Verbal autopsy standards: The 2016 WHO verbal autopsy instrument

The 2016 version of the WHO verbal autopsy instrument is suitable for routine use. Based on the 2012 instrument, experiences with the interim 2014 version, and in collaboration with the authors of the different analytical software for assigning the cause of death, questions have been added or edited to facilitate the use of the publicly available analytical software (InterVA, SmartVA previously known as Tariff – simplified PHMRC, and InsilicoVA). Also, the skip pattern has been edited based on the information obtained from field testing and cognitive reviews of the 2012 instrument, and the 2014 interim version.