Knowledge and awareness of undergraduate university students towards eye donation in north-west, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Corneal blindness still remains a large contributor of childhood blindness in Africa. Corneal transplant is a sight saving  procedure that is still lacking in most of African countries despite the first successful corneal transplant in 1905 by Dr. Eduard Zirm. The  cornea eye bank and transplant procedure in Nigeria is still in the infancy stage despite Federal Government of Nigeria acknowledged the  need for an eye bank and promulgated the decree No. 23 titled Corneal Grafting Decree 1973.

Objectives: To assess the level of  knowledge and awareness on eye donation among the undergraduate students of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology.   

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among undergraduate university students, using a pre-tested, self- administered  questionnaires. Information on the socio-demographics, the participants’ knowledge and willingness to donate eye was obtained. The  questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: Of 281 participants, 157 (55.9%) were males and Muslim 204 (72.6%). Few  students 59 (21%) were willing to donate their eyes after death, while131 (46.6%) were not willing to donate their eye because of their  religious belief. Ninety-three (33.8%) of the students support eye donation. Television was the main 94 (33.5%) source of information  about eye donation.

Conclusion: The knowledge and awareness of eye donation among the students was low. Furthermore, majority  were not willing to donate their eye mostly because of their religious belief. Health education on eye donation is needed to increase the  uptake of eye donation among population.