Mortality and causes of death in Jordan 1995-96: Assessment by verbal autopsy

Mortality indicators and causes of death in Jordan were assessed by verbal autopsy. A random sample of 100 clusters of ca. 300 households each were mo nitored for one year by notification assistants selected from the study are a itself. Registered deaths were reported to research assistants who visite d the family to complete the verbal autopsy form, which was structured and contained about 100 questions. Causes of death were determined by two physi cians according to preset algorithms. A total of 965 deaths were reported a mong 198 989 persons, giving a crude death rate of 5 per 1000 population pe r year. The three leading causes of death were diseases of the circulatory system, malignancies and accidents. In the absence of a health information system, verbal autopsy as implemented in Jordan can serve as a reliable sub stitute.