Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the Field
Reliable information on causes of death is essential for an evidence-based health policy. There is a challenge in ascertaining the cause for deaths occurring without medical attention. This has been a persistent problem for Malaysia, where 50% of deaths are registered as “nonmedically certified” dea...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125928192/view |
| _version_ | 1811316996619370496 |
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| author | Chalapati Rao Mohammad Azahadi Omar Shubash Shander Ganapathy Nor Saleha Ibrahim Tamin |
| author_facet | Chalapati Rao Mohammad Azahadi Omar Shubash Shander Ganapathy Nor Saleha Ibrahim Tamin |
| author_sort | Chalapati Rao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reliable information on causes of death is essential for an evidence-based health policy. There is a challenge in ascertaining the cause for deaths occurring without medical attention. This has been a persistent problem for Malaysia, where 50% of deaths are registered as “nonmedically certified” deaths mostly with ill-defined causes. During 2014–2016, a research study was conducted in a nationally representative sample of 15,000 deaths in Malaysia, to verify their registered causes and develop cause-specific mortality estimates. Standard Verbal Autopsy (VA) methods were used to ascertain causes for the nonmedically certified deaths in the sample. VA methods were successful in assigning specific causes for most cases with ill-defined causes of death, resulting in plausible mortality patterns. The Malaysian government issued official instructions for routine implementation of VA methods for nonmedically certified deaths. Nationwide capacity development was implemented to improve data quality. These activities provide several lessons for strengthening the national mortality statistics programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:00:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a6668ca112b41fea98731d243387de5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-3349 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:00:11Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a6668ca112b41fea98731d243387de52022-12-22T02:47:48ZengSpringerDr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal2590-33492019-12-011310.2991/dsahmj.k.191214.003Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the FieldChalapati RaoMohammad Azahadi OmarShubash Shander GanapathyNor Saleha Ibrahim TaminReliable information on causes of death is essential for an evidence-based health policy. There is a challenge in ascertaining the cause for deaths occurring without medical attention. This has been a persistent problem for Malaysia, where 50% of deaths are registered as “nonmedically certified” deaths mostly with ill-defined causes. During 2014–2016, a research study was conducted in a nationally representative sample of 15,000 deaths in Malaysia, to verify their registered causes and develop cause-specific mortality estimates. Standard Verbal Autopsy (VA) methods were used to ascertain causes for the nonmedically certified deaths in the sample. VA methods were successful in assigning specific causes for most cases with ill-defined causes of death, resulting in plausible mortality patterns. The Malaysian government issued official instructions for routine implementation of VA methods for nonmedically certified deaths. Nationwide capacity development was implemented to improve data quality. These activities provide several lessons for strengthening the national mortality statistics programs.https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125928192/viewCauses of deathcivil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systemsMalaysiamortalityverbal autopsy |
| spellingShingle | Chalapati Rao Mohammad Azahadi Omar Shubash Shander Ganapathy Nor Saleha Ibrahim Tamin Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the Field Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal Causes of death civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems Malaysia mortality verbal autopsy |
| title | Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the Field |
| title_full | Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the Field |
| title_fullStr | Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the Field |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the Field |
| title_short | Strengthening Mortality Statistics for Health Programs in Malaysia: Lessons from the Field |
| title_sort | strengthening mortality statistics for health programs in malaysia lessons from the field |
| topic | Causes of death civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems Malaysia mortality verbal autopsy |
| url | https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125928192/view |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chalapatirao strengtheningmortalitystatisticsforhealthprogramsinmalaysialessonsfromthefield AT mohammadazahadiomar strengtheningmortalitystatisticsforhealthprogramsinmalaysialessonsfromthefield AT shubashshanderganapathy strengtheningmortalitystatisticsforhealthprogramsinmalaysialessonsfromthefield AT norsalehaibrahimtamin strengtheningmortalitystatisticsforhealthprogramsinmalaysialessonsfromthefield |