1. Cause of Death data –Basic tabulations, leading causes and proportional mortality
Data analysis and Report writing workshop for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics data

2. 1. Basic tabulations - CoD
When we’re satisfied with the data quality, we are getting closer to generating our CoD tables
But first we need to create new variables in our spreadsheets
UCoD by the General Mortality List codes
UCoD by Natural vs non-natural deaths

3. General Mortality List available on pp. 202 of course workbook
Used after UCoD has been found via full ICD 10 list
Contains 104 possible codes (rather than >14,000)
Useful where total number of deaths are low
Each code fits into broader category
Needed for pivot tables
General Mortality List available on pp. 202 of course workbook

4. 1. Natural vs Non-natural
In the ICD 10
“Natural deaths” include UCoDs from codes A00 to R99
“Non-natural” or external cause UCoDs fro codes V01-Y98
Codes in your spreadsheet will have put into “Natural death” or “Non-natural death” categories under a new variable column

5. 1. Basic tabulations - CoD
There are many types of tables we could create, but we now want to start with the most basic three
CoD by all ages and both sexes
CoD by natural causes vs external causes
CoD by all ages by males and females

6. 1. Basic tabulations - CoD
And there are some major table principles to help us along the way:
Ensure totals are in all tables
Present from highest counts to lowest counts
Use specific CoD lists (e.g., General Mort List)
Report deaths for which UCoD was ill-defined (R codes)
Remember to aggregate over at least several years (5 is best)
Include raw counts and percentages

7. Good example of basic tabulation – CoD by ages with sex combined
Source: Tuvalu CRVS Report pp.14, Central Statistics Division

8. 2. Leading causes Once we complete our basic tables, what comes next?
There are many ways to look at the distribution of CoD in a population
 Common measures include:
Leading causes
Cause specific rates (age-specific, age-standardised)
Probability of dying by cause
Non-communicable diseases in adults
Other as dictated by country-specific health priorities

9. 2. Leading causes of death – what is it?
But the one we are most interested in is leading causes of death...
Most basically it is the ranking of different causes of death in a population from the highest to the lowest
Usually includes the top ten causes of death
Leading causes can then be split into different groups (e.g., men and women, regional areas, age groups)

10. 2. Leading causes of death
One of the most common approach to reporting CoD
Commonly requested and sought after by policy makers, government decision makers and international bodies
Easier to understand & construct than many other indicators and rates
Can be visualised in various ways

11. 2. Leading causes of death – some disadvantages
Doesn’t tell the whole story
Rare diseases, uncommon but serious causes of death can be overlooked
Not as meaningful when deaths are grouped across all ages and both sexes
The top five deaths in this table are non-communicable, and don’t necessarily reflect a major health problem. Without age groups included, we cannot tell whether these causes are contributing to premature mortality or not.

12. 2. Leading cause of death tabulations
There are many different ways to produce leading cause tables, but for this session we want to start with the most basic
Leading causes by four subgroups - because CoD vary by age and sex, It is more meaningful to use the following groups:
0-4 years - combined sexes (Early Childhood)
5-14 years - combined sexes (Late Childhood)
15-59 years – by male and female (Adults)
60+ years - by male and female (Older Adults)
By region, ethnicity, and others as needed by your country
Note: these are new age variables and will need to be created in the practical session

13. 2. Leading cause of death tabulations - Basic tabulation rules apply
Ensure totals are in all tables
Present causes from highest to lowest
Report proportion of deaths for which CoD was ill-defined
Tabulate by UCoD
Use percentages/proportions alongside raw counts

14. 2. Examples of leading causes tables – Adults
The third sub group is causes of death in adults age years
– by male and female (reported separately)
Source: Tuvalu CRVS Report , Central Statistics Division

15. 2. Examples of multiple leading causes tables – ABS example

16. 2. Leading causes – not all there is!
Leading cause tabulations are a good starting point… But other types of tabulations may be needed to meet user needs across government, academics/researchers and international organisations

17. Practical Session tasks
Create three new variable columns
UCoD by General Mort List (pp. 202 of workbook)
UCoD either “Natural” or “Non-Natural” (remember UCoDs from A00 to R99 are “Natural”)
New ages for leading causes 0-4, 5-14, 15-59, 60+
Create three basic tabulations
UCoD by all ages and both sexes
UCoD by natural causes vs non-natural causes
UCoD by all ages by males and females
Create four leading cause tabulations (and more if required)
0-4 years and 5-14 years - sexes combined
15-59 years and 60+ years - by males and females
By region, ethnicity and others as needed by your country