Sociocultural Perspective on Organ and Tissue Donation among Reservation-Dwelling American Indian Adults

Abstract

Sociocultural factors relevant to the personal and environmental context of the social ecological model influenced beliefs about organ and tissue donation among the Lakota people in this study. Outreach programs aimed at increasing donation need to respect traditional beliefs yet present the choice about organ and tissue donation within the cultural context. Telling the stories of community members affected by both diabetes and donation is important. Promoting family conversation is critical. Healthcare systems must approach potential donor families with an understanding of traditional beliefs and respect for the process of family communication about organ and tissue donation.

Effects of Ethnicity on Deceased Organ Donation in a Minority-Majority State*

“…In a qualitative study involving Lakota Sioux participants living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the following strategies were identified to address barriers to donation: 1) develop outreach programs respecting traditional beliefs while presenting organ and tissue donation within a cultural context, 2) communicate personal experiences of community members affected by both diabetes and donation, and 3) adequately prepare healthcare personnel with respect for traditional beliefs before approaching potential donor families (8). This study was subsequently followed with an intervention developed to address the barriers identified (16).…”

“…However, due to reasons that require further investigation, the rate of consent for deceased organ donation is lower than the rate for other races nationally. Previous interviews with Lakota Sioux tribe members in South Dakota regarding deceased organ donation identified several recurring themes (8). Participants were aware of the need for organs due to the rising rates of diabetes, but were generally unaware of the organ donation process and expressed mistrust in the local health care systems.…”

Student and community perceptions about organ donors, non‐donors and transplant recipients

“…Much organ donation research (e.g. Fahrenwald & Stabnow, 2005;Molzahn, Starzomski, McDonald, & O'Loughlin, 2005) has highlighted the importance of culture in beliefs and attitudes about organ donation. As such, although not feasible in the current study, future research in an Australian context should explore the beliefs and perceptions related to living and posthumous organ donation of Indigenous Australians.…”

Do the myths still exist? Revisiting people’s negative beliefs about organ donation upon death

“…This mistrust extends to beliefs about inequities in the organ allocation process such as wealthy or famous people being more likely to receive a transplant (Haustein & Sellers, 2004;Morgan et al, 2008) and organs being given to undesirable recipients who are considered to be responsible for their own illness (Haustein & Sellers, 2004;Hyde & White, 2009;Morgan et al, 2008;Skowronski, 1997). Although most Western religions support organ donation, needing an intact body for the afterlife and uncertainty about whether a religion permits donation have often been cited as reasons preventing donation (Arriola et al, 2005;Fahrenwald & Stabnow, 2005;Frates, Bohrer, & Thomas, 2006;Kececioglu et al, 2000;Lam & McCullough, 2000). Negative perceptions about organ donation have also been attributed to feelings of discomfort about one's mortality (Alvaro, Jones, Robles, & Siegel, 2005;Radecki & Jaccard, 1997;Yeung et al, 2000), fear of not really being dead when organs are procured (Hessing & Elffers, 1986-87;Kececioglu et al, 2000;Morgan et al, 2008), talking about death as bad luck or a jinx (Frates et al, 2006;Morgan et al, 2008), concerns about disfigurement or mutilation (e.g.…”

“…Although most Western religions support organ donation, needing an intact body for the afterlife and uncertainty about whether a religion permits donation have often been cited as reasons preventing donation (Arriola et al, 2005;Fahrenwald & Stabnow, 2005;Frates, Bohrer, & Thomas, 2006;Kececioglu et al, 2000;Lam & McCullough, 2000). Negative perceptions about organ donation have also been attributed to feelings of discomfort about one's mortality (Alvaro, Jones, Robles, & Siegel, 2005;Radecki & Jaccard, 1997;Yeung et al, 2000), fear of not really being dead when organs are procured (Hessing & Elffers, 1986-87;Kececioglu et al, 2000;Morgan et al, 2008), talking about death as bad luck or a jinx (Frates et al, 2006;Morgan et al, 2008), concerns about disfigurement or mutilation (e.g. being ''cut up'') (Sanner, 1994;Sque, Payne, & Clark, 2006), and organ donation as ''gross ''or ''disgusting'' (Morgan et al, 2008;Sanner, 2001).…”