Knowledge in Relation to Cadaveric Kidney Donation in Urban Blacks

A questionnaire survey of black residents of an inner city in the South was conducted to examine the relationship between awareness (knowledge) of cadaver kidney donation programs (CKDP) and socio-demographic factors. Nearly 64 percent of the respondents were unfamiliar with CKDP. Of the respondents who had previously been aware of CKDP, older persons were more likely than younger persons (under age 20) to have heard about cadaver kidney donation. Education and occupation were positively correlated with familiarity of cadaver kidney donation; those with higher education (college graduates) and professional or managerial occupations were more likely to know of it (54 percent and 53 percent respectively). Knowledge did not differ by sex. This finding is striking in that it delineates a target population within the black community for education to increase donorship.