Verbal Autopsy

Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines

A verbal autopsy (VA) is an interview carried out with family members and caregivers of the deceased, using a structured questionnaire to elicit signs and symptoms and other pertinent information that can later be used to assign a probable underlying cause of death. The results of the verbal autopsy interview may be analysed using a computer algorithm (automated verbal autopsy), which generates a probable cause of death based on the interviewee responses. Alternatively, a physician may review the results (physician-reviewed VA) and determine a probable cause of death.

Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines

VA is used to generate a probable cause of death. The results are accurate at the population level but not at the individual level. Therefore, verbal autopsies should only be used for statistical purposes, and not for legal purposes.