Causes of deaths using verbal autopsy among adolescents and adults in rural western Kenya
Abstract
To establish causes and patterns of deaths among adolescents and adults (age >11 years) using verbal autopsy (VA) in a rural area of western Kenya where malaria and HIV are common. Village reporters reported all deaths in Asembo and Gem (population 135 000), an area under routine demographic surveillance. After an interval of >/=1 month, a trained interviewer used a structured questionnaire to ask the caretaker about signs and symptoms that preceded death. Three clinical officers independently reviewed the interviews and assigned two unranked causes of death; a common cause was designated as the cause of death. In 2003, 1816 deaths were reported from residents; 48% were male and 72% were between 20 and 64 years of age. Most residents (97%) were ill before death, with 60% of illnesses lasting more than 2 months; 87% died at home. Care was sought by 96%; a health facility was the most common source, visited by 73%. For 1759 persons (97%), a common cause of death was designated. Overall, 74% of deaths were attributed to infectious causes. HIV (32%) and tuberculosis (TB) (16%) were the most frequent, followed by malaria, respiratory infections, anaemia and diarrhoeal disease (approximately 6% each). Death in a health facility was a...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Antimalarial Agents (ASM)
Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.
Anemia
Anemia develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. Anemia of inflammation (AI, also called anemia of chronic disease) is a common, typically normocytic, normochromic anemia that is caused by an underlying inflammatory disease. Here is the latest research on anemia.
Antimalarial Agents
Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.