Perception of Autopsy among Selected Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone- A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Autopsy is a specialized surgical procedure that thoroughly examines a dead body to determine the cause and manner of death and assess any pre-existing conditions. Studies show its practice has significantly declined in recent years. In Sierra Leone, some deaths are attributed to traditional and religious beliefs due to the lack of scientific explanations. Even within the medical community, many deaths remain undiagnosed despite advanced diagnostic tools like CT scans and MRIs. Clinicians often overlook autopsy as a tool for solving such mysteries. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of autopsy among doctors and nurses at a tertiary hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study design enrolled 215 doctors and nurses using probability proportionate to size, followed by random sampling. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire, and SPSS Version 26.0 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: The mean age of participants was 32.8 ±7.42 years. Nurses accounted for 73.5% of the study participants. 48.4% and 38.1% of the participants had fair and good knowledge regarding autopsy respectively, and 81.9% displayed a positive attitude. However, only 53.5% had a positive perception, with doctors showing a higher proportion. Only 36.7% were open to organ donation, and most (71.6%) were unaware of policies guiding autopsy practice at the study site. Profession did not predict participant's knowledge (p-value > 0.05); but it significantly predicted their perception, with doctors 4.62 times more likely to have a positive perception (AOR= 4.62, p value< 0.001). The T-test analysis showed that doctors showed higher knowledge and perception than nurses.

Conclusion: Although many participants had fair to good knowledge and a positive attitude, more awareness is still needed about the medical benefits of autopsy.