Taking The Body Home: Impact of Ebola on Family Caregivers
Background: Many cultures take their deceased loved ones to countries, states or cities of origin for burial after death of that loved one. United States of America returns the body of deceased soldiers that die in foreign countries. Many African countries have the value and expectation and death practices to return the remains to the home land for proper burial.
Methods: This mixed methods study examined the effects of transporting the deceased to their countries. Individual interviews were done with 40 participants.
Results: Many Nigerian-born participants expressed the value, belief and expectations of taking the body of their loved ones home for burial. American born participants also shared the same belief. Several costs associated with this practice include extended mortuary costs, costs of airline tickets, extensive immigration process for permits to fly the body etc. However, family caregivers believe that this practice helps the deceased’s spirit rest in peace, assure families that they have performed the final rites of respect to their loved one and provide opportunities for others to participate in providing final rite. Nigeria, one of the initial countries to be hit with Ebola has banned the practice of transporting deceased bodies into the country. This is creating severe theoretical moral and spiritual challenges for the people who belief in this practice.
Implications: In the wake of the Ebola Virus global apprehension, and to curtail the spread, the ban from transporting the deceased bodies is causing undue emotional financial and physical strain on the community. Nurses must assist families to deal with the emotional trauma of not being able to bury their loved ones according to their beliefs and practices.