Survey results regarding organ donation and transplant in metropolitan Guadalajara, Mexico [Resultados de una encuesta sobre donacíón y trasplante de órganos en la zona metropolitana de Guadalajara, México]

Objective. To evaluate knowledge of and disposition towards organ and tissue donation for transplantation among the adult population of metropolitan Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Material and Methods. A survey was conducted by personal interview with street- recruited persons over 18 years of age using a 29-item questionnaire. Metropolitan Guadalajara was divided into four municipalities and a proportional number of interviews was assigned to each one based on number of inhabitants, socio-economic stratum, age and gender. Results. Four hundred individuals were interviewed. Approximately 80% knew about organ donation and 65% knew that it was legal; however, only 24% had discussed the topic with their relatives. Seventyone percent did not know how to donate organs and only 25% knew about organ donor cards. On the other hand, 66% were willing to donate, 16.5% would not donate and 17% were undecided. Bodily mutilation was the main reason (40%) given to not donate. 89% would authorize organ donation from a deceased relative, assuming the relative had previously expressed the desire to donate; on the contrary, only 29% would give such an authorization without their relative's prior consent. Finally, 65% considered the driver's license an adequate mean to express their desire to donate and 50% considered the information the mass media disseminated on the subject to be insufficient. Conclusions. The majority of the metropolitan Guadalajara population knew about organ donation and would be willing to donate their organs. However, a high percentage did not know how to donate and considered the information disseminated on the subject insufficient. An on-going mass media campaign could resolve this matter and hopefully increase organ donation among this population. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html