The Influence of Information and Religion on Organ Donation, as Seen by School Teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Introduction:Transplantation of organs is the treatment of choice for severe organ failure worldwide.Aim:The aims of the present study were to determine the influence of religion on attitudes towards organ donation among staff at schools in Tuzla.Material and Methods:In the Tuzla region there are 42 schools and 1580 school staff. A total of 21 schools were selected randomly, which were stratified by geographical location. 499 employees were invited to participate in the study, and 475 agreed to participate. According to the definition of their attitude towards religion the subjects were divided into three groups: non-religious, only religious and practical believers.Results:None of the subjects possesses a donor card. To the question whether the subjects support the idea of organ transplantation, most replied that they support the idea of donating organs both during life and after death. Regarding this question there is a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0063). To the question whether they are prepared to donate an organ of a deceased family member, most replied that they would consent to donating an organ, whilst a significant number also replied that they were not sure. The results show that there is no significant difference between the replies given by the groups (p = 0.7694). To the question regarding to whom they were prepared to donate an organ, most said they were prepared to donate one to a member of their family, then to a close relative, whilst the least would donate to a stranger. The results show that there is a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0002).Conclusion:In order to reduce the wide disparity between the need and organ donation amongst other things a more active relationship is necessary between health workers, religious officials and school staff.

The Influence of Age, Gender and Religion on Willingness to be an Organ Donor: Experience of Religious Muslims Living in Sweden

“…To the question regarding whom they were prepared to donate an organ, most said they were prepared to donate one to a member of their family, then to a close relative, while the least would donate to a stranger. The results show that there is a significant difference between the groups ( p = 0.0002) (Sadic et al 2016 ). The informants say that the knowledge they have was inherited from their parents and that they did not receive a religious education.…”

“…All the informants in this study are highly educated, have received a religious education, are employed and identify themselves as religious and educated Muslims. Their support for OD was expected because previous studies, which have studied different factors that are certainly associated with positive attitudes to organ donation, included educational level, socio-economic status and younger age (Ashraf et al 2005 ; Mossialos et al 2008 ; Krupic et al 2017 ; Sadic et al 2016 ). In an other study the positive attitude to organ donation was associated with religious score ( p = 0·015), marital status ( p = 0·031), and knowledge score ( p = 0·003).…”

The Impact of Religion and Provision of Information on Increasing Knowledge and Changing Attitudes to Organ Donation: An Intervention Study

“…When asked to whom they would donate an organ, the majority replied that they would donate to a close relative but least of all to someone they did not know. There was a significant difference in the answers to this question between the groups ( p = 0.0002) (Sadic et al 2016 ). The informants said that they had obtained their knowledge about this from their parents, without any religious instruction on the issue.…”

Rationale For Religious Denominations In Russia To Participate In Organ Donation Promotion

“…Furthermore, according to medical and sociological data, subject to different social groups the influence of the religious factor on transplantology attitudes varies significantly. Thus, among the teachers of secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is no established relationship between religiosity and attitudes towards organ donation (Sadic, Sadic, Krupic, Fatahi, & Krupic, 2016).…”