Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in Malaysia
Background: Verbal autopsies have gained considerable ground as an acceptable alternative to medically determined cause of death. Unlike with clinical or more administrative settings for data collection, verbal autopsies require significant involvement of families and communities, which introduces i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2015-07-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/28219/pdf_99 |
| _version_ | 1818848359482392576 |
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| author | Pascale A. Allotey Daniel D. Reidpath Natalie C. Evans Nirmala Devarajan Kanason Rajagobal Ruhaida Bachok Kridaraan Komahan |
| author_facet | Pascale A. Allotey Daniel D. Reidpath Natalie C. Evans Nirmala Devarajan Kanason Rajagobal Ruhaida Bachok Kridaraan Komahan |
| author_sort | Pascale A. Allotey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Verbal autopsies have gained considerable ground as an acceptable alternative to medically determined cause of death. Unlike with clinical or more administrative settings for data collection, verbal autopsies require significant involvement of families and communities, which introduces important social and cultural considerations. However, there is very little clear guidance about the methodological issues in data collection. The objectives of this case study were: to explore the range of bereavement rituals within the multi-ethnic, multi-faith population of the district; to investigate the preparedness of communities to talk about death; to describe the verbal autopsy process; to assess the effects of collecting verbal autopsy data on data collectors; and to determine the most accurate sources of information about deaths in the community. Methods: A case study approach was used, using focus group discussions, indepth interviews and field notes. Thematic analyses were undertaken using NVivo. Results: Consideration of cultural bereavement practices is importance to acceptance and response rates to verbal autopsies. They are also important to the timing of verbal autopsy interviews. Well trained data collectors, regardless of health qualifications are able to collect good quality data, but debriefing is important to their health and well being. This article contributes to guidance on the data collection procedures for verbal autopsies within community settings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:16:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-730dd40551af41b8924043376238c82f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:16:05Z |
| publishDate | 2015-07-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-730dd40551af41b8924043376238c82f2022-12-21T20:32:51ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802015-07-01801810.3402/gha.v8.2821928219Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in MalaysiaPascale A. Allotey0Daniel D. Reidpath1Natalie C. Evans2Nirmala Devarajan3Kanason Rajagobal4Ruhaida Bachok5Kridaraan Komahan6 South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University, Segamat, Malaysia South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University, Segamat, Malaysia South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University, Segamat, Malaysia South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University, Segamat, Malaysia South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University, Segamat, Malaysia South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University, Segamat, Malaysia South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University, Segamat, MalaysiaBackground: Verbal autopsies have gained considerable ground as an acceptable alternative to medically determined cause of death. Unlike with clinical or more administrative settings for data collection, verbal autopsies require significant involvement of families and communities, which introduces important social and cultural considerations. However, there is very little clear guidance about the methodological issues in data collection. The objectives of this case study were: to explore the range of bereavement rituals within the multi-ethnic, multi-faith population of the district; to investigate the preparedness of communities to talk about death; to describe the verbal autopsy process; to assess the effects of collecting verbal autopsy data on data collectors; and to determine the most accurate sources of information about deaths in the community. Methods: A case study approach was used, using focus group discussions, indepth interviews and field notes. Thematic analyses were undertaken using NVivo. Results: Consideration of cultural bereavement practices is importance to acceptance and response rates to verbal autopsies. They are also important to the timing of verbal autopsy interviews. Well trained data collectors, regardless of health qualifications are able to collect good quality data, but debriefing is important to their health and well being. This article contributes to guidance on the data collection procedures for verbal autopsies within community settings.http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/28219/pdf_99verbal autopsycause of deathSEACOhealth and demographic surveillancebeliefscustomsbereavement |
| spellingShingle | Pascale A. Allotey Daniel D. Reidpath Natalie C. Evans Nirmala Devarajan Kanason Rajagobal Ruhaida Bachok Kridaraan Komahan Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in Malaysia Global Health Action verbal autopsy cause of death SEACO health and demographic surveillance beliefs customs bereavement |
| title | Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in Malaysia |
| title_full | Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in Malaysia |
| title_short | Let's talk about death: data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in Malaysia |
| title_sort | let s talk about death data collection for verbal autopsies in a demographic and health surveillance site in malaysia |
| topic | verbal autopsy cause of death SEACO health and demographic surveillance beliefs customs bereavement |
| url | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/28219/pdf_99 |
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