Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Precise data on cause of death is essential in development and evaluation of health policy. Verbal autopsy (VA) was introduced to reduce the indistinct mortality causes and to improve medically certified deaths. The objective of this study is to review the performance and challenges faced in Penang since the implementation of VA. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilised Death Data outside Medical Facilities in Penang from August 2017 to July 2018. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained medical staffs to the next of kin of the deceased using Validated WHO VA Questionnaire (with sensitivity 50-75%). Completed questionnaires were reviewed by trained Doctors who assigned the most likely underlying cause of death. RESULTS: There were 4,178 cases allocated for VA in Penang. Successfully interviewed cases were 1,530 (36.63%) while 2,610 cases (62.47%) were unsuccessful due to various reasons namely wrong or incomplete address (11.51%), next of kin not traceable (43.71%) and 303 cases refused for interview (noted 4.0% was due to language barrier). Out of the 1,530 cases interviewed, 256 cases (16.7%) were related to cancer, with the main cancer involving the Trachea, Bronchus and Lungs (3.9%), followed by Cancer of the Colon, Rectum and Anus (3.5%) and Breast Cancer (2.1%). The other major causes of death were acute coronary syndrome (15.6%), cerebrovascular accidents (8.6%) and pneumonia (5.9%). CONCLUSION: Additional effective approach is essential to detect the next of kin so that more interviews can be conducted, and in-depth training is also needed especially to determine the underlying cause of death.
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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-113, title = {Achievements and Challenges of Verbal Autopsy in Penang After One Year of Implementation}, author = {Mei Ching Lim and Farzaana Adam}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-07-22}, urldate = {2019-07-22}, journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings}, issue = {6}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Precise data on cause of death is essential in development and evaluation of health policy. Verbal autopsy (VA) was introduced to reduce the indistinct mortality causes and to improve medically certified deaths. The objective of this study is to review the performance and challenges faced in Penang since the implementation of VA. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilised Death Data outside Medical Facilities in Penang from August 2017 to July 2018. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained medical staffs to the next of kin of the deceased using Validated WHO VA Questionnaire (with sensitivity 50-75%). Completed questionnaires were reviewed by trained Doctors who assigned the most likely underlying cause of death. RESULTS: There were 4,178 cases allocated for VA in Penang. Successfully interviewed cases were 1,530 (36.63%) while 2,610 cases (62.47%) were unsuccessful due to various reasons namely wrong or incomplete address (11.51%), next of kin not traceable (43.71%) and 303 cases refused for interview (noted 4.0% was due to language barrier). Out of the 1,530 cases interviewed, 256 cases (16.7%) were related to cancer, with the main cancer involving the Trachea, Bronchus and Lungs (3.9%), followed by Cancer of the Colon, Rectum and Anus (3.5%) and Breast Cancer (2.1%). The other major causes of death were acute coronary syndrome (15.6%), cerebrovascular accidents (8.6%) and pneumonia (5.9%). CONCLUSION: Additional effective approach is essential to detect the next of kin so that more interviews can be conducted, and in-depth training is also needed especially to determine the underlying cause of death.}, note = {Type: POSTER PRESENTATION; Organisation: Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Unit, Penang State Health Department}, keywords = {apcph2019, Causes of death, challenges, Verbal Autopsy}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {proceedings} }