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

INTRODUCTION

The Ghanaian population is migrating toward the European economic community, especially toward the southern countries.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the attitude toward organ donation among the population born in Ghana but currently residing in Spain.

METHOD

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, χ, Student t test, and a logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSIONS

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.