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AHRI:Health and Demographic Surveillance System: Deaths and Causes of Death from Verbal Autopsies (2000-2024)

South Africa, 2000 - 2025
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Reference ID
AHRI.VerbalAutopsy.Harmonisation
Producer(s)
Ariane Sessego, Siyabonga Nxumalo, Dickman Gareta, Dr. Alison Castle, Dr. Guy Harling, Prof. Mark Siedner, Prof. Janet Seeley, Prof. Collins Iwuji, Prof. Willem Hanekom, Dr. Kobus Herbst
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Created on
Mar 31, 2026
Last modified
Apr 01, 2026
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Data file: AHRI.HDSS.VA-detailed-input-data-2000-2024.v1

Cases: 26168
Variables: 359

Variables

IIntID
i004a
Did s(he) die during the wet season?
i004b
Did s(he) die during the dry season?
i019a
Was he male?
i019b
Was she female?
i022a
Was s(he) aged 65 years or more at death?
i022b
Was s(he) aged 50 to 64 years at death?
i022c
Was s(he) aged 15 to 49 years at death?
i022d
Was s(he) aged 5-14 years at death?
i022e
Was s(he) aged 1 to 4 years at death?
i022f
Was s(he) aged 1 to 11 months at death?
i022g
Was s(he) aged < 1 month (28 days) at death?
i022h
Was s(he) a live baby who died within 24 hours of birth?
i022i
Was s(he) a baby who died between 24 and 48 hours of birth?
i022j
Was s(he) a baby who died more than 48 hours from birth, but within the first we
i022k
Was s(he) a baby who died after the first week, but within the first month?
i022l
Was she a woman aged 12-19 years at death?
i022m
Was she a woman aged 20-34 years at death?
i022n
Was she a woman aged 35 to 49 years at death?
i059o
Was she married at the time of death?
i077o
Did (s)he suffer from any injury or accident that led to her/his death?
i079o
Was (s)he injured in a road traffic accident?
i082o
Was (s)he injured in a non-road transport accident?
i083o
Was (s)he injured in a fall?
i084o
Was (s)he poisoned in any way?
i085o
Did (s)he die of drowning?
i086o
Was (s)he injured by the bite or sting of a venomous animal?
i087o
Was (s)he injured by an animal or insect (non-venomous)
i089o
Was (s)he injured by burns or fire?
i090o
Was (s)he subject to violence (suicide, homicide, abuse)?
i091o
Was (s)he injured by a fire arm?
i092o
Was (s)he stabbed, cut or pierced?
i093o
Was (s)he strangled?
i094o
Was (s)he injured by a blunt force?
i095o
Was (s)he injured by a force of nature?
i096o
Was (s)he electrocuted?
i098o
Was the injury accidental?
i099o
Was the injury or accident self-inflicted?
i100o
Was the injury or accident intentionally inflicted by someone else?
i104o
Did the baby ever cry?
i105o
Did the baby cry immediately after birth, even if only a little bit?
i106a
Was it more than 5 minutes after birth before the baby first cried?
i107o
Did the baby stop being able to cry?
i108a
Did the baby stop crying more than a day before (s)he died?
i109o
Did the baby ever move?
i110o
Did the baby ever breathe?
i111o
Did the baby breathe immediately after birth, even a little?
i112o
Did the baby have a breathing problem?
i113o
Was the baby given assistance to breathe at birth?
i114o
If the baby didn't show any sign of life, was it born dead?
i115o
Were there any bruises or signs of injury on child's body after the birth?
i116o
Was the baby's body soft, pulpy and discoloured with the skin peeling away?
i120a
Did the final illness last less than 3 weeks?
i120b
Did the final illness last at least 3 weeks?
i123o
Did (s)he die suddenly?
i125o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of tuberculosis?
i127o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of HIV/AIDS?
i128o
Did (s)he have a recent positive test by a health professional for malaria?
i129o
Did (s)he have a recent negative test by a health professional for malaria?
i130o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of dengue fever?
i131o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of measles?
i132o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of high blood pressure?
i133o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of heart disease?
i134o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of diabetes?
i135o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of asthma?
i136o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of epilepsy?
i137o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of cancer?
i138o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonar
i139o
Was there any diagnosis by a physician or health worker of dementia?
i140o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of depression?
i141o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of stroke?
i142o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of sickle cell disease?
i143o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of kidney disease?
i144o
Was there any diagnosis by a health professional of liver disease?
i147o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have a fever?
i148a
