Measuring CoD in Papua New Guinea using locally developed VA instrument
The VAI was initially designed to be used by field reporters with minimal schooling and had only 18 symptom questions. It also allowed for the recording of a brief open-ended narrative, the place of death, any treatment by health services, and the type of treatment. The disease classification was based on Lay reporting of health information (WHO 1978) and COD was entered into the international form of the death certificate. Verbal autopsies (VAs) were physician-coded with reference to diagnostic algorithms.
