What Is the Attitude Toward Cadaveric Organ Donation of the Ghanian Residents in Spain?

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The Ghanaian population is migrating toward the European economic community, especially toward the southern countries. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the attitude toward organ donation among the population born in Ghana but currently residing in Spain. METHOD: The study included the population born in Ghana who are ≥ 15 years of age and residents of Spain, stratified by age and sex. The assessment instrument used is the donation and transplant attitude questionnaire of Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante (PCID-DTO Ríos), which was self-administered and anonymously completed with verbal consent. The statistics used were descriptive, χ2, Student t test, and a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 237 Ghanaians. Forty-three percent (n = 102) are in favor of cadaveric organ donation, 35% (n = 83) are against donating their own organs, and 20% (n = 48) are undecided. In the multivariate analysis, the association was maintained at the level of the primary studies (P < .001, OR = 25), not being afraid of possible mutilation after donating (P < .001, OR = 76.923), religion (P < .001; OR = 27.777), performing prosocial activities (P = .016, OR = 12.048), and having previously commented on the issue of organ donation and transplantation in the family setting (P = .012, OR = 4.878). CONCLUSIONS: The Ghanaian immigrant population in Spain has an unfavorable attitude toward the donation of their own organs at death, which is conditioned by multiple psychosocial factors.