Thesis (MPHM. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The quality of mortality data in South Africa has been questioned because of the high percentage of deaths reported to be due to ill-defined causes. We sought to assess the level of knowledge of doctors on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) rules for medical certification of cause of death and determine the factors influencing that knowledge. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted across 12 hospitals in Limpopo Province among the five districts stratified by level of care. Doctors completed selfadministered questionnaire, which included the baseline characteristics and questions that tested their theoretical knowledge of the ICD rules of death certification. The outcome, an adequate level of knowledge was set at a score of ≥ 60%. A chi square test was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome. Ethical approval was obtained from Turfloop Research Ethics Committee, University of Limpopo. Results Of the 301 doctors who participated, 50.5% were female, 64% were junior doctors and 13% were specialists. Up to 49% of doctors worked in the two tertiary hospitals. Only 18% of the doctors have ever attended a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) on the topic. The mean overall score on knowledge of medical certification for all the doctors was 59.80% (±11.95) with 53% obtaining at least 60% on the questionnaire. Doctors lacked knowledge on identifying unnatural deaths and discerning the underlying cause of death. Factors associated with the adequate knowledge included years of clinical experience (p=0.01), previous training (p<0.001), awareness of guidelines (p=0.04), comfort level (p=0.01) and rank (p=0.02). Conclusion The study highlighted the need for training of all doctors in the province and identified the knowledge gaps. Interactive capacity-building workshops have been shown to improve knowledge of doctors on medical certification of cause of death in other studies. To improve the quality of mortality data in Limpopo Province, such workshops must be conducted in all hospitals. Key words: death notification, medical certification, cause of death

The marginalization index for each municipality in Mexico confirms that the country is characterized by substantial economic inequality. Using this index as a tool to measure inequality in urbanization and data from the Consejo Nacional de Población (CONAPO) and the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), this work first analyzes observed spatial patterns of the marginalization index. Next, this dissertation analyzes the association between marginalization and mortality patterns inside Mexico. Overall, there is evidence of high marginalization linked to high mortality rates. Factors that might influence marginalization like geographical differences do not seem to influence the relationship between marginalization and mortality. Factors like migration and indigenous population percentages show more relevance in explaining the association between marginalization and mortality as a social causation effect. / text

Diss. Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / S. 1-56: sammanfattning, s. 59-127: 5 uppsatser.

Numa amostra de 997 óbitos de pacientes portadores de transtornos mentais procedeu-se a análise critica das estatísticas de mortalidade segundo causas básicas e associadas de morte por meio da comparação das causas mencionadas nos atestados de óbito originais com as causas de novo atestado refeito após consulta a todas informações disponíveis sobre os falecidos, informações estas existentes nos prontuários clínicos, resultados de exames de laboratório, relatórios de exames radiológicos, de biópsia, de autópsia e outros. O número médio de diagnósticos por atestado, após consulta às informações adicionais, aumentou de 2,08 para 4,11, número este que não variou sensivelmente com o sexo e a idade dos falecidos, observando-se entretanto variação da média de diagnósticos por atestado segundo a especialidade do médico atestante. As causas básicas dos atestados refeitos diferiram em 43,13 por cento dos casos das causas básicas selecionadas nos atestados originais. A tabulação de todas as causas, básicas e associadas, permitiu evidenciar a importância, no processo da morte, de muitas causas menos frequentes causa básica. como As principais causas de morte, básicas e associadas, de pacientes cujos transtornos mentais incluíram-se nos grupos Psicose, Transtornos da Personalidade e Outros Transtornos Mentais Não-Psicóticos e Deficiência Mental foram analisadas a partir dos diagnósticos do atestado refeito, comparando estas causas com aquelas dos atestados originais, constatando-se que, nestes atestados, os transtornos mentais são subestimados como causa de morte. Tal subestima se deve em parte a influência das disposições da Classificação Internacional de Doenças para a seleção da causa básica de morte. Foram também estudadas as principais associações de doenças naqueles casos em que as causas básicas pertenceram a grupos de causas relacionadas aos transtornos mentais. / In a sample of 997 deceased patients bearing mental disorders, a cri tical statistical analysis of the mortal i ty due to underlying and associated causes of death was undertaken by comparing the causes mentioned in the original death certificates and those registered in the renewed ones which were made up after full review of all available information on these patients by going through such sources as medica! and hospital records besides laboratory examinations, radiological, biopsy, autopsy and other results. The average number of diagnoees per certificate after the aditional information gained by the investigation went up from 2.08 to 4.11; the latter did not vary due do sex or age of the deceased but did according to the speciality of the certifying doctor. The underlying causes of death of the renewed death certificates differed from those of the original ones in 43.13 per cent of the patients. Crosstabulation of all causes of death, both the underlying and associated ones, uncovered the importance of many less frequent causes as underlying in the process of death. The main causes of death, both underlying and associated, of patients whose mental disorders were included in the groups i of Psychosis, Personality Disorders and Other Non-Psychotic Mental Disorders as well as Mental Deficiency were analysed through data obtanined from the renewed death certificates and later compared with those· registered in the original ones. An underestimation of mental disorders as causes of death in the latter was discovered. Such underestimation is partly due to the influence of arrangements in the Internacional Classification of Diseases for the selection of the underlying cause of death. The main associations of diseases were also studied in those cases where the underlying causes of death belonged to groups of causes related to mental disorders.

