Kidney Transplantation and Gender Disparity

Vol. 25, No. 5, 2005

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 156 KB)

Original Report: Patient-Oriented, Translational Research

Kidney Transplantation and Gender Disparity
Rahul M. Jindal^a, John J. Ryan^a, Imran Sajjad^b, Madhukiran H. Murthy^b, Lyndsay S. Baines^c

Departments of
^aSurgery and
^bMedicine, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, S. Dak., USA;
^cDepartment of Psychology, Lewisham College, London, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Am J Nephrol 2005;25:474-483 (DOI: 10.1159/000087920)

Key Words

Gender disparity
Kidney transplantation

Abstract

Gender inequity in access to hemodialysis and kidney transplantation has created a public health crisis in the US. Women have a lower chance of receiving hemodialysis and kidney transplant than men, but they constitute the majority of living kidney donors. Research has shown that economic factors such as greater income of men may encourage females to be donors; while gender-bias on part of physicians or institutions, lack of social support networks and differences in health-seeking behaviors compared to men are cited as reasons for this imbalance. We suggest various strategies to improve participation of women in the transplant process by education; raising awareness by publishing gender-specific data for dialysis and transplant centers; education and workshops to eliminate gender-bias within institutions and health-care providers and establishment of gender-specific support groups. Transplant teams that are more sensitive to the social complexities of women's lives may lead to increased understanding of the effects of renal disease and indicate measures that need to be in place in order to address this gender disparity in the treatment of renal failure. Research needs to be done to elucidate the underlying medical, societal or psychological processes that lead to gender bias in the field of kidney transplantation.

Author Contacts

R.M. Jindal, MD, PhD
University of South Dakota School of Medicine
1400 West 22 Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105 (USA)
Tel. +1 605 201 6297, Fax +1 605 357 1370, E-Mail jindalr@msn.com

Article Information

Received: April 29, 2005
Accepted: July 22, 2005
Published online: August 26, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 67

Medline Abstract (ID 16127268)

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