Awareness and practice regarding organ and tissue donation among rural community of Maharashtra state in India

Abstract

INTRODUCTION :  Organ and tissue donation is a voluntary act of giving organ tissue either during life or after death for transplantation into another person lack of awareness myths religious beliefs prevent family to donate organ one organ donor can save 8 lives there is a wide gap between demand for an availability of donors awareness programmes by NOTTO and campaign such as organ india working to increase donation.

 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Present study was carried out to access knowledge evaluate participants and attitude and evaluate and create awareness about organ and tissue donation among rural community of  Maharashtra State in India.

MATERIAL AND METHODS RESULTS:

 The present study was conducted in an adopted village over a period of 1 month in July 2025. Data was collected by house to house survey by interview method. One member above 18 years of age was included in the study. RESULTS: Total 358 participants above the age of 18 years included in the study among which 174 ( 48.9%) were males and 182 (51.1%) were females. Majority of participants where educated upto high-school. 305 (85.7%) were aware about organ donation. TV and newspaper was the main source of information 249 and 170 participants where aware about eligibility for organ donation awareness about eye, kidney, liver, heart and blood donation is more compare to pancreas. Very few  (7.2%) participants were aware about the criteria and procedure, place of organ donation.

 CONCLUSION: Majority of participants (85.7%) were aware of organ donation, there existed significant gaps in knowledge regarding procedures, legal aspects, and religious/cultural acceptance. Positive attitude was observed by people towards organ donation, but misconceptions and lack of proper information remain major barriers.