ABSTRACT

Purpose

To determine the awareness on eye donation and willingness to pledge eyes for donation among the population aged ≥40 years in the northeastern state of Tripura, India.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 2,500 participants. The investigators conducted a detailed interview on awareness of eye donation and willingness to pledge eyes for donation. ‘Awareness’ was defined as having heard about eye donation. Those who reported awareness of eye donation were asked a question on willingness to pledge their eyes.

Results

A total of 2,440/2,500 (97.6%) participants responded to the questionnaire. Among these, 1,216 (49.8%) participants were men, and 859 (35.2%) had no education. The mean age of the participants was 54.7 years (standard deviation:12.1 years). Overall, 61.4% (95% CI:59.5–63.4; n = 1,499) reported awareness of eye donation; of those only 3.8% (95% CI:2.9–4.9; n = 57) were willing to pledge their eyes for donation. On multivariable analyses, the odds of awareness were higher among those who had school education (OR:2.12; 95% CI: 1.73–2.56) or higher education (OR:11.79; 95% CI:7.35–18.93). Deformity associated with eye donation (n = 327;76.9%) followed by religious reasons (n = 63; 14.8%) and a belief that those who donate eye are ‘born blind in the next birth’ (n = 23; 5.4%) were the main reasons for lack of willingness to pledge their eyes for donation.

Conclusions

Although the awareness regarding eye donation was satisfactory, there was lack of willingness to pledge eyes for donation. There is a need for focussed information, education, and communication campaigns to encourage eye donation in Tripura.

中文翻译：

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印度东北部特里普拉邦的眼睛捐赠意识 – 特里普拉眼科调查

摘要

目的

旨在确定印度东北部特里普拉邦 40 岁以上人群的眼睛捐赠意识和捐赠眼睛的意愿。

方法

在 2,500 名参与者中进行了一项基于人群的横断面研究。调查人员就捐眼意识和捐眼意愿进行了详细访谈。“意识”被定义为听说过眼睛捐赠。那些报告知道捐赠眼睛的人被问到一个关于捐赠眼睛意愿的问题。

结果

共有 2,440/2,500 (97.6%) 名参与者回答了问卷。其中，1216 人（49.8%）为男性，859 人（35.2%）没有受过教育。参与者的平均年龄为 54.7 岁（标准差：12.1 岁）。总体而言，61.4%（95% CI：59.5-63.4；n = 1,499）报告了对捐眼的认识；其中只有 3.8% (95% CI:2.9–4.9; n = 57) 愿意捐献他们的眼睛。在多变量分析中，受过学校教育（OR：2.12；95% CI：1.73-2.56）或高等教育（OR：11.79；95% CI：7.35-18.93）的人的知晓率更高。与眼睛捐赠相关的畸形（n = 327；76.9%）其次是宗教原因（n = 63；14.8%）和相信捐赠眼睛的人“在下一次出生时失明”（n = 23；5.

结论

虽然捐眼意识良好，但捐眼意愿不足。需要有针对性的信息、教育和宣传活动来鼓励特里普拉的眼球捐赠。