Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of mortality in rural Birbhum, West Bengal, India: a sex-stratified analysis of verbal autopsies from a prospective cohort, 2012–2017

Abstract

ObjectivesThere is a dearth of data on causes of death in rural India, which impedes identification of public health priorities to guide health interventions. This study aims to offer insights from verbal autopsies, to understand the pattern and distribution of causes of death in a rural area of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.DesignCauses of death data were retrieved from a prospective vital event surveillance system.SettingThe Birbhum Population Project, a Health and Demographic Surveillance System, West Bengal, India.ParticipantsBetween January 2012 and December 2017, all deaths were recorded.Main outcome measuresTrained Surveyors tracked all deaths prospectively and used a previously validated verbal autopsy (VA) tool to record causes of death. Experienced physicians reviewed completed VA forms, and assigned cause of death using the 10th version of International Classification of Diseases. In addition to cause-specific mortality fraction, cause-specific crude death rate (CDR) among males and females were estimated.ResultsA total of 2320 deaths (1348 males and 972 females) were recorded. An estimated CDR was 708/100 000. Over half of all deaths (1176 deaths, 50.7%) were attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with nearly 30% of all deaths attributed to circulatory system disorders; whereas 24.2% and 3.9% deaths were due to cerebrovascular diseases and ischaemic heart disease, respectively. Equal percent (13%) of males died from external causes and from infectious and parasitic diseases, and 11% died from respiratory system-related diseases. Among females, 12% died from infectious and parasitic diseases. Among children aged 0–4 years, 50% of all male deaths and 45% of all female deaths were attributed to conditions in the perinatal period.ConclusionsNCDs are the leading cause of death among adults in a select population of rural Birbhum, India. Health programmes for rural India should prioritise plans to mitigate deaths due to NCDs.

Cardiovascular disease mortality based on verbal autopsy in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

“… 60 More than three quarters of the studies (32/42) were surveillance studies. 19 , 21 – 24 , 26 , 28 – 44 , 48 – 52 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 58 Of 39 studies that recorded the study setting, 19 – 39 , 41 – 55 , 57 , 59 , 60 18 covered rural populations, 26 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 , 41 – 44 , 48 – 50 , 52 , 53 , 55 six covered urban populations, 21 , 25 , 46 , 47 , 51 , 59 and 15 covered both rural and urban populations at the country level. 19 , 20 , 22 – 24 , 27 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 38 , 45 , 54 , 57 , 60 The number of verbal autopsy deaths reported across all ages ranged between studies from 515 to 22 535, 47 , 53 and 20 studies reported deaths by sex.…”

“… 19 , 20 , 22 – 24 , 27 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 38 , 45 , 54 , 57 , 60 The number of verbal autopsy deaths reported across all ages ranged between studies from 515 to 22 535, 47 , 53 and 20 studies reported deaths by sex. 19 , 23 , 26 , 28 , 31 , 33 , 35 , 42 – 44 , 47 , 48 , 50 – 52 , 54 – 56 , 58 , 60 . Thirty-two studies reported the number of verbal autopsy deaths in people aged 15 years and above; this number ranged from 300 to 472 113.…”

The continued effects of COVID-19 on the lives and livelihoods of vegetable farmers in India

“…Specifically, those seeking healthcare services may already have either greater awareness of the impact of their lifestyle decisions, such as diets, or better means to eat more nutritious foods. A second explanation is that given the growing rate of non-communicable diseases and their associated risk factors in rural India, many of which have been linked to diets [ 30 , 31 ], those who are reporting healthcare expenses may have medical recommendations to adhere to healthier diets.…”

Use of antenatal and delivery care services and their association with maternal and infant mortality in rural India

“…The study area of BIRPOP represents nearly 16% of the total population of Birbhum district (as per the Census of India, 2011). Predominantly rural, the Birbhum district is recognized to have poor human development indicators by the NITI Aayog , an apex policy thinktank of the Government of India 34 . The primary objective of BIRPOP is to undertake research and gather evidence to inform the state- and national public health policies.…”