An overview on organ transplants in Brazil and factors associated with low adhesion of the practice

Abstract

For centuries, the human kind has been searching for ways to replace organs presenting pathologies for healthy ones; however, such process only became feasible in the last decades through the organ transplants. There is a major imbalance between the amounts of donors when compared to the demand for organs. Thousands of people around the world are waiting for the transplant on a waiting list, and such amount is increasing. This may be associated with misinformation, hampering the development and consequently, resulting in decreasing rates. Purpose: To recognize and highlight major factors associated with the low amount of organ transplants in Brazil, furthermore how the procedure takes place in the country. Methods: observational study based on scientific literature. Results: it is perceived a level of lack of knowledge on the organ transplant topic, which in turn is reflected in the attitudes of family members and components of the health teams working directly with the donor patient. Conclusion: the study highlights the presence of factors related to the low indexes of organ transplant procedures, such as believes and religiosity, doubts and lack of knowledge on the protocols composing the organ transplant process, not only by family members, but even from the medical staff, and including the wish of the potential donor as to the matter of becoming or not a donor, because they had no opportunity to leave their explicit desire before the event that had made the person a potential donor.