Article

Community acceptability of minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) in children under five years of age in Soweto, South Africa

Published in: Anthropology Southern Africa
Volume 40 , issue 2 , 2017 , pages: 108–121

DOI: 10.1080/23323256.2017.1348237

Author(s): Nonhlanhla Ngwenya Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, South Africa , David Coplan Department of Anthropology, South Africa , Susan Nzenze Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, South Africa , Nellie Myburgh Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, South Africa , Shabir Madhi Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, South Africa

Keywords: autopsy , children , death , mortuary customs , public health , Soweto

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Abstract

This interdisciplinary study, using qualitative and ethnographic research methods, collected data from 330 men and women in Soweto, South Africa, in order to understand the community acceptability of minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) in children who died under five years of age. The study found that the acceptability of MIAs depended on people’s socio-cultural belief systems regarding death and afterlife; on power and gender dynamics within households; and on structural issues relating to the health care system and mortuary services.

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