Women’s perceptions of placenta donation for research purposes: a cross-sectional study from the MENA region

BACKGROUND : The placenta is a rich source of stem cells that can be used in scientific research and therapeutic applications. The aim of the current study was to understand the perspectives of Jordanian women on placenta donation for research purposes. METHODS: The study questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and distributed across social media platforms. A total of 923 women participated in the study. RESULTS: About 64.0% of women were unaware that placenta could be donated for research. Only 27.0% expressed a positive attitude toward donation, while approximately 23.2% considered placenta donation ethically acceptable. Factors associated with the management of placenta after pregnancy included the woman’s age, education level, living in a city, and pregnancy status (p < 0.05). Reasons associated with the decline in placenta donation for research included misuse of the placenta (65.6%), potential commercial use (86.5%), desire to keep it in a cell bank (52.2%), and data privacy issues (70.0%). CONCLUSION: Awareness of placenta donation for medical research was found to be low. A small percentage of women supported the placenta use in research. The study recommends interventions and educational programs to enhance women’s awareness of placenta donation in scientific research, which can be implemented by health authorities. Moreover, fostering partnerships between the public and scientists is essential to encouraging innovation and progress in stem cell research.