Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Organ Donation Among Clinical Medicine Students, Mount Kenya University, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Organ donations can save or prolong life. Clinicians play a key role in promoting organ donation and transplant; hence, their knowledge may have positive effect on organ donation. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices about organ donation among students undertaking training in Clinical Medicine and Community health at Mount Kenya University, Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey among students undertaking an undergraduate course in Clinical Medicine at Mount Kenya University using a pre-tested questionnaire conducted between January and April 2017. The study used purposive sampling methodology of the students.

Results: Seventy-six participants, mean (sd) age of 22 (2.1) years and thirty-nine (51%) females were recruited. Only 3 (4.0%, 95% CI 0.8 to 11%) students had ever made a donation, all of them blood donation. Although sixty-seven (88%) of the study participants had heard the term organ donation only 15 (20%) of them knew someone who had donated organ. The most common source of information about organ donation was from internet/online according to thirty-three participants (43%). Seventy-one (93%) of the participants reported that organ donation was for saving life and fifty-eight (84%) were aware that organ donation involved risk and that the most important risk was infection. Only 4% were aware of local legislation guiding organ donation and transplantation in Kenya while 53% unaware.  Forty-nine of the participants 64% agreed that they would receive organ for transplantation. Of the participants, thirty-nine (51%) considered `health status of the recipient’ as the main factor of the greatest importance when donating organ. Forty-three (57%) and forty-nine (64%) of the participants reported the donor and family member should consent for living donation and after death respectively. Thirty-one (41%) and twenty-six (34%) of the respondents think medical doctors and judges should make decisions about organ donation for unclaimed dead bodies respectively.

Conclusion: Clinical medicine students have significant gaps in knowledge regarding the organ donation and transplantation. There is a low rate of donation even for blood despite the awareness of the need to save lives and therefore need to increase awareness on importance and promote laws to govern organ donation.

Addressing these gaps would provide valuable insights to guide education, policy, and advocacy strategies aimed at improving organ donation practices in Kenya.

Keywords: Organ Donation; Clinical Medicine; Students; Knowledge; Attitude; Practice; Health Belief Model; Kenya

DOI: 10.7176/IKM/16-2-04

Publication date: June 30^th 2026