Knowledge, Attitudes And Influencing Factors Regarding Organ Donation And Transplantation Among Medical Students And Doctors In Malawian Tertiary Hospitals: A Cross-sectional Study

Knowledge, Attitudes And Influencing Factors Regarding Organ Donation And Transplantation Among Medical Students And Doctors In Malawian Tertiary Hospitals: A Cross-sectional Study

Syrold Chimatiro , James Ng’ombe, Wakisa Mulwafu, Linda Chokotho
Kamuzu University Of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Kamuzu University of Health Sciences., Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi

Introduction: Organ transplantation is a crucial treatment for end-stage organ diseases. However, it remains an unmet need in Malawi and much of sub-Saharan Africa. Medical personnel play a significant role in communicating with patients and their families about organ donation and transplantation (ODT), making their knowledge and attitudes vital in ODT process. We aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward ODT among medical students and doctors in Malawian tertiary hospitals.
Methods: A questionnaire on knowledge and attitudes toward ODT was administered to all doctors at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and Kamuzu Central Hospital and 4th and 5th year students from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences between November 2022 and May 2023.
Results: A total of 306 participants completed the questionnaire, with a 99% response rate of which 169 (55.0 %) were doctors. The majority of participants were male at 188 (61.4%) with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. Most of the participants were aged between 18-30 years of age at 213 (69.8%). Overall, 57.8% had a higher knowledge regarding ODT. There was no significant association between knowledge and cadre of doctors or year of study of the students after adjusting for all significant confounding factors. The majority (79%) of the participants had a negative attitude toward ODT. Attitudes toward ODT were significantly associated with participants’ religious affiliations such that those who did not wish to disclose their religion were 2.78 times more likely to have a positive attitude towards organ transplant than Christians (Adjusted Odds ratio 2.78, 95% CI [1.02,7.56]).
Conclusion: The study results suggest that most participants were aware of ODT. However, the majority held a negative attitude towards it. These attitudes were largely influenced by religious beliefs. Qualitative studies are recommended to further examine the impact of religion, among others, on the attitudes of doctors and students towards ODT.

Keywords: organ donation; transplantation; Knowledge; attitudes; medical students; Medical doctors; Tertiary hospital.