualification, a large-scale awareness program can only improve the knowledge of body donation and will further ensure an adequate supply of cadavers through voluntary body donation for the cause of medical education.