Knowledge and Attitude on Eye Donation among Selected Rural and Urban Higher Secondary School Students, Ernakulam District

Background: In the present scenario it is essential to enhance the awareness regarding eye donation among the potential donors in an effort to increase the procurement of corneas. Well-informed higher secondary school students could be expected to influence eye donation rates. The aim of study was to determine whether knowledge and attitudes towards eye donation among higher secondary school students differ according to geographical location. Materials and Methods: The study was a comparative, questionnaire-based, crosssectional survey of higher secondary school students from selected rural and urban schools of Ernakulam district conducted in November 2015. A total of 160 higher secondary school students of age 16-18 years were participated in the present study. Eighty sample selected from Amrita Vidyalayam, Kunnumpuram and 80 from Bhgavathivilasam Higher Secondary School, Nyarambalam. Structured questionnaires were employed to collect data such as demographic characteristics and knowledge on eye donation. Level of attitude on eye donation was measured by a five point likert scale prepared by the investigators. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Values for P less than .05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The mean level of knowledge score on eye dentation of urban higher secondary secondary school students was 10.06 +/- 2.834 and that of rural higher secondary school students was 8.15+/-1.93. The mean level of attitude score of urban higher secondary school students was 60.09+/- 9.24 and that of rural higher secondary school students was 59.03+/-8.93. There was a significant difference in knowledge on eye donation among rural and urban higher secondary school students (Independent t test score = 4.989 at p=0.001). The investigators did not observe any significant difference in attitude towards eye donation among rural and urban higher secondary school students. Highly significant association between age of urban higher secondary school students and level of knowledge on eye donation was observed at at p ≤ 0.05 (χ²=11.51 p=0.009) and there was no significant association between demographic variables of rural higher secondary students and their knowledge level on eye donation. Significant association was observed between attitude towards eye donation and educational status of the mothers of urban higher secondary students at p ≤ 0.05 (χ² = 11.92 p=0.036). There was no significant association between demographic variables of rural higher secondary students and their attitude level. Conclusion: The study concluded that the both the rural and urban higher secondary school student had severe lack of knowledge regarding eye donation. While comparing knowledge level the findings from present study revealed that urban higher secondary school students had higher knowledge level than that of the rural higher secondary school students, but in case of attitude there was no considerable difference. The deficit in knowledge on eye donation of respondents may be justified by the lack of information about this significant issue.