Yes / In AD 1836, the General Register Office (GRO) was established to oversee the national system of civil registration in England and Wales, recording all births, deaths and marriages. Additional data regarding population size, division size and patterns of occupation within each division permit urban and rural areas (and those with both urban and rural characteristics, described here as ‘mixed’) to be directly compared to each other. The annual Reports of the Registrar General summarize the collected data, including cause of and age at death, which is of particular value to historical demographers and bioarcheologists, allowing us to investigate demographic patterns in urban and rural districts in the nineteenth century. Overall, this paper aims to highlight how this documentary evidence can supplement osteological and paleopathological data to investigate how urbanization affected the health of past populations. It examines the data contained within the first Registrar General report (for 1837-8), in order to assess patterns of mortality of diverse rural, urban, and mixed populations within England and Wales at a point in time during a period of rapid urbanization. It shows that urban and mixed districts typically had lower life expectancy and different patterns in cause of death compared to rural areas. The paper briefly compares how the documentary data differs from information regarding health from skeletal populations, focusing on the city of London, highlighting that certain age groups (the very young and very old) are typically underrepresented in archeological assemblages and reminding us that, while the paleopathological record offers much in terms of chronic health, evidence of acute disease and importantly cause of death can rarely be ascertained from skeletal remains. / This research was funded by the Royal Society of London (Grant Reference IES\R1\180138) and supported by the University of Bradford and SUNY Plattsburgh.

