Identifying and verifying causes of death in Turkey: National verbal autopsy survey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the national, rural, and urban mortality rates, and to define the medical causes of death for the 0-28 days and 29 days-5 years age groups, as well as adult mortality in Turkey. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey, which identified the causes of death using the verbal autopsy(VA) method, and a methodological study, which determined the validity of the verbal autopsy method was used in conjunction with each other. METHODS: The verbal autopsy method, based on a representative sampling according to age and gender in Turkey, was used. A methodological study was additionally used, which determined the validity of the VA method. RESULTS: The crude death rate calculated from the VA survey was 0.51% with rates of 0.60% in males, 0.42% in females, 0.48% in urban areas, and 0.56% in rural areas. Life expectancy at birth was 72.6 years for males and 77.2 years for females. The mean life expectancy at birth for both sexes together was 74.8 years. The VA form has a high degree of validity although no study or form can take the place of a records-based surveillance system with accurate information; the VA form is a useful tool for collecting data during certain periods or specific areas. However, healthcare providers must work towards establishing a well-designed, routine surveillance system in the long term. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rates and life expectancies were consistent with other similar studies in the country and the Turkish VA method may be safely used to determine causes of death in countries with inadequate record and registry systems.