Challenges facing the growth of kidney transplantation programs in Nigeria: Perceptions and knowledge of the nephrologists and other health-care providers

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the perception and knowledge of health-care providers to the challenges of sustaining the growth of kidney transplantation programs in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: We conducted a survey of 166 health-care providers. A pretested questionnaire was administered on all participants. Information obtained were demographics, characteristics of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and prospective kidney donors encountered and perception of the barriers to the growth of kidney transplantation program. Results: The respondents returned 134 questionnaires out of 166 (response rate: 80.7%) and only 121 with complete responses were included in the analysis. The mean age was 42.5 ± 0.8 years and 47.9% were females. A quarter of the health-care providers encountered ESRD patients who were more likely to refuse kidney transplantation and 34.1% reported that most of the prospective kidney donors were unwilling to donate. Most of the health-care professionals (71.1%) preferred centers outside Nigeria for their patient's kidney transplantation, while three leading barriers to the growth of kidney transplantation program reported were lack of patients' trust (58.8%), failure of interprogram collaborations (55.0%), and absent of governmental supports (48.1%). Conclusions: The health-care professionals reported that more than a third of ESRD patients were not likely to accept kidney transplantation and an equal proportion of prospective donors will not agree to kidney donation. Majority of the health-care professionals preferred centers outside Nigeria for patients' kidney transplantation.