Introdução: A proporção de óbitos classificados como de causa básica mal definida é um dos principais indicadores da qualidade das estatísticas de mortalidade, de grande importância na avaliação da situação e na orientação das políticas de saúde. Estudos preliminares encontraram uma evolução temporal discrepante na comparação da mortalidade proporcional por causa mal definida no Brasil, no Estado de São Paulo, na Baixada Santista e no Município do Guarujá. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de tentar compreender tais diferenças. Métodos: A evolução temporal da proporção de óbitos por causa mal definida foi analisada no período de 1980 a 2002, dividindo-se o Estado de São Paulo em grupos de municípios com e sem o Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos (SVO) e a Baixada Santista. Além da mortalidade proporcional, a classificação do óbito por causa mal definida foi estudada com base no que se convencionou chamar de ?primeiro médico? a avaliar a causa de morte. Ou seja, o profissional que preenche a Declaração de Óbito ou encaminha o caso ao SVO ou ao Instituto Médico Legal (IML). Exclui os médicos do SVO e do IML que preenchem a declaração. A qualidade do preenchimento foi avaliada nos óbitos ocorridos em hospitais e em domicílios, baseada nas informações do tipo de atestante. Resultados: Observou-se um aumento na proporção de óbitos por causa mal definida pelo primeiro médico avaliador da causa de morte em todas as áreas do Estado de São Paulo. Em 1980, na Baixada Santista, a mortalidade proporcional por causa mal definida (MPCMD) era muito baixa, pois mais de 90% dos casos classificados como de causa mal definida pelo primeiro médico avaliador da causa de morte eram encaminhados aos IMLs da região ou ao SVO do Guarujá, onde a maioria dos casos era reclassificada para óbito de causa definida sem a realização de necropsia. A partir de 1984, progressivamente, os casos deixaram de ser encaminhados aos IMLs e passaram a ser classificados como de causa mal definida, com aumento da mortalidade proporcional de mais de nove vezes. A MPCMD no Estado de São Paulo manteve-se estável no período analisado em virtude do aumento da proporção de óbitos em serviços de saúde e de realização de necropsias. No Brasil, onde se observou uma queda de 36,4% da MPCMD, pode-se atribuir ao aumento dos óbitos hospitalares mais de 50% da redução desse indicador. O aumento do encaminhamento dos casos aos SVOs e aos IMLs foi fator importante na redução da mortalidade por causa mal definida nos óbitos domiciliares. Na Baixada Santista, no Estado de São Paulo e nos óbitos hospitalares do país, verificou-se uma piora na qualidade do preenchimento da Declaração de Óbito. Conclusão: A despeito da melhoria dos recursos diagnósticos, observou-se no período estudado uma piora na qualidade do preenchimento da Declaração de Óbito no Estado de São Paulo e nos óbitos hospitalares do país. Para enfrentar o problema da elevada mortalidade proporcional por causa mal definida, sugere-se rediscutir o modelo do fluxo de preenchimento das declarações de óbito, com redefinição das atribuições dos SVOs e dos IMLs. / Introduction: The proportion of deaths classified as due to ill-defined causes is one of the major indicators of the quality of mortality statistics, and is of great value for evaluating and orienting public policies. Preliminary studies indicate discrepant time trends in the evolution of the proportion of deaths due to ill-defined causes between Brazil as a whole, the state of Sao Paulo, the Baixada Santista region, and the municipality of Guarujá. The present study was designed as an attempt to understand these discrepancies. Methods: We analyzed the temporal evolution in the proportion of deaths due to illdefined causes between 1980 and 2002, dividing the state of Sao Paulo into three groups of municipalities: those with Death Verification Service (DVS), those without DVS, and those located in the Baixada Santista. In addition to proportional mortality, we also studied the classification of ill-defined deaths based on what was defined as the ?first physician? to evaluate cause of death. This consisted either of the professional who completed the Death Certificate or who referred the case to the DVS or medical examiner. This definition excludes any DVS or Medical Examiner physicians who filled certificates. The quality of the information in the certificate was evaluated for deaths occurred in hospitals and at home based on information on the type of physician. Results: There was an increase in the proportion of deaths due to ill-defined causes as defined by the first physician to evaluate cause of death in all areas of the State of Sao Paulo. In 1980, in the Baixada Santista, proportional mortality due to ill-defined causes (PMIDC) was very low, with over 90% of cases considered as due to illdefined causes by the first physician being referred to the region?s Medical Examiners or to the Guarujá DVS, where the majority of cases was assigned to a defined cause without need for autopsy. Beginning in 1984, the number of cases referred to Medical Examiners began to fall, leading to a 9-fold increase in PMIDC. PMIDC in the State of Sao Paulo remained stable throughout the period as a consequence of the increase in the proportion of autopsies and of deaths occurred within healthcare facilities. In the country as a whole, there was a 36.4% decrease in PMIDC, of which more than 50% can be attributed to the increase in the number of hospital deaths. Increased referral of cases to DVSs and medical examiners was an important factor in the reduction of mortality due to ill-defined causes among athome deaths. The quality of information in Death Certificates decreased in the Baixada Santista, in the State of Sao Paulo, and among hospital deaths in Brazil as a whole. Conclusion: Despite improvements in diagnosis, quality of information in Death Certificates decreased during the studied period in the State of Sao Paulo and among hospital deaths in the country as a whole. In order to tackle the issue of high proportional mortality due to ill-defined causes, we suggest a reevaluation of the flow of information in Death Certificates, with a redefinition of the role of medical examiners and DVSs.

