Autopsy acceptance rate and reasons for decline in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

作者：Cox Janneke A; Lukande Robert L; Kateregga Alice; Mayanja Kizza Harriet; Manabe Yukari C; Colebunders Robert^*

来源：Tropical Medicine and International Health, 2011, 16(8): 1015-1018.

DOI：10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02798.x

• autopsy
• post-mortem
• acceptance
• sub-Saharan Africa
• Uganda

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.

• 出版日期2011-8