Community Attitudes Towards Kidney Donation in India

Abstract

Introduction: Lack of awareness of and negative attitudes towards kidney donation contribute to the dearth of kidney donation. In India, there exists a diversity of religions. Religion can have a powerful influence on the attitudes, beliefs and actions of individuals. Paucity of information prompted the current research which involved two studies- A and B. Study A sought to determine the awareness of and attitude towards kidney donation as a function of age, gender and religion while study B focused on ascertaining the attitude towards cadaver kidney donation. Methods: Study A sample consisted of 84 young and middle age adults (42 females; 42 males) hailing from three religious communities (Hindus, Muslims and Christians). Study B consisted of 155 participants (58 males and 97 females) whose ages ranged from 18-70 years and who belonged to diverse religious groups {Hindus (62), Christians (54), Muslims (17), Jains (22)}. The studies employed an interview/ questionnaire schedule (open-ended and closed-ended) to collect the data, which was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: The results of Study A indicated that overall, individuals had moderate information about kidney donation (M=29.25, SD=5.91, theoretical range=1-62). Younger adults (M=32.05) were more informed than older adults (M=28.63,t=2.716, p=.008). No significant differences between males and females were noted. Hindus (M=32.39) had more awareness than Muslims (M=28.42, F=3.32, p=.04)) but there were no difference between Hindus and Christians (M=30.28). Overall, individuals had a neutral attitude towards kidney donation (M= 255.71, SD=93.4, theoretical range=22-404). No difference was noted between younger adults (M=271.90) and older adults (M=280.63). Females (M=280.31) had a more positive attitude towards kidney donation than males (M=231.10,t=2.48,p=.01). Muslims (M=204.22) had a less positive attitude than Hindus (M=279.00) and Christians (M=283.90,F=7.38,p=0.006) but no difference between Hindus and Christian emerged. With respect to study B, overall participants demonstrated an appropriateness of attitudes for most of the items. However, quite a few felt that patients could survive despite being brain dead (44%), that one could not donate one's kidney after death unless it is written in one's will (56%), that one had to register oneself with an organisation if one wished to donate one's kidneys after death” (43%). Muslims (65%) felt that their religion did not permit donation. More (76%) expressed a willingness for cadaver donation of self, as compared to that of their close family member (63%). Reaching out to others to reduce their suffering and pain, desire to perform noble deeds, and the kidney being of no use after death were the reasons cited for willingness to donate ones kidney, whereas religious sanctions against kidney donation and a desire to die with intact organs served as barriers to the willingness for kidney donation. To help the soul of the family member live on prompted a positive attitude towards donating the organ of a family member, while not knowing the preferences of the dead family member elicited a reluctance to do so. Conclusion: These findings can help in the design of a community education programme to steer individuals in the direction of kidney donation.