Table 1
Characteristics of family members participating in a survey investigating factors associated with acceptance of post-mortem examination, Nairobi, Kenya (n = 83).
| Characteristics of respondents | Previously consented to post-mortem examination of deceased child | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (n = 83) | Yes (n = 62) | No (n = 21) | ||||||
| n | % | n | % | n | % | p value* | ||
| 1 | Age category | |||||||
| 20–30 | 27 | 32.5% | 22 | 35.5% | 5 | 23.8% | ||
| 31–40 | 42 | 50.6% | 32 | 51.6% | 10 | 47.6% | ||
| Over 40 | 14 | 16.9% | 8 | 12.9% | 6 | 28.6% | 0.22 | |
| 2 | Relationship to the deceased child | |||||||
| Mother | 27 | 32.5% | 21 | 33.9% | 6 | 28.6% | ||
| Father | 49 | 59.0% | 36 | 58.1% | 13 | 61.9% | ||
| Extended family | 7 | 8.4% | 5 | 8.1% | 2 | 9.5% | 0.93 | |
| 3 | Sex of parent/guardian | |||||||
| Male | 51 | 61.4% | 38 | 61.3% | 13 | 61.9% | ||
| Female | 32 | 38.6% | 24 | 38.7% | 8 | 38.1% | 0.96 | |
| 4 | Marital status of parent/guardian | |||||||
| Single | 22 | 26.5% | 16 | 25.8% | 6 | 28.6% | ||
| Married | 56 | 67.5% | 43 | 69.4% | 13 | 61.9% | ||
| Separated | 5 | 6.0% | 3 | 4.8% | 2 | 9.5% | 0.64 | |
| 5 | Religious affiliation of parent/guardian | |||||||
| No religion | 1 | 1.2% | 1 | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Christian | 81 | 97.6% | 60 | 96.8% | 21 | 100.0% | ||
| Muslim | 1 | 1.2% | 1 | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | N/A | |
| 6 | Highest level of education | |||||||
| Primary | 32 | 38.6% | 23 | 37.1% | 9 | 42.9% | ||
| Secondary | 33 | 39.8% | 21 | 33.9% | 12 | 57.1% | ||
| College/University | 18 | 21.7% | 18 | 29.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.01 | |
| 7 | Employment status | |||||||
| Employed – office work | 12 | 14.5% | 12 | 19.4% | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Employed – manual work | 20 | 24.1% | 14 | 22.6% | 6 | 28.6% | ||
| Self-employed | 23 | 27.7% | 18 | 29.0% | 5 | 23.8% | ||
| Casual | 15 | 18.1% | 11 | 17.7% | 4 | 19.0% | ||
| Unemployed | 7 | 8.4% | 2 | 3.2% | 5 | 23.8% | ||
| Homemaker | 5 | 6.0% | 5 | 8.1% | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Others | 1 | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 4.8% | 0.01 | |
| 8 | Were advised about the need for post-mortem by the doctor treating the child | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | |||
| 9 | Persons involved in making the decision regarding post-mortem examination of the deceased child# | |||||||
| Father | 61 | 73.5% | 47 | 75.8% | 14 | 66.7% | 0.50 | |
| Mother | 30 | 36.1% | 26 | 41.9% | 4 | 19.1% | 0.38 | |
| Grandmother | 6 | 7.2% | 1 | 1.6% | 5 | 23.8% | ||
| Grandfather | 7 | 8.4% | 4 | 6.5% | 3 | 14.3% | 0.73 | |
| Aunt | 2 | 2.4% | 2 | 3.2% | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Uncle | 1 | 1.2% | 1 | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Other | 8 | 9.6% | 6 | 9.7% | 2 | 9.5% | 0.9947 | |
[i] * Chi square test, Fischer exact test and test of proportion as appropriate; #Multiple responses permitted.
Table 2
Proportion of family members who answered “yes” in a survey investigating factors associated with post-mortem examination of their deceased children, Nairobi, Kenya (n = 83).
| Item | Number and proportion of respondents who answered yes to survey questions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total survey respondents (n = 83) | Survey respondents who previously consented to post-mortem examination (n = 62) | Survey respondents who previously did not consent to post-mortem examination (n = 21) | ||||||
| n | % | n | % | n | % | p value* | ||
| Knowledge of post-mortem examination | ||||||||
| 1 | Do you think post-mortem examination can help identify the actual cause of death? | 75 | 90.6% | 59 | 95.2% | 16 | 76.2% | 0.02 |
| 2 | Do you think post-mortem examination involves external examination of the dead body? | 32 | 38.6% | 23 | 37.1% | 9 | 42.9% | 0.76 |
| 3 | Do you think post-mortem examination involves internal examination of the dead body? | 76 | 91.6% | 57 | 91.9% | 19 | 90.5% | 0.84 |
| 4 | If death occurs before the patient arrives in a hospital, for example person died at home, do you think it is important to perform a post-mortem examination? | 70 | 84.3% | 56 | 90.3% | 14 | 66.7% | 0.02 |
| Patient’s rights regarding post-mortem examination | ||||||||
| 5 | Do you think relatives should request doctors to perform post-mortem examination? | 73 | 88.0% | 54 | 87.1% | 19 | 90.5% | 0.70 |
| 6 | Do you think doctors should encourage relatives to request post-mortem examination? | 68 | 81.9% | 53 | 85.5% | 15 | 71.4% | 0.21 |
| Attitudes and preferences regarding post-mortem examination | ||||||||
| 7 | Do you think performing a post-mortem examination is disrespectful to the deceased? | 14 | 16.9% | 6 | 9.7% | 8 | 38.1% | 0.23 |
| 8 | Do you think post-mortem examination should be part of the end-of-care services given to every person dying at the hospital? | 30 | 36.1% | 26 | 41.9% | 4 | 19.1% | 0.38 |
| 9 | Would you advise other parents (people) to accept/request for post-mortem examination in case their loved ones die? | 67 | 80.7% | 62 | 100.0% | 5 | 23.8% | <0.01 |
| 10 | There are minimally invasive techniques to obtain post-mortem specimens for laboratory investigations such as using needles to collect tissue samples. Though not very comprehensive, these techniques may be used instead of fully opening up the body to collect specimens. Would you prefer these minimally invasive techniques? | 33 | 39.8% | 16 | 25.8% | 17 | 81.0% | <0.01 |
[i] * Test of proportion.
Table 3
Reasons that family members accepted post-mortem examination of their deceased children in Nairobi, Kenya (n = 62).
| Reason | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| To know actual cause of death | 60 | 96.8% |
| Information from the post-mortem examination will help advance knowledge | 18 | 29.0% |
| To know if the cause of death was genetic | 3 | 4.8% |
| It was a legal requirement | 2 | 3.2% |
| To help prevent similar illness in deceased child’s siblings | 2 | 3.2% |
| To understand more about a genetic condition that the child had | 1 | 1.6% |
| To clear oneself of suspicion of contributing to the child’s death | 1 | 1.6% |
| Needed a detailed written report of the post-mortem examination findings | 1 | 1.6% |
| Post-mortem examination services were free | 1 | 1.6% |
| Suspicion of negligence from medical staff | 1 | 1.6% |
[i] Note: Multiple responses permitted.
Table 4
Reasons that bereaved family members declined post-mortem examination of their deceased children in Nairobi, Kenya (n = 21).
| Reason | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| The child had died; therefore there was no need for a post-mortem examination | 6 | 28.6% |
| Was satisfied with the clinical diagnosis | 5 | 23.8% |
| Post-mortem examination is forbidden in their culture or by their religion | 4 | 19.0% |
| Was afraid body parts would be removed | 3 | 14.3% |
| Was angry and disappointed by the care the child received at the hospital | 3 | 14.3% |
| Was concerned it would delay funeral arrangements | 2 | 9.5% |
| Chose to accept God’s will | 2 | 9.5% |
| Resistance from family members | 2 | 9.5% |
| Child was too young for a post-mortem examination | 1 | 4.8% |
| Too painful to talk about at the time | 1 | 4.8% |
| Don’t remember the reason | 1 | 4.8% |
[i] Note: Multiple responses permitted.