Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Officials of Religion About Organ Donation in Kahramanmaras, an Eastern Mediterranean City of Turkey A. Ozer, H.C. Ekerbicer, M. Celik, and M. Nacar ABSTRACT Objective. To establish the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the officials of religion, a group with potentially powerful influence on the society, in particular regarding organ donation. Methods. This study, performed in Kahramanmaras Province, Turkey, included 416 of 641 officials of religion (64.9%): 295 of 492 imams (59.9%) and 121 of 149 Koran course educators (81.2%). Results. The mean (SD) age of the study group was 37.2 (8.2) years. Only 1.4% had stated that carried organ donation cards. Of participants who had not donated organs asked whether they thought of donation, 14.1% answered yes, 17.1% answered no, and 68.8% were undecided. Of the study group, 88.2% considered organ donation appropriate according to their religion. The imams compared with Koran course educators, and men compared with women demonstrated higher rates of considering organ donation appro- priate according to their religion (P  .05). Among participants who stated they had knowledge about organ donation, the 3 leading information sources were television, newspapers or journals, and in- service training by the Directorate of Religious Affairs. The 3 primary organs the study group stated they were aware of being transplanted were kidneys, liver, and heart. Conclusion. Although 88.2% of religious officials in the present study stated that organ donation was appropriate according to their religion, only 1.4% agreed to donate organs. Officials of religion hold an important place in society, and should be well informed and educated about organ donation via in-service training courses, and encourage organ donation by members of society. O rgan transplantation is the preferred method for man- agement of terminal diseases. 1 The primary problem in organ transplantation is the wide disparity between need and donation. 2 Although there has been substantial medical and technical developments in transplantation, there is real difficulty in obtaining organs. 3 In developed countries, organ donation rates are 20 to 30 per million population, whereas in Turkey, the rate is 3.0. 4–6 Attitudes and behav- iors regarding organ donation are affected by many factors including level of educational achievement, profession, religion, and socioeconomic status. 2,7–12 A legal ground was created in Turkey via a law in 1979 that stated that if there is no document or written will regarding organ donation signed by the deceased, their organs or tissues can be donated by relatives. Economic profit cannot be gained from organ donation. 13 Most of the Turkish population is Muslim. 14 The Direc- torate of Religious Affairs has stated that organ donation is appropriate in Islam and that Islam encourages it. 15 Ac- From the Departments of Public Health (A.O., H.C.E.) and Family Medicine (M.C.) KSU Medical Faculty, Kahramanmaras, Turkey and From the Department of Medical Education (M.N.), Erciyes University, Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey. Address reprint requests to Dr. Ali Ozer, Department of Public Health, KSU Medical School, Yoruk Selim Mah, Gazi Mustafa Kuscu Cad, Kahramanmaras, Kahramanmaras 46100, Turkey. E-mail: aliozer91@hotmail.com © 2010 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 0041-1345/–see front matter 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710 doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2010.08.035 Transplantation Proceedings, 42, 3363–3367 (2010) 3363