Background: Over one third of deaths in Zambian health facilities involve someone who has already died before arrival (i.e., Brough in Dead), and in most BiD cases, the CoD have not been fully analyzed. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the function of automated VA based on the Tariff Method 2.0 to identify the CoD among the BiD cases and the usefulness by comparing the data on the death notification form. Methods: The target site was one third-level hospital in the Republic of Zambia's capital city. All BiD cases who reached the target health facility from January to August 2017 were included. The deceased's closest relatives were interviewed using a structured VA questionnaire and the data were analyzed using the SmartVA to determine the CoD at the individual and population level. The CoD were compared with description on the death notification forms by using t-test and Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: One thousand three hundred seventy-eight and 209 cases were included for persons aged 13 years and older (Adult) and those aged 1 month to 13 years old (Child), respectively. The top CoD for Adults were infectious diseases followed by non-communicable diseases and that for Child were infectious diseases, followed by accidents. The proportion of cases with a determined CoD was significantly higher when using the SmartVA (75% for Adult and 67% for Child) than the death notification form (61%). A proportion (42.7% for Adult and 46% for Child) of the CoD-determined cases matched in both sources, with a low concordance rate for Adult (kappa coefficient = 0.1385) and a good for Child(kappa coefficient = 0.635).
Background: Over one third of deaths in Zambian health facilities involve someone who has already died before arrival (i.e., Brough in Dead), and in most BiD cases, the CoD have not been fully analyzed. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the function of automated VA based on the Tariff Method 2.0 to identify the CoD among the BiD cases and the usefulness by comparing the data on the death notification form. Methods: The target site was one third-level hospital in the Republic of Zambia’s capital city. All BiD cases who reached the target health facility from January to August 2017 were included. The deceased’s closest relatives were interviewed using a structured VA questionnaire and the data were analyzed using the SmartVA to determine the CoD at the individual and population level. The CoD were compared with description on the death notification forms by using t-test and Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Results: 1378 and 209 cases were included for persons aged 13 years and older (Adult) and those aged 1 month to 13 years old (Child), respectively. The top CoD for Adults were infectious diseases followed by non-communicable diseases and that for Child were infectious diseases, followed by accidents. The proportion of cases with a determined CoD was significantly higher when using the SmartVA (75% for Adult and 67% for Child) than the death notification form (61%). A proportion (42.7% for Adult and 46% for Child) of the CoD-determined cases matched in both sources, with a low concordance rate for Adult (kappa coefficient = 0.1385) and a good for Child(kappa coefficient = 0.635). Conclusions: The CoD of the BiD cases were successfully analyzed using the SmartVA for the first time in Zambia. While there many erroneous descriptions on the death notification form, the SmartVA could determine the CoD among more BiD cases. Since the information on the death notification form is reflected in the national vital statistics, more accurate and complete CoD data are required. In order to strengthen the death registration system with accurate CoD, it will be useful to embed the SmartVA in Zambia’s health information system.
Background Over one third of deaths in Zambian health facilities involve someone who has already died before arrival (i.e., brought in dead [BiD]), and in most BiD cases, the causes of death (CoD) have not been fully analyzed. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the CoD of BiD cases using the Tariff Method 2.0 for automated verbal autopsy (VA), which is called SmartVA.Methods The target site was one third-level hospital in the Republic of Zambia’s capital city. All BiD cases aged 13 years and older at this facility from January to August 2017 were included. The deceased’s closest relatives were interviewed using a structured VA questionnaire (Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Shortened Questionnaire) and the data were analyzed using the SmartVA to determine the CoD at the individual and population level. The CoDs were compared with description on the death notification forms by using t-test and Cohen’s kappa coefficient.Results Approximately 1500 cases were included (average age = 47.2 years, 61.8% males). The top CoD were infectious diseases, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, and malaria, followed by non-communicable diseases, such as stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus (DM). The comparison with the CoD distribution among hospital deaths showed that the trends were similar except for DM, which was greater among hospital deaths, and malaria and accident, which were less frequent in the main CoD. The proportion of cases with a determined CoD was significantly higher when using the SmartVA (75%) than the death notification form (61%). A proportion (42.7%) of the CoD-determined cases matched in both sources, with a low concordance rate (kappa coefficient = 0.1385).Conclusions The CoD of the BiD cases were successfully analyzed using the SmartVA for the first time in Zambia. While there many erroneous descriptions on the death notification form, the SmartVA could determine the CoD among more BiD cases. Since the information on the death notification form is reflected in the national vital statistics, more accurate and complete CoD data are required. In order to strengthen the death registration system with accurate CoD, it will be useful to embed the SmartVA in Zambia’s health information system.
Background Over one third of deaths in Zambian health facilities involve someone who has already died before arrival (i.e., brought in dead [BiD]), and in most BiD cases, the causes of death (CoD) have not been fully analyzed. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the CoD of BiD cases using the Tariff Method 2.0 for automated verbal autopsy (VA), which is called SmartVA.Methods The target site was one third-level hospital in the Republic of Zambia’s capital city. All BiD cases aged 13 years and older at this facility from January to August 2017 were included. The deceased’s closest relatives were interviewed using a structured VA questionnaire (Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Shortened Questionnaire) and the data were analyzed using the SmartVA to determine the CoD at the individual and population level. The CoDs were compared with description on the death notification forms by using t-test and Cohen’s kappa coefficient.Results Approximately 1500 cases were included (average age = 47.2 years, 61.8% males). The top CoD were infectious diseases, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, and malaria, followed by non-communicable diseases, such as stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus (DM). The comparison with the CoD distribution among hospital deaths showed that the trends were similar except for DM, which was greater among hospital deaths, and malaria and accident, which were less frequent in the main CoD. The proportion of cases with a determined CoD was significantly higher when using the SmartVA (75%) than the death notification form (61%). A proportion (42.7%) of the CoD-determined cases matched in both sources, with a low concordance rate (kappa coefficient = 0.1385).Conclusions The CoD of the BiD cases were successfully analyzed using the SmartVA for the first time in Zambia. While there many erroneous descriptions on the death notification form, the SmartVA could determine the CoD among more BiD cases. Since the information on the death notification form is reflected in the national vital statistics, more accurate and complete CoD data are required. In order to strengthen the death registration system with accurate CoD, it will be useful to embed the SmartVA in Zambia’s health information system.
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