The South African National Non-natural Mortality Surveillance System – Rationale, Pilot Results and Evaluation

This report evaluates the South African National Non-Natural Mortality Surveillance System, a systematic effort to draw forensic-medical services & state-mortuaries into a nationwide fatal injury surveillance system. Sample findings are presented to illustrate the system’s capacity, & strengths & weaknesses of the system are identified. Suicide is discussed as a manner of death, & difficulties in identifying suicide using the system are explored. (21 refs)