Yigzaw Kebede1, Gashaw Andargie2, Abebaw Gebeyehu3, Tadesse Awoke1, Mezgebu Yitayal2, Solomon Mekonnen4, Mamo Wubshet5, Temesgen Azmeraw6, Yihunie Lakew7, Kassahun Alemu8. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, PoBox, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. 2. Department of Health Service Management, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. 3. Department of Reproductive Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. 4. Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. 5. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. 6. Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. 7. Ethiopian Public Health Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 8. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, PoBox, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. alemukass@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reliable data on causes of death form the basis for building evidence on health policy, planning, monitoring, and evaluation. In Ethiopia, the majority of deaths occur at home and civil registration systems are not yet functional. The main objective of verbal autopsy (VA) is to describe the causes of death at the community or population level where civil registration and death certification systems are weak and where most people die at home without having had contact with the health system. METHODS: Causes of death were classified and prepared based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). The cause of a death was ascertained based on an interview with next of kin or other caregivers using a standardized questionnaire that draws information on signs, symptoms, medical history, and circumstances preceding death. The cause of death, or the sequence of causes that led to death, is assigned based on the data collected by the questionnaire. The complete VA questionnaires were given to two blinded physicians and reviewed independently. A third physician was assigned to review the case when disagreements in diagnosis arose. RESULTS: Communicable diseases (519 deaths [48.0%]), non-communicable diseases (377 deaths [34.8%]), and external causes (113 deaths [10.4%]) were the main causes of death between 2007 and 2013. Of communicable diseases, tuberculosis (207 deaths [19.7%]), HIV/AIDS (96 deaths [8.9%]) and meningitis (76 deaths [7.0%]) were the most common causes of death. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and meningitis were the most common causes of deaths among adults. Death due to non-communicable diseases showed an increasing trend. Increasing community awareness of infections and their interrelationships, tuberculosis case finding, effective local TB programs, successful treatment, and interventions for HIV are supremely important.
BACKGROUND: Reliable data on causes of death form the basis for building evidence on health policy, planning, monitoring, and evaluation. In Ethiopia, the majority of deaths occur at home and civil registration systems are not yet functional. The main objective of verbal autopsy (VA) is to describe the causes of death at the community or population level where civil registration and death certification systems are weak and where most people die at home without having had contact with the health system. METHODS: Causes of death were classified and prepared based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). The cause of a death was ascertained based on an interview with next of kin or other caregivers using a standardized questionnaire that draws information on signs, symptoms, medical history, and circumstances preceding death. The cause of death, or the sequence of causes that led to death, is assigned based on the data collected by the questionnaire. The complete VA questionnaires were given to two blinded physicians and reviewed independently. A third physician was assigned to review the case when disagreements in diagnosis arose. RESULTS: Communicable diseases (519 deaths [48.0%]), non-communicable diseases (377 deaths [34.8%]), and external causes (113 deaths [10.4%]) were the main causes of death between 2007 and 2013. Of communicable diseases, tuberculosis (207 deaths [19.7%]), HIV/AIDS (96 deaths [8.9%]) and meningitis (76 deaths [7.0%]) were the most common causes of death. CONCLUSION:Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and meningitis were the most common causes of deaths among adults. Death due to non-communicable diseases showed an increasing trend. Increasing community awareness of infections and their interrelationships, tuberculosis case finding, effective local TB programs, successful treatment, and interventions for HIV are supremely important.
Authors: George C Patton; Carolyn Coffey; Susan M Sawyer; Russell M Viner; Dagmar M Haller; Krishna Bose; Theo Vos; Jane Ferguson; Colin D Mathers Journal: Lancet Date: 2009-09-12 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Fiona M Gore; Paul J N Bloem; George C Patton; Jane Ferguson; Véronique Joseph; Carolyn Coffey; Susan M Sawyer; Colin D Mathers Journal: Lancet Date: 2011-06-07 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Russell M Viner; Carolyn Coffey; Colin Mathers; Paul Bloem; Anthony Costello; John Santelli; George C Patton Journal: Lancet Date: 2011-03-28 Impact factor: 79.321