Román Collazo Carlos, Chacha Guerrero Karen, Loja Mejia Tatiana, Andrade Campoverde Diego, Hernández Rodriguez Yenima
Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Faculty of Clinical Psychology, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Feb 18;9:801891. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.801891. eCollection 2021.
The acceptance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by the civilian population in Ecuador is a controversial issue, where beliefs and practices are determinant. In Ecuador, the use of GMOs for research or productive purposes has been banned since 2008; however, the current position of the population toward this technology is unknown. The aim of the study was to explain the attitude toward GMOs in the Ecuadorian university population based on sociodemographic variables, knowledge, beliefs, practices, and bioethical approach. A validated survey was applied to 719 students and teachers of the Catholic University of Cuenca through Google Forms. The collected data were processed using SPSS 23.0 software. Multivariate and linear regression analyses were used to explain the attitude toward GMOs based on the variables studied. Partial approval of GMO use is research-oriented, with a rejection toward food. The linear regression model explained 65% of the variance of attitude toward GMOs from the beliefs, practices, knowledge, and bioethical approach variables. The sociodemographic variables were completely excluded from the model due to the absence of statistical significance. The incipient acceptance of GMOs in the academic sector corroborates a transformation in the thinking of Ecuadorian civil society. Considerations on the use of GMOs are supported by a bioethical approach that leans toward a pragmatic utilitarianism based on the immediate or mediate benefits of the technology.
厄瓜多尔民众对转基因生物（GMOs）的接受情况是一个颇具争议的问题，其中信仰和行为起着决定性作用。在厄瓜多尔，自2008年起就禁止将转基因生物用于研究或生产目的；然而，目前民众对这项技术的态度尚不清楚。本研究的目的是基于社会人口统计学变量、知识、信仰、行为以及生物伦理方法，解释厄瓜多尔大学人群对转基因生物的态度。通过谷歌表单，对昆卡天主教大学的719名学生和教师进行了一项经过验证的调查。使用SPSS 23.0软件对收集到的数据进行处理。采用多元线性回归分析，根据所研究的变量解释对转基因生物的态度。对转基因生物使用的部分认可主要是基于研究目的，而对用于食品则持拒绝态度。线性回归模型从信仰、行为、知识和生物伦理方法变量中解释了对转基因生物态度差异的65%。由于缺乏统计学意义，社会人口统计学变量被完全排除在模型之外。学术领域对转基因生物的初步接受证实了厄瓜多尔民间社会思维的转变。对转基因生物使用的考量得到了一种生物伦理方法的支持，这种方法倾向于基于该技术的直接或间接利益的实用功利主义。
