A case-control study on ınfant deaths ın provınce of Aydın and assessment of causes of death usıng verbal autopsy method

Objective: To determine descriptive characteristics and causes of infant deaths which occured between 01/01/2006-30/06/2006 and was detected by Aydin Directory of Health; to detect risk factors and define problems about detection, notification and recording of death. Materials-Methods: The study included three parts: First part is a cross-sectional survey, through descriptive characteristics and causes are assessed. Second part is a case-control study to determine possible risk factors. Third part is a descriptive study about death notification and records. Health records were checked through to determine descriptive characteristics of infant deaths; questionnaires were filled with face to face interviews for the case-control study; verbal autopsy forms were completed to identify causes of death. Verbal autopsy form was derived from the original form developed by WHO for infants and children. Causes of death were determined according to the classification in Short List consisting of 67 causes of infant and child mortality in ICD-10. Records were investigated and face to face interviews were made with caregivers of infants and village headmen to describe death notification and records. Cases were all infants that died between 01/01/2006-30/06/2006 and whose death was notified. One control was selected for each case. Results: IMR was 12.0?; NMR 6.8? ve PNMR was 5.2?. Of all infant deaths, 55.1% were girls; 56.5% occured in neonatal period; 53.0% in Aydin; 71.2% in a health institution. Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period formed 52.4%; congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities formed 21.2% of originating causes of deaths. Discussion: Incomplete, incorrect and delayed death notification may result in failure adopting right aprroaches in priority setting in health management. Investigation of all deaths by health personnel is important. For the reduction of infant mortality, detection of all pregnancies and sufficient follow-up of all pregnant women in primary health care settings is essential. Key words: Infant, infant mortality, cause of death, verbal autopsy