Influence of knowledge for organ and tissue donation for transplantation

Objective: to investigate the opinion and intention of the adult population in the city of Belém, State of Pará, Brazil, regarding the donation of organs and tissues for transplantation. Method: a cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, carried out in the city of Belém of Pará, Brazil, from July to August 2019. Results: 387 participants were interviewed, where 70.8% expressed a positive opinion regarding donation and intention to donate organs and tissues; and 50.9% had expressed their desire to be a donor to a family member. 88.6% of the interviewees would authorize the donation of organs and tissues after the death of a family member, provided that he previously expressed his willingness to be a donor. However, only 59.7% would authorize the donation of organs from a loved one diagnosed with brain death. There was a greater intention to donate, among female individuals, aged between 18 to 27 years, students, with family income between 3 to 5 minimum wages, who have children, Catholics and who live 3 to 4 hours a day with the family. Conclusion: this study allows us to conclude that older individuals with less education have less intention to donate their organs. The lack of information on organ donation and transplantation and all the consequences of not knowing the donation process is certainly a limiting factor for the increase in the number of donors.