How Much Does a Verbal Autopsy Based Mortality Surveillance System Cost in Rural India? |
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| Authors: | Rohina Joshi Deversetty Praveen Stephen Jan Krishnam Raju Pallab Maulik Vivekanand Jha Alan D Lopez |
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| Institution: | 1The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia;2University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;3CARE Foundation, Hyderabad, India;4The George Institute for Global Health, Hyderabad, India;5The George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;6University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia;Örebro University, SWEDEN |
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| Abstract: | ObjectiveThis paper aims to determine the cost of establishing and sustaining a verbal-autopsy based mortality surveillance system in rural India.ResultsVerbal-autopsies were completed for 96.7% (5786) of all deaths (5895) recorded. The annual cost in year 1 was INR 1,133,491 (USD 24,943) and the total cost per death was INR 757 (USD 16.66). These costs included training of NPHWs and physician reviewers Rs 67,025 (USD 1474), data collection INR 248,400 (USD 5466), dual physician review for cause of death assignment INR 375,000 (USD 8252), and project management INR 341,724 (USD 7520). The average annual cost to run the system each year was INR 822,717 (USD18104) and the cost per death was INR 549 (USD 12) for the next 3 years. Costs were reduced by using single physician review and shortened re-training sessions. The annual cost of running a surveillance system was INR 900,410 (USD 19814).DiscussionThis study provides detailed empirical evidence of the costs involved in running a mortality surveillance site using verbal-autopsy. |
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