title: Audit of death certificates.
abstract: Information on the number and causes of death is one of the basic components of a country's health information system. Data are usually derived from death certificates and health facility discharge summaries. There are usually several causes of error in the routine collection of this information. A criteria audit of death certificates is presented to assess these sources of error in Papua New Guinea. This procedure involved the systematic and critical analysis of hospital mortality as reported in death certificates. The audit is simple, cheap and useful for monitoring the quality of the mortality information which will be used in health planning and management. Quality criteria are defined and the completeness and relevance of the data audited are discussed. Recommendations for the improvement of the health information system are made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beracochea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006285:Health Planning; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007256:Information Systems; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D009026:Mortality; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors