title: Awareness and attitudes towards face and organ transplant in Kumasi, Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the level of awareness and attitudes towards face and organ transplant among the people of Kumasi, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study was employed, where participants were randomly selected for the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The respondents were commuters waiting to board public vehicles at the Kejetia lorry station, Bantama/Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital taxi station, Buokrom Estate F-line lorry station, traders, and residents of Adum and Bantama, all in Kumasi.
  
  
  METHODS
  The descriptive study was conducted from 1(st) February to 30(th) April 2009. An interview-based questionnaire was used for the convenient sample of respondents. Data obtained included: demographic profile and items covering awareness, attitudes and beliefs towards face and organ transplant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 1020 respondents, females (53.2%) outnumbered males. The age of respondents ranged from 10 to 89 years; mean was 27.50± 2.98 years; majority (72.3%) was Christians, whilst 61.8% had gone through tertiary education. Few (33.5%) of the respondents were aware of face transplant; 70.0% and 62.1% were willing to receive a face if their face was disfigured or donate their face when dead respectively. Also, 50.6% were aware of organ transplant, whiles 59.1% would receive/donate an organ when required. Multiple regression analysis shows statistical significant association between attitudes, awareness and demographic variables listed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Face and organ transplant were found to have a relatively low and high awareness level respectively. However, an affirmative attitude was recorded for face and organ transplant. More education on face and organ donations is needed.
authors: Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. pimagben@yahoo.com
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Agbenorku
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Agbenorku
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Agamah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes; Awareness; Face; Organ; Transplant
references: Artif Organs. 2006 Aug;30(8):626-9
references: 16911317
references: Disabil Rehabil. 2003 Jul 8;25(13):732-41
references: 12791558
references: Transplant Proc. 2009 Dec;41(10):4057-61
references: 20005341
references: Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2002 Oct;40(5):433-7
references: 12379192
references: Transplant Proc. 1995 Apr;27(2):1835
references: 7725527
references: Transplant Proc. 2004 May;36(4):811-3
references: 15194279
references: Eur Urol. 2006 Oct;50(4):851-3
references: 16930814
references: Transplant Proc. 1995 Apr;27(2):1893-6
references: 7725541
references: Transplant Proc. 2003 Dec;35(8):2845-50
references: 14697918
references: N Engl J Med. 2004 Dec 23;351(26):2678-80
references: 15616201
references: Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2008 Jun;46(4):297-300
references: 18336970
references: Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 2010 Jan;21(1):174-80
references: 20061720