Attitude and practice of health care providers towards autopsies in children under five years at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Background: Attitude and practice of health care professionals toward autopsy are important as they will give information regarding factors that contribute to the low rate of autopsies in children under five years.

Objective: To evaluate the attitude and practice of health care providers towards autopsies in children under five years.

Design: Cross-sectional hospital based descriptive survey.

Setting: General paediatrics wards and newborn unit at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

Subjects: Health care providers working at the Kenyatta National Hospital paediatric wards and newborn unit.

Results: The study enrolled 95 health care providers. Majority (69.5%) of health care providers showed a positive attitude towards autopsy. Consultants and paeadiatric residents had a more positive attitude compared to interns (p< 0.001) and nurses (p=O.Oll). Clinical experience of> 15 years was associated with a more positive attitude. The main barriers to obtaining consent were lack of formal training in obtaining consent and failure of autopsy results to be availed in a timely manner.

Conclusions: Health care providers had a positive attitude to autopsy which was significantly associated with their cadre and years of experience. The main reasons given for not obtaining consent for autopsy were lack of formal training in obtaining consent and failure to obtain autopsy results in timely manner.