Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

85% of under-five deaths occur in Africa and South Asia, where causes of deaths are often misreported. The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network seeks to improve cause of death (CoD) determination and reporting through the use of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS). To describe feasibility of MITS in Bangladesh and Sierra Leone, religious beliefs and practices about death and burial must be explored in each context. This study aimed to: identify beliefs about causes of child death; document the enactment of religious beliefs surrounding death and burial; and determine how religious beliefs and practices influence acceptability and feasibility of MITS. CHAMPS conducted formative research in Bangladesh and Sierra Leone with community leaders and members before implementing MITS. Secondary thematic analysis was performed on 8 interviews in Bangladesh and 10 interviews and 4 focus groups in Sierra Leone. Emergent themes were analyzed in light of CHAMPS’ feasibility framework. Analysis revealed that religion influences beliefs about CoD, practices related to burial, and desires to learn CoD. Participants in both countries hold spiritual and non-spiritual beliefs about CoD, the most prominent belief that death is “the will of God.” Using Shariah as justification for rituals differed between the two contexts, as well as perceived acceptability of MITS. Desire to learn CoD depends on beliefs about CoD and desire to prevent future deaths. Timing of MITS is the most notable consideration in both countries due to fear of interference with important burial rituals.