A Cross-sectional Study on Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception Toward Organ Donation Among the Adult Population in an Urban Area

Organ donation remains a vital solution to the persistent demand–supply gap in transplantation, yet donation rates in India remain low due to prevalent myths and poor awareness. This cross-sectional survey, conducted in Belagavi between January and December 2020, assessed the knowledge, perception, and attitudes toward organ donation among 490 employees and non-medical college students using a pre-validated questionnaire. The study population was primarily aged 18–30 years (95%) with a 1:2 male-to-female ratio. Findings revealed that only 11% of participants possessed adequate knowledge regarding organ donation. While willingness to donate was expressed by 68% for themselves and 58% for deceased relatives, only 48% were willing to register as donors, and only 35% demonstrated an overall positive perception and attitude. These results indicate that awareness and knowledge remain insufficient, suggesting that targeted awareness programs and curriculum-based education are essential to improve donation willingness within the community.