What Is the Attitude Toward Cadaveric Organ Donation of the Ghanian Residents in Spain?

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2019-03, Vol.51 (2), p.273-276
• Main Authors: Ríos, A., Carrillo, J., López-Navas, A.I., Ayala-García, M.A., Sánchez, Á., Hernández, A.M., Ramírez, P., Parrilla, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Cadaver; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Female; Ghana; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice - ethnology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Organ Transplantation - psychology; Religion; Spain; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tissue and Organ Procurement
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2018.10.009

The Ghanaian population is migrating toward the European economic community, especially toward the southern countries. To analyze the attitude toward organ donation among the population born in Ghana but currently residing in Spain. The study included the population born in Ghana who are ≥ 15 years of age and residents of Spain, stratified by age and sex. The assessment instrument used is the donation and transplant attitude questionnaire of Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante (PCID-DTO Ríos), which was self-administered and anonymously completed with verbal consent. The statistics used were descriptive, χ2, Student t test, and a logistic regression analysis. The questionnaire was completed by 237 Ghanaians. Forty-three percent (n = 102) are in favor of cadaveric organ donation, 35% (n = 83) are against donating their own organs, and 20% (n = 48) are undecided. In the multivariate analysis, the association was maintained at the level of the primary studies (P < .001, OR = 25), not being afraid of possible mutilation after donating (P < .001, OR = 76.923), religion (P < .001; OR = 27.777), performing prosocial activities (P = .016, OR = 12.048), and having previously commented on the issue of organ donation and transplantation in the family setting (P = .012, OR = 4.878). The Ghanaian immigrant population in Spain has an unfavorable attitude toward the donation of their own organs at death, which is conditioned by multiple psychosocial factors. •The Ghanaian immigrant population in Spain has an unfavorable attitude toward donation of their own organs at death.•Multiple psychosocial factors are associated with the unfavorable attitude toward donation, such as level of primary studies, religion, performing prosocial activities, and having previously commented on the issue of organ donation and transplantation in the family setting.•Catholics are more in favor of organ donation when compared with Muslims and atheist-agnostics, respectively.•The factors associated with this unfavorable attitude toward organ donation and transplantation are similar to those described in studies conducted in the Western population.•In Africa, there are few studies about the knowledge and the attitudes of the population toward organ donation and transplantation. In Ghana, there is no study in this regard.