Premium
Taux d’acceptation de l’autopsie et raisons du refus à l’hôpital de Mulago, Kampala, Ouganda
Author(s) -
Cox Janneke A.,
Lukande Robert L.,
Kateregga Alice,
MayanjaKizza Harriet,
Manabe Yukari C.,
Colebunders Robert
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02798.x
Subject(s) - autopsy , medicine , next of kin , verbal autopsy , cause of death , family medicine , pediatrics , pathology , law , disease , political science
Summary Objective To determine the autopsy acceptance rate and reasons for decline at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Methods The next of kin of patients who died in a combined infectious diseases and gastro‐enterology ward of Mulago Hospital were approached to answer a questionnaire concerning characteristics of their deceased relative. During the interview their consent was asked to perform a complete autopsy. If autopsy was declined, the next of kin were asked to provide their reason for the decline. Results Permission to perform an autopsy was requested in 158 (54%) of the 290 deaths that occurred during the study period. In 60 (38%) cases autopsy was accepted. Fifty‐nine autopsies were performed. For 82% of refusals a reason was listed; mainly ‘not wanting to delay the burial’ (58%), ‘no use to know the cause of death’ (16%) and ‘being satisfied with the clinical cause of death’ (10%). Conclusion The autopsy rate achieved under study conditions was 38% compared to rates of 5% in Mulago Hospital over the past decade. Timely request and rapid performance of autopsies appear to be important determinants of autopsy acceptance. A motivated team of pathologists and clinicians is required to increase autopsy acceptance.