Abstract:
Background: Kidney dysfunction and failure account for increased mortality rates across most population groups globally. Kidney donation and transplantation is a process whereby individuals agree to donate a healthy organ that is then transplanted to the body of a person with either a damaged, failed or dysfunctional organ in order to save their lives as well as improving the quality of life. The current literature does not show the published evidence on the knowledge, attitude and perception towards organ donation in nurses in Rwanda. The aim of this study was to explore knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards organ donation among nursing students at the University of Rwanda.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design using quantitative approach was chosen to meet the objectives of the study. One hundred seventy nine (179) students at the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rwamagana campus, participated in the present study. Participants were randomly selected. Data were analyzed quantitatively and relationship between knowledge, attitude, perception and socio demographic characteristics variables was reported using chi-square test at the level of significance < or = at 0.05
Results:The results showed low level of knowledge on kidney donation among study participants (51%). Attitudes were reported to be negative in 63% of cases and no association was found between knowledge and attitude towards kidney organ donation among study participants. Perception were reported by the big majority of the participants that would prefer to donate their organ to a family member as reported by 68.6% while 36.9% of the study participants believe that the greatest important factor to consider when they decide to donate their organ in a case there is a need would be their close relative.
Conclusion and recommendation: The study reported not satisfactory results on knowledge and attitude of study participants. This is a big issue since these future nurses will be expected to support kidney donation in one way or another. Interventions to change the current situation are urgently needed.
