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Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitude Towards Corneal Donation Among Adults in a Rural Community in Enugu State, Nigeria
Introduction: Corneal blindness remains a major cause of visual impairment in developing countries. Corneal transplantation is an effective treatment for many corneal diseases; however, the shortage of donor corneas remains a major challenge. This study determines the awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards corneal donation among adults in a rural community in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18 years and above who attended a medical outreach programme in a rural community in Enugu State. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards corneal donation. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings.
Results: A total of 170 participants were enrolled, comprising 47 (27.6%) males and 123 (72.4%) females, with a mean age of 48.3 ± 17.2 years. More than half of the respondents (57.1%) had poor knowledge of corneal donation, while 79.4% demonstrated poor awareness. Furthermore, 135 (79.4%) participants were unaware that individuals could voluntarily pledge to donate their corneas after death. Attitude towards corneal donation was generally poor, with 83.5% of respondents unwilling to donate their corneas after death.
Conclusion: Knowledge, awareness, and attitude towards corneal donation were generally poor among adults in this rural community. Community-based health education and sustained public enlightenment campaigns are needed to improve awareness, correct misconceptions, and promote acceptance of corneal donation.
