Causes of Death in a Rural Area of South Africa: an International Perspective

This study compared causes of death in rural area of South Africa (Agincourt) with that in a rural area of West Africa (Niakhar), & in a developed country with the same life expectancy (France, 1951). In the two African sites, causes of death were assessed by verbal autopsies whereas they were derived from regular cause of death registration in France. Causes of death with outstandingly high mortality in Agincourt included suicide. Verbal autopsies could be used in a rural area of a developing country to identify the most salient health problems & could be compared with a formal cause of death registration system of a developed country. (19 refs.)