Attitude of Mexican University Students Toward Organ Donation and Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated the willingness to donate organs after death among Mexican university health students using a validated psychometric instrument. Our aim was to identify sociodemographic, religious, and psychosocial factors associated with positive donation attitudes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross - sectional study was conducted among 2447 health science students from 7 academic programs at a Mexican public university. Student participants completed the " PCID -DTO -RIOS " questionnaire via direct interview. We collected data on age, sex, socioeconomic status, religion, academic field, social interactions, knowledge of brain death, and attitudes toward donation, which we analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, and Χ ² tests (P < .05 ).

RESULTS: The sample consisted of 72.4 % female students, with a mean age of 20.2 years. Overall, 75.6 % of students expressed willingness to donate their organs after death. Positive attitudes were significantly more frequent among women than men (78.1 % vs 68.9 %; P < .001 ) and non-practicing religious individuals than among practicing religious individuals (78.5% vs 76.1%; P = .001 ). Willingness to donate after death correlated significantly with discussing donation with family and friends, knowing family members' opinions, and understanding brain death (all P < .05). Only 18.3% were current blood donors.

CONCLUSIONS: Most Mexican health science students demonstrated favorable attitudes toward deceased organ donation, influenced by social interaction, religious practice, and knowledge of brain death. These findings underscore the importance of targeted educational interventions during university training to enhance donation advocacy, particularly in contexts where cardiovascular and other organ shortages persist.