Verbal autopsy standards: The 2012 WHO verbal autopsy instrument  Release Candidate 1

Overview

This 2012 version of the WHO verbal autopsy instrument has been designed to become suitable for routine use. Compared to the 2007 instrument, numbers of conditions and questions have been reduced, based on evidence from the field. The questions have been reformulated to allow for responses with a simple yes or no answer, or a duration in some instances. This approach makes the instrument usable for software that assigns causes of death. The instrument is designed for all age groups, including maternal and perinatal deaths, and also deaths caused by injuries.