Analysis of Young Infant Deaths Using Verbal Autopsies and Accuracy of Verbal Autopsy Tool in Chennai, India

Area of Science:

• Perinatal health
• Public health surveillance
• Medical diagnostics

Background:

• Young infant mortality remains a significant global health challenge.
• Identifying precise causes of death is crucial for effective intervention strategies.
• Verbal autopsies are a key tool for cause-of-death ascertainment in settings lacking medical autopsies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine medical and non-medical factors linked to young infant mortality.
• To assess the diagnostic accuracy and validity of a state-developed verbal autopsy tool.
• To improve the understanding of infant death causes for public health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study design was employed to identify associated factors.
• A diagnostic accuracy study evaluated the verbal autopsy tool's performance.
• Data collected through verbal autopsies were analyzed to determine causes of death.

Main Results:

• Illnesses related to prematurity were identified as the primary cause of young infant deaths.
• High rates of facility-based deliveries (99%) were observed.
• Factors such as lower maternal education, shorter birth spacing, and higher birth order were associated with mortality.

Conclusions:

• The current state verbal autopsy tool demonstrates high validity.
• The tool is effective in accurately identifying the major causes of infant mortality.
• Findings support the continued use and refinement of verbal autopsy tools for surveillance.