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.
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.
Authors: Janneke A Cox; Robert L Lukande; Ann M Nelson; Harriet Mayanja-Kizza; Robert Colebunders; Eric Van Marck; Yukari C Manabe Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-03-14 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Aaron S Karat; Tanvier Omar; Anne von Gottberg; Mpho Tlali; Violet N Chihota; Gavin J Churchyard; Katherine L Fielding; Suzanne Johnson; Neil A Martinson; Kerrigan McCarthy; Nicole Wolter; Emily B Wong; Salome Charalambous; Alison D Grant Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-11-09 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Lauren S Blum; Francis P Karia; Elizabeth F Msoka; Martha Oshosen Mwanga; John A Crump; Matthew P Rubach Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2020-10 Impact factor: 3.707