New Method to Estimate Mortality in Crisis Settings
Author Information
Author(s): Roberts Bayard, Morgan Oliver W., Sultani Mohammed Ghaus, Nyasulu Peter, Rwebangila Sunday, Sondorp Egbert, Chandramohan Daniel, Checchi Francesco
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
The study aims to assess the economic feasibility of the informant method for estimating mortality in crisis-affected and resource-poor settings.
Conclusion
The informant method requires fewer resources and incurs less respondent burden, making it a feasible alternative for mortality estimation.
Supporting Evidence
- The informant method was estimated to require 29% less time and 33% less money than retrospective surveys with a 6 month recall.
- Verbal autopsy questionnaires constituted only 4% of total person-time for the informant method's implementation.
- Household response rates were nearly 100% across all study sites.
Takeaway
This study found a new way to count deaths in places where it's hard to get information, and it takes less time and money than older methods.
Methodology
The informant method captures deaths through an exhaustive search using community informants and next-of-kin over a defined recall period.
Potential Biases
The method's reliance on key informants may introduce bias due to social hierarchies affecting participation.
Limitations
The study could not test the method in acute humanitarian crises and relied on estimations for comparisons with retrospective surveys.
Participant Demographics
The study was conducted in diverse settings including urban and rural communities in Afghanistan, Thailand, Malawi, and Tanzania.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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