title: Deciding on cadaveric organ donation in Black African families.
abstract: This study explores factors that have affected the decision of Black African families to donate cadaveric organs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten families living in greater Cape Town, South Africa. Addresses were obtained from records of the transplant co-ordinators at Groote Schuur Hospital. The data were analysed according to broad themes emerging from the interviews. The most important themes were the influence of violent, criminal deaths; the need for a longer period of consultation among family members: belief in the integrity of the ancestor's body; lack of understanding of brain death; and experiences of grief and loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa. kometsi@psipsy.uct.ac.za
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kometsi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Louw
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*