Why do African Americans need organ donation more than other races?
• African Americans are at high risk for many illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease that can lead to the need for an organ transplant.
• Specifically, African Americans suffer from kidney failure more than other races, and need dialysis (a kidney machine) and transplant much more often.
• About 35% of patients awaiting kidney transplants in the U.S. are African American, but only 12% of the U.S. population is African American.
• The need is equally as great in southeastern Wisconsin, where 40% of patients awaiting kidney transplants are African American.
   
These statistics and others relating to minorities and donation can be found at:
United Network for Organ Sharing:
www.unos.org
www.organdonor.gov
www.dhfs.wisconsin.gov
   
Why don’t African Americans donate organs as often as other races?
• Fear of hospitals letting African Americans die if there is a donor card.
• Not knowing how much the donation will help African Americans locally.
• Religious concerns about “getting to heaven without my organs”
• Not being approached by African Americans who understand these concerns.
   
*This information was found by a survey taken of African Americans within southeastern Wisconsin.