Abstract

JASSO, Kristian; LAGUNES CORDOBA, Roberto  and  MARVAN, Ma. Luisa. Attitudes towards posthumous organ donation in adults from Xalapa and Cuernavaca. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2018, vol.8, n.2, pp.70-79. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2018.2.06.

Organ transplantation represents the only alternative to survive or improve the quality of life of many patients; however, there is a serious shortage of organs to be transplanted. The present study explored the attitudes towards postmortem organ donation in Mexico, comparing the results by gender, age and schooling. The Attitudes towards Postmortem Organ Donation Questionnaire (ADOP in Spanish) was applied to 897 adults, which is composed of three factors: Favorable Attitudes, Unfavorable Attitudes, and Distrust. Women, the youngest participants and those with higher education were more willing to donate their organs when they die, and had the lowest scores on the Unfavorable Attitudes and Distrust factors. The statistical tests used were chi square, student t test, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression. When comparing the results among the three factors of the ADOP, it was shown that participants recognize the importance of organ donation. The results may be useful to sensitize the population, particularly to older individuals and those with low schooling, in order to improve organ donation rates.

Keywords : Attitudes; Beliefs; Psychosocial Barriers; Organ donation; Mexico.