title: The mortuary as a source of injury data: progress towards a mortuary data guideline for fatal injury surveillance.
abstract: To help bridge the obstacle of inadequate injury fatality data in low and medium income countries (LMICs) a simple cost effective system for mortuary surveillance of fatal injuries is being developed in consultation with the WHO. This will inform, direct and monitor injury prevention (IP) interventions and policies in LMICs. This article uses CDC's 'attributes of a successful surveillance system' to describe the process, the barriers and solutions in development of this mortuary data guideline. The consultative process utilised generated feedback from key stakeholders including forensic pathologists, Ministry of Health officials and injury prevention experts. An International Advisory Group was also convened to guide the guideline development. These assisted the adjustment of the proposed guideline to maximise flexibility, acceptability and stability; whilst minimising resource implications. Representativeness and the securing of government support perhaps remain the most significant challenges. Consultation with the advisory group and the wider stakeholders has been effective in developing a widely acceptable, user-friendly, low resource data form to gather useful data. Further strategies to overcome barriers need to be developed over the course of the pilot study and this should be done in consultation with the advisory group and stakeholders.
authors: Victorian Department of Health, Victorian Public Health Training Scheme, Australia. nathangrills@gmail.com
authors: Nathan John
authors: NJ
authors: Grills
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: Ozanne-Smith
authors: Kidist
authors: K
authors: Bartolomeos
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009027:Mortuary Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality