Organ donation and transplantation within the Zulu culture

Abstract

OpsommingGreater knowledge and technological advancement in the field of transplantation has increased the demand for organ donation beyond the supply of organs, espe cially among the black communities. This imbalance arises from the few sources of organs, limitations on the techniques of organ retrieval, disparities in the alloca tion of organs and socio-cultural factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which Zulu cultural norms and social structures influ ence an individual's decision to donate an organ or to undergo transplantation. A qualitative approach using an ethno-nursing method was selected. Sem i-structured interview s were con ducted with a transplant co-ordinator representing the professional sector, with traditional healers and religious leaders representing the folk sector, and with the gen eral public representing the popular sector of the health care system. Both urban and rural settings were used. Conclusions arrived at showed that knowledge was lack ing among Zulu speaking people about organ donation and transplantation and misconceptions about the topic were related to Zulu life patterns, beliefs about death, burial and life hereafter, and values and social struc tures. Recommendations with regard to the promotion o f organ donation and transplantation am ong Zulu speaking people were made based on culture-sensitive and culture-congruent principles.Toename in kennis en tegnologiese vordering op die terrein van orgaanoorplanting het aanleiding tot ? toename in aanvraag na organe tot gevolg gehad. Die aanbod van organe bevredig egter nie die aanvraag nie in die, swart gemeenskap nie. Navorsing skryf hierdie wanbalans toe aan ? beperkte bron van organe, tegnieke van orgaanherwinning, wanpraktyke met betiekking tot die toekenning van organe en sosiokulturele faktore toe.Die doel met hierdie studie was om die mate waartoe die Zoeloesprekende bevolking se kulturele norme en sosiaal -gestruktureerde dim ensies, die individu se besluit om 'n orgaan te skenk en oo rp lan tin g te ondergaan bëinvloed. 'n K w alititiew e benadering geskoei op die etno-verpleegingsmetode was gebruik. Semi-gestrukturende onderhoude is met onder andere die volgende gevoer: 'n O orplantingskoordineerder (professionele sektor), godsdienstige leiers, tradisionele geneesers ("folk" sector) en die algem ene publiek.Respondente is uit sowel landelike as stedelike gebiede betrek. Die gevolgtrekkings wat uit hierdie studie voortspruit, dui daarop dat daar oor die algemeen 'n gebrek aan k ennis is rak en d e o rg an sk en k in g en orgaanoorplanting. Dit is hoofsaaklik te danke aan wanopwattings/geloofsoortuigings rakende die dood, lewe na die dood, eiesoortige waardesteltsels en sosiaalgestruktureerde dim ensies. Die aanbevelings met betrekking tot die aanmoediging van orgaanskenking en orplantings onder Zoeloesprekende persone is op kultuursensitiew e en kultuur ongruente beginsels geskoei.

Making the Ethical Transition in South Africa: Acquiring Human Bodies for Training in Anatomy

“…The present study demonstrated that as the number of bequests and donors increased, a reversal of the demographics of the cadavers occurred. As with organ donation, the reason for low numbers of bequeathed/donated cadavers from the SAA population may be due to religious and cultural beliefs (Kometsi and Louw, ; Bhengu and Uys, ). Similar reasons have been provided in Nigeria where religion, culture, ignorance and “love after death” prevent donations (EwonuBari et al, ).…”

How does the general public view posthumous organ donation? A meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature

“…A striking finding that emerged from this analytical approach was the identification of thematically similar beliefs across culturally diverse study samples. The notion that organ donation interferes with funeral or burial rituals, for example, was identified in samples of: ethnic Asians living in Canada [29,30], the United Kingdom [14,24,35], and the United States of America [18]; the indigenous peoples of Canada [28] and the United States of America [22]; Zulu-speaking adults living in South Africa [17]; and individuals drawn from the general American [32], Australian [27], and Swedish [36] populations. These findings attest to the ubiquitous nature of many beliefs about organ donation and suggest that public health campaigns developed in one cultural context may also have relevance in other contexts.…”

Understanding African American’s Religious Beliefs and Organ Donation Intentions

“…Some of these concerns among African Americans include bodily integrity, the uncertainty of impeding resurrection of the body, and the lack of clarity about how death is determined (Gillman, 1999; Radecki & Jaccard, 1997). Because of these uncertainties and lack of information, people may defer to what they perceive as the stance of their religion and reject the idea of organ donation (Benghu & Uys, 2004). However, Christianity and many faiths not only support donation but also have supportive policy statements about it (Gallagher, 1998 ; Oliver, Woywodt, Ahmed, & Saif, 2010).…”