Attitudes Toward Organ Donation and Transplantation in Guanajuato, Mexico.
BACKGROUND
Chronic diseases have become a main cause of morbidity and mortality provoking function loss in organs. Quality of life is poor and expensive with replacement therapy. Transplantation offers a higher survival rate and a better life; however, the donation rate in Mexico is low, making it important to know the opinion of the population.


METHODS
Six hundred forty-two people in Guanajuato, Mexico, (>15 years old) were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, education, religion, organ donation, and transplantation attitudes were evaluated.


RESULTS
Donation attitudes in life or death were: very willing to donation (82.8% vs 61.5%), refuse to donate (12.7% vs 29.4%), and undecided (4.5% vs 9.1%). Reasons for donation were: altruism (63%), being useful to someone (28.6%), and empathy (7.1%). Negative causes were: personal beliefs (35.6%), fear (23.7%), and ignorance or "I don't know the recipient" (18.5%). Finally, 94.5% of the population is willing to receive a transplant if they need it.


CONCLUSIONS
Guanajuato has a high tendency to donate their own organs, but less to donate from a family member. Refusal to donate has originated from lack/misinformation that people received from health professionals. Although most people are willing to donate, this is not reflected in donation rates. To be able to make this intention reality, we must create educational models for health care personnel that will allow them to transmit proper information to the population.
Transplant State Center, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Electronic address: licrero@hotmail.com.
R
R
López-Falcony
Transplant State Center, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
R
R
Ramírez-Orozco
Health Secretary, Guanajuato, Mexico.
F I
FI
Ortiz-Aldana
Transplant State Center, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
J
J
Rodríguez-Jamaica
Transplant State Center, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
A
A
Ramírez-Orozco
General Hospital, Celaya, Mexico.
H
H
Camarena-Reynoso
General Hospital, Leon, Mexico.
E
E
Nava-Romero
General Hospital, Leon, Mexico.
K
K
Reyes
General Hospital, Celaya, Mexico.
S
S
Martínez-Bernal
General Hospital, Irapuato, Mexico.
M
M
Sánchez-Ojeda
General Hospital, Irapuato, Mexico.
M
M
Martínez-Navarro
General Hospital, Celaya, Mexico.
M
M
Colio-Montoya
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult