Awareness of eye donation in an adult population of southern India. A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine "awareness of eye donation" and corneal transplantation in an adult population of southern India.


METHODS
507 participants chosen by systematic random sampling were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Participants were selected among patients attending two community outreach programmes at different sites, and from patients presenting directly to the hospital.


RESULTS
257 participants (50.69%) were aware of eye donations. The major source of awareness was publicity campaigns (n=105). Only 22 (4.34%) participants were aware that eye donation had to be done within 6 hours of death. Four hundred and three (79.50%) participants were not aware of corneal transplantation. Illiteracy and rural residence were more likely predictors of ignorance.


CONCLUSIONS
Although multiple strategies are currently followed to increase awareness of eye donations and corneal transplants, more innovative strategies have to be developed, especially to target illiterate and rural populations.
Priyadarshini
Brinda
B
Aravind Eye Care System, and Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, Madurai, India.
Srinivasan
Muthiah
M
Padmavathi
Alagarsamy
A
Selvam
Sethuraman
S
Saradha
Ramasubbu
R
Nirmalan
Praveen K
PK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005125:Eye Banks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*