Willingness to donate eyes among outpatients attending Muhimbili National Hospital

Abstract

Background: Willingness to donate eyes and other organs in general is still unsatisfactory worldwide, specifically in low income countries including Sub-Saharan Africa where the awareness about eye and other organs donation is still low. Factors like religion may also affect people’s decision making in terms of organ donation. Therefore, it is difficult to have enough tissues for transplant and sustainable local eye banks. The aim of the study was to assess willingness to donate eyes among outpatients attending Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania. Methodology: A cross sectional hospital based study with quantitative and qualitative approaches was done from July to December 2017. Systematic random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used for quantitative and qualitative parts respectively. Results: A total of 434 participants were interviewed, 58.06% were female. Only 32.5% of all respondents, were aware that eyes can be donated, while 47.9% were willing to donate their eyes. The main reason for willingness was to help a blind person (64.25%), while the main reason for unwillingness was need of more information about eye donation (31.7%), followed by religious reasons (22.0%). Willingness to donate eyes was associated with prior awareness (p=0.0001), religion (p=0.010) and sex (p=0.049). Important themes emerged from the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were: Helping needy people, religion, death and respect of body. Conclusion: Willingness to donate eyes was seen in nearly a half of the participants though awareness was low. Most of the participants had positive perception about eye donation services. Negative perception was associated with lack of information, religious beliefs and fear. Therefore, community education is important to raise awareness and willingness to donate eyes.