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Investigating the Socioeconomic Status and Dissatisfaction Outcomes Among Kidney Donors in Kurdistan Province
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Mohammad Hadi Afkhamzadeh    , Sorveh Minazadeh , Amjad Mohammadi Bolbanabad , Bakhtiar Piroozi , Abdorrahim Afkhamzadeh *1 |
| 1- , afkhama@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (15 Views) |
Background and Objective: In Iran, more than 90% of living kidney donors donate due to financial and economic hardships, and studies have shown that 97% of these individuals lack altruistic motives. This study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic status and dissatisfaction outcomes among kidney donors in Kurdistan province, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 151 kidney donors in Kurdistan province from March 2015 to March 2019. Participants were selected through simple random sampling from the records available at the Kidney Patient Support Center (without stratification by age or sex). Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire comprising 35 items across two sections: demographic and socioeconomic information, and questions related to attitudes toward donation, with a 5-point Likert scale used to assess satisfaction. Content validity was confirmed by 10 experts, and reliability was established through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.84) and an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.86) in a two-week test-retest procedure.
Results: Of the 151 participants, 54.3% were male, with a mean age of 41.71 ± 9.20 years. The majority of donors (82.8%) cited financial problems as the main reason for donation, and 72.2% would not recommend donation to others. Complete satisfaction was reported by 21.9%, while 13.9% expressed dissatisfaction, with the most important reasons being unresolved financial issues (41.6%) and a feeling of bodily deficiency (25%). Most donors (90.7%) lacked complementary health insurance. The amount received was generally at a moderate level, and it was predominantly used for debt repayment and housing expenses.
Conclusion: The findings suggested that kidney selling among donors in Kurdistan province appears to be associated with considerable dissatisfaction as well as self-reported physical and psychological complaints, and may not be related to sustainable economic benefit. Given the cross-sectional design of the study, any causal inference regarding the relationship between kidney selling and health or economic outcomes is not possible, and the findings should be considered as evidence for future longitudinal investigations. Revisiting organ procurement policies with respect to financial incentives and establishing comprehensive support packages appears to be essential.
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| Keywords: Kidney donation, Socioeconomic status, Dissatisfaction, Kurdistan. |
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Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Family and Social Medicine
Received: 2026/06/13 | Accepted: 2026/11/4
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