Evaluating the Attitude of Nigerian Anatomists Towards Body Donations for Medical Education

The use of dissection in anatomy has long been considered a cornerstone in medical education irrespective of nation, racial background or medical school. Anatomy education in Nigeria is faced with the challenge of insufficient supply of cadavers. Body donation could be a possible solution to the inadequate supply of cadavers for medical education in Nigeria. Very little is known about body donation in Nigeria as well as the attitude of Nigerians towards body donation. In this study the attitude of Nigerian anatomists towards body donation was evaluated. Questionnaires were sent to anatomists in three universities in Nigeria covering three geographical zones in Nigeria. A total of fifty-eight (58) responses were obtained. The use of unclaimed bodies (58.6%) and the use of 3D models (46.6%) were the major solutions proposed for cadaver insufficiency. 85.5% of the participants thought that body donation campaigns could increase people’s willingness to donate their body for anatomical study. Only 47% of the participants were willing to campaign for body donation while 53% of the participants were not willing to campaign. Only a few of the participants (25%) were willing to donate their bodies for anatomical study. Their unwillingness was mainly due to religious reasons (26.5%), culture and tradition (12%) and also restrictions from family members (18%). Some even had reasons they would not disclose (28.5%). They could recommend body donation to others but will not recommend it to their relatives.