Introdução – A partir de 1999, os coeficientes anuais de mortalidade por tuberculose no Estado de São Paulo apresentam declínio, segundo dados do Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde (CVE). Para caracterizar os óbitos e entender a tendência, explora-se o fato de o óbito por tuberculose possuir características que possibilitam estudos com enfoque em causas múltiplas, podendo a doença ser causa básica ou causa associada da morte. Objetivo – Traçar o perfil da mortalidade relacionada à tuberculose no Município de São Paulo, segundo causas múltiplas de morte e suas inter-relações com outras causas básicas e verificar se os casos de tuberculose estão notificados ao banco de dados do CVE. Metodologia – Estudo descritivo utilizando dados secundários. Foram estudados todos os óbitos de pessoas residentes no Município de São Paulo, ocorridos entre 2002 e 2004, que tiveram, na declaração de óbito, tuberculose como causa básica ou causa associada, ou seqüela de tuberculose como causa básica (N=2.325). Causa básica e causas associadas de morte foram caracterizadas segundo as disposições da Organização Mundial de Saúde. Pesquisaram-se os registros do CVE para verificar se os casos de tuberculose estavam notificados. As fontes de dados foram o Programa de Aprimoramento das Informações de Mortalidade no Município de São Paulo (PRO-AIM) e o banco de dados do CVE. Os dados de população provieram da Fundação SEADE. Resultados – A utilização de causas múltiplas de morte aumentou o número de óbitos em 82,6%. A tuberculose foi selecionada como causa básica de morte em 1.212 óbitos (54,8%), tendo sido mencionada como causa associada em 1.001 óbitos (45,2%). Destes, 676 (30,5%) foram devidos à aids e 325 (14,7%), a outras causas. A seqüela de tuberculose foi causa básica de morte em 112 óbitos. As formas clínicas mais freqüentes, quando a tuberculose foi causa básica, foram a pulmonar e a miliar. O sexo masculino foi o mais atingido (1.690 óbitos, ou 72,7%). Em 46,3% dos óbitos que tinham tuberculose como causa básica, a declaração de óbito foi fornecida pelo Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos ou pelo Instituto Médico Legal, indicando dificuldades para fazer o diagnóstico ou falha na assistência aos casos. Os óbitos não encontrados no banco de dados do CVE, portanto desconhecidos pelo Sistema de Vigilância, foram 1.200 (51,6%). Conclusões – A análise segundo causas múltiplas de morte revelou óbitos em que a tuberculose estava presente mas não aparecia nas estatísticas de mortalidade por causa única. As notificações de casos de tuberculose ao CVE não foram satisfatórias, necessitando ter seus fluxos e procedimentos reavaliados. / Background – According to data from CVE – Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo (Epidemic Control Center / State Dept), yearly death rates caused by tuberculosis have declined in the state of São Paulo. In order to characterize deaths and understand the mentioned decrease, the issue death related to tuberculosis will be investigated whilst presenting certain characteristics that might enable studies to be taken over, by focusing on multiple causes. Moreover, the tuberculosis might be regarded as an underlying cause of death or as death-associated cause. Objective – The outlining of tuberculosis mortality, as a result from multiple causes and its relations with other underlying causes, and to verify if patients were underreported to CVE. Methodology – Secondary data descriptive study. Deaths occurring between 2002 and 2004 were considered for this study, from people living in São Paulo. The people died, as stated by their death certificate, from tuberculosis as an underlying or associated cause, or tuberculosis sequel as an underlying cause (N=2.325). Both underlying and associated causes of death were characterized according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The study searched tuberculosis cases on CVE’s database. Data were supplied by Programa de Aprimoramento das Informações de Mortalidade no Município de São Paulo (PRO-AIM) and CVE’s database. Results – Studies focusing on multiple causes increase deaths (82,6%). Tuberculosis was selected as an underlying cause of death in 1.212 deaths (54,8%). In 1.001 deaths (45,2%) it was regarded as associated cause: in these deaths, the underlying cause was AIDS (676 deaths – 30,5%) or other causes (325 deaths – 14,7%). Tuberculosis sequel was underlying cause in 112 deaths. The most frequent clinical forms observed, having tuberculosis as an underlying cause, were the pulmonary and the miliary types. Male sex was inflicted the most (1.690 deaths – 72,7%). Either Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos or Forensics issued death certificates where tuberculosis was selected as underlying cause of death in 46,3% of total deaths, denoting deficient diagnosis and poor assistance to cases. Death records – 1.200 (51,6%) – are not to be found in CVE’s database, so tuberculosis cases are underreported. Conclusion – Analyses that use multiple-cause data brings to view other deaths where tuberculosis was present, in spite of not being observed in statistics of mortality resulting from underlying causes. The flow of information to CVE must be inspected.

