Introduction: Organ donation and transplant have become one of the greatest advances in medical science. It is increasingly used worldwide as a treatment protocol for end-stage organ failure and disease. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and willingness towards organ donation and transplantation among medical students in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using a quantitative method of data collection. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used in collection of data from 181 respondents using a multiphase sampling technique. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27.0 at 95% significance with a p-value of <0.05. Quantitative data were presented using frequency distribution tables, graphs, and charts and association between categorical variables was assessed using chi-square.
Results: This study showed that majority of the respondents (154, 83.7%) possess good knowledge of organ donation while a few (30, 16.3%) exhibit poor knowledge. In this study, 51.6% (95) of respondents are not willing to donate their organs, but 48.4% (89) are willing to donate. Academic level of respondents was statistically significant with both knowledge as well as attitude towards organ donation and transplantation. The reason 62 (33.7%) of respondents are not willing to donate their organs is because they feel organ donation can lead to death.
Conclusion: Academic level of respondents was statistically associated with knowledge and attitude towards organ transplantation. Health education in raising the awareness of the shortage and subsequent need of organ donation and transplantation is needed.
