Verbal Autopsy Completion Rates in Rural Tanzania
Author Information
Author(s): Mwanyangala Mathew A, Urassa Honorathy M, Rutashobya Jensen C, Mahutanga Chrisostom C, Lutambi Angelina M, Maliti Deodatus V, Masanja Honorati M, Abdulla Salim K, Lema Rose N
Primary Institution: Ifakara Health Institute
Hypothesis
What are the completion rates of verbal autopsy and the factors associated with undetermined causes of death in rural Tanzania?
Conclusion
The study found high completion rates for verbal autopsies, but many deaths were still classified as undetermined due to issues in the final stages of processing.
Supporting Evidence
- The completion rate of verbal autopsies ranged from 83% in 2002 to 89% in 2007.
- 94% of deaths submitted to physicians were assigned a specific cause.
- 31% of causes were coded as undetermined, particularly for deaths outside health facilities.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well verbal autopsies work in figuring out why people died in rural Tanzania, and found that while many interviews were done, some deaths still didn't get a clear cause.
Methodology
The study used a database of deaths from the Ifakara Health and Demographic Surveillance System and logistic regression to analyze completion rates and factors associated with undetermined causes of death.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in cause of death assignment due to the use of local physicians for review.
Limitations
The study did not quantify reasons for refusal to participate in verbal autopsies or the impact of outmigration of caretakers.
Participant Demographics
50% of the deceased were male, with a mean age at death of 31 years; 68% of respondents had completed primary education.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.016
Confidence Interval
(1.05, 1.67)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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