Linking mortuary data improves vital statistics on cause of death of children under five years in the Western Cape Province of South Africa

• DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12624
• Publication Date: 2015-10-20T15:06:27Z
• Authors: Pam Groenewald; Debbie Bradshaw; Ian Neethling; Lorna J. Martin; Johan Dempers; Erna Morden; Nesbert Zinyakatira; David Coetzee
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health

Reducing child mortality requires good information on its causes. Whilst South African vital registration data have improved, the quality of cause-of-death remains inadequate. To improve this, from death certificates were linked with forensic mortuaries in Western Cape Province.A local surveillance system was established 2007 by Health Department to quality. Cause-of-death captured copies notification forms collected at Home Affairs Offices. Using unique identifiers, additional mortuary records. Causes coded ICD-10 classification. children under five compared those for 2011.Cause-of-death markedly improved mortuaries. The proportion ill-defined causes halved (25-12%), and leading cause rankings changed. Lower respiratory tract infections moved above prematurity rank first, accounting 20.8% deaths peaking infants aged 1-3 months. Only 11% lower occurred hospital, resulting 86% being certified Road traffic increased 1.1-3.1% (27-75) homicides 3 28.The usefulness WC enhanced linking data. Given profile, interventions are required prevent manage LRTI, diarrhoea injuries reduce neonatal deaths.