A qualitative approach to understand the knowledge, beliefs, and barriers toward organ donation in a rural community of Haryana - A community based cross-sectional study

Introduction: Organ transplantation is the therapeutic modality available for people with end-organ failure. However, only 10% of the need for transplantation is met globally. There are different factors that influence organ donation by people. Objective: This study was planned with an aim to understand the beliefs and knowledge of a rural community toward organ donation and the identification of barriers for organ donation. Materials and Methods: A qualitative community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among the adults of a rural area of Ballabgarh block of district Faridabad, Haryana. There were four groups of participants based on age and gender. Data collection was done through focused group discussion. Results: Several themes emerged and various reasons that were facilitators/barriers for donation of organ by people were listed: unawareness on what organs can be donated, misuse of donated organs by black marketing, organ donation by people having any comorbidity, no religious prohibition on organ donation, and disfigurement of body after organ donation. Conclusion: People consider organ donation a noble act. However, there are various myths and misconceptions as well as unawareness of procedure regarding organ donation that leads to lower rate of organ donation. Awareness campaigns should be organized to take care of such issues.