<p>Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of doctors in relation to death certification and also assess whether an educational intervention can improve the accuracy of death certificate completion and thereby improve mortality information.</p>

<p>Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of doctors in relation to death certification and also assess whether an educational intervention can improve the accuracy of death certificate completion and thereby improve mortality information.</p>

Introdução – A partir de 1999, os coeficientes anuais de mortalidade por tuberculose no Estado de São Paulo apresentam declínio, segundo dados do Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde (CVE). Para caracterizar os óbitos e entender a tendência, explora-se o fato de o óbito por tuberculose possuir características que possibilitam estudos com enfoque em causas múltiplas, podendo a doença ser causa básica ou causa associada da morte. Objetivo – Traçar o perfil da mortalidade relacionada à tuberculose no Município de São Paulo, segundo causas múltiplas de morte e suas inter-relações com outras causas básicas e verificar se os casos de tuberculose estão notificados ao banco de dados do CVE. Metodologia – Estudo descritivo utilizando dados secundários. Foram estudados todos os óbitos de pessoas residentes no Município de São Paulo, ocorridos entre 2002 e 2004, que tiveram, na declaração de óbito, tuberculose como causa básica ou causa associada, ou seqüela de tuberculose como causa básica (N=2.325). Causa básica e causas associadas de morte foram caracterizadas segundo as disposições da Organização Mundial de Saúde. Pesquisaram-se os registros do CVE para verificar se os casos de tuberculose estavam notificados. As fontes de dados foram o Programa de Aprimoramento das Informações de Mortalidade no Município de São Paulo (PRO-AIM) e o banco de dados do CVE. Os dados de população provieram da Fundação SEADE. Resultados – A utilização de causas múltiplas de morte aumentou o número de óbitos em 82,6%. A tuberculose foi selecionada como causa básica de morte em 1.212 óbitos (54,8%), tendo sido mencionada como causa associada em 1.001 óbitos (45,2%). Destes, 676 (30,5%) foram devidos à aids e 325 (14,7%), a outras causas. A seqüela de tuberculose foi causa básica de morte em 112 óbitos. As formas clínicas mais freqüentes, quando a tuberculose foi causa básica, foram a pulmonar e a miliar. O sexo masculino foi o mais atingido (1.690 óbitos, ou 72,7%). Em 46,3% dos óbitos que tinham tuberculose como causa básica, a declaração de óbito foi fornecida pelo Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos ou pelo Instituto Médico Legal, indicando dificuldades para fazer o diagnóstico ou falha na assistência aos casos. Os óbitos não encontrados no banco de dados do CVE, portanto desconhecidos pelo Sistema de Vigilância, foram 1.200 (51,6%). Conclusões – A análise segundo causas múltiplas de morte revelou óbitos em que a tuberculose estava presente mas não aparecia nas estatísticas de mortalidade por causa única. As notificações de casos de tuberculose ao CVE não foram satisfatórias, necessitando ter seus fluxos e procedimentos reavaliados. / Background – According to data from CVE – Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo (Epidemic Control Center / State Dept), yearly death rates caused by tuberculosis have declined in the state of São Paulo. In order to characterize deaths and understand the mentioned decrease, the issue death related to tuberculosis will be investigated whilst presenting certain characteristics that might enable studies to be taken over, by focusing on multiple causes. Moreover, the tuberculosis might be regarded as an underlying cause of death or as death-associated cause. Objective – The outlining of tuberculosis mortality, as a result from multiple causes and its relations with other underlying causes, and to verify if patients were underreported to CVE. Methodology – Secondary data descriptive study. Deaths occurring between 2002 and 2004 were considered for this study, from people living in São Paulo. The people died, as stated by their death certificate, from tuberculosis as an underlying or associated cause, or tuberculosis sequel as an underlying cause (N=2.325). Both underlying and associated causes of death were characterized according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The study searched tuberculosis cases on CVE’s database. Data were supplied by Programa de Aprimoramento das Informações de Mortalidade no Município de São Paulo (PRO-AIM) and CVE’s database. Results – Studies focusing on multiple causes increase deaths (82,6%). Tuberculosis was selected as an underlying cause of death in 1.212 deaths (54,8%). In 1.001 deaths (45,2%) it was regarded as associated cause: in these deaths, the underlying cause was AIDS (676 deaths – 30,5%) or other causes (325 deaths – 14,7%). Tuberculosis sequel was underlying cause in 112 deaths. The most frequent clinical forms observed, having tuberculosis as an underlying cause, were the pulmonary and the miliary types. Male sex was inflicted the most (1.690 deaths – 72,7%). Either Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos or Forensics issued death certificates where tuberculosis was selected as underlying cause of death in 46,3% of total deaths, denoting deficient diagnosis and poor assistance to cases. Death records – 1.200 (51,6%) – are not to be found in CVE’s database, so tuberculosis cases are underreported. Conclusion – Analyses that use multiple-cause data brings to view other deaths where tuberculosis was present, in spite of not being observed in statistics of mortality resulting from underlying causes. The flow of information to CVE must be inspected.