Human organ stealing in sub-Saharan Africa: Analysis of media representations

Human organ trafficking is a grave violation of human rights and medical ethics. The intricacies of illicit human organ trade and their socio-economic drivers in Africa are understudied due to the very little empirical information on the extent of this crime. Against this backdrop, this article examines media insights into human organ trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa with reflection on Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique. A critical textual analysis of mass media reportage is undertaken to measure public opinion on the subject matter. Thus, based on the content analysis of media documentation, official records and the extant literature, it concludes that human organ stealing is a multifaceted issue rooted in socio-economic disparity and the ethical crisis in the medical cultures of sub-Saharan Africa.