JS-48.4
Exploring Factors Associated with Willingness to Donate Organs Among Migrants Adults in Lisbon: A South Asian Comparison
A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among immigrants from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Snowball non-probability sampling technique was used, through interviewers with privileged access to the target-population. Between November 2012 and February 2013 trained interviewers collected qualitative and quantitative data through face-to-face interviews, namely sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions, willingness to donate organs (subjects were asked if they would like to have their organs donated; ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘indifferent’, ‘don’t know/don’t answer’) and other attitudes towards death. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated to willingness to donate organs in univariate and multivariate-adjusted models for each population and gender.
Willingness to donate organs was higher among the Indian (41.7%), namely Hindus, and lower among the Bangladeshi (9.5%) and the Pakistani (15.8%). For all the three populations, a bad/very bad self-rating quality of life was associated to willingness to donate organs. Bangladeshi women were more willing to donate organs than men, while among the Indian and Pakistani, educational level was a more important variable in what concerns the explanation of organs donation commitment phenomenon. Among the Bangladeshi men, migration length was also related to willingness to donate organs; and an increased number of self-reported diseases among women.
Models by country of origin highlighted inter-and intragroup differences. There were gender-based differences on organs donation among the groups. Religious commitment was not an explicative factor.
Previous studies indicate that the act of organ donation can be perceived as involving personal costs, namely costs related to religious beliefs, and that the meaning of organ donation is more than just being and having a body (Hayward, Madill; 2003).