Did the fever last less than a week before death?
i148b
Did the fever last at least one week, but less than 2 weeks before death?
i148c
Did the fever last at least 2 weeks before death?
i149o
Did the fever continue until death?
i150a
Was the fever severe?
i151a
Was the fever continuous?
i152o
Did (s)he have night sweats?
i153o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have a cough?
i154a
Did the cough last less than 3 weeks before death?
i154b
Did the cough last at least 3 weeks before death?
i155o
Was the cough productive, with sputum?
i156o
Was the cough very severe?
i157o
Did (s)he cough up blood?
i158o
Did (s)he make a whooping sound when coughing?
i159o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have any difficulty breathing?
i161a
Did the difficult breathing last for at least 3 days before death?
i165a
Was the difficult breathing continuous during this period?
i166o
Did (s)he have fast breathing?
i167a
Did the fast breathing last for less than two weeks before death?
i167b
Did the fast breathing last for at least 2 weeks before death?
i168o
Did (s)he have breathlessness?
i169a
Did the breathlessness last for less than 2 weeks before death?
i169b
Did the breathlessness last for at least 2 weeks before death?
i170o
Was (s)he unable to carry out daily routines due to breathlessness?
i171o
Was (s)he breathless while lying flat?
i172o
Did you see the lower chest wall/ribs being pulled in as the child breathed?
i173a
Did his/her breathing sound like wheezing or grunting?
i174o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have chest pain?
i175o
Was the chest pain severe?
i176a
Did (s)he experience chest pain at least 3 days before death?
i178a
Did the chest pain last for at least 30 minutes?
i181o
Did (s)he have diarrhoea?
i182a
Did (s)he have diarrhoea for less than 2 weeks before death?
i182b
Did (s)he have diarrhoea for at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks before death
i182c
Did (s)he have diarrhoea for at least 4 weeks before death?
i183a
Did the baby or child have at least 4 stools on the day that loose liquid stools
i184a
Did the frequent loose or liquid stools start at least 3 days before death?
i185o
Did the frequent loose or liquid stools continue up until death?
i186o
At any time during the final illness was there blood in the stools?
i187o
Was there blood in the stool up until death?
i188o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he vomit?
i189o
Did (s)he vomit in the week preceding the death?
i190o
Did (s)he vomit for at least 3 days before death?
i191o
Was there blood in the vomit?
i192o
Was the vomit black?
i193o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have any abdominal (belly) probl
i194o
Did (s)he have abdominal pain?
i195o
Was the abdominal pain severe?
i197a
Did (s)he have severe abdominal pain for less than 2 weeks before death?
i197b
Did (s)he have severe abdominal pain for at least 2 weeks before death?
i199a
Was the pain in the upper abdomen?
i199b
Was the pain in the lower abdomen?
i200o
Did (s)he have a more than usually protruding abdomen?
i201a
Did (s)he have a more than usually protruding abdomen for less than 2 weeks befo
i201b
Did (s)he have a more than usually protruding abdomen for at least 2 weeks befor
i203a
Did (s)he develop the protruding abdomen rapidly?
i204o
Did (s)he have any mass in the abdomen?
i205a
Did (s)he have a mass in the abdomen for less than 2 weeks before death?
i205b
Did (s)he have a mass in the abdomen for at least 2 weeks before death?
i207o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have a severe headache?
i208o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have a stiff neck?
i209a
Did (s)he have a stiff neck for less than one week before death?
i209b
Did (s)he have a stiff neck for at least one week before death?
i210o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have a painful neck?
i211a
Did (s)he have a painful neck for at least one week before death?
i212o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have mental confusion?
i213o
Did (s)he have mental confusion for at least 3 months before death?
i214o
During the illness that led to death, was (s)he unconscious?
i215o
Was (s)he unconscious for at least 24 hours before death?
i216a
Was (s)he unsconscious for at least 6 hours before death?
i217o
Did the unconsciousness start suddenly, quickly (at least within a single day)?
i218o
Did the unconsciousness continue until death?
i219o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have any convulsions?
i220o
Did (s)he experience any generalized convulsions or fits?
i221a
Did the convulsions last for less than 10 minutes?
i221b
Did the convulsions last for at least 10 minutes?
i222o
Did (s)he become unconscious immediately after the convulsion?
i223o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have any urine problems?
i224o
Did (s)he stop urinating?
i225o
Did (s)he go to urinate more often than usual?
i226o
Did (s)he pass blood in the urine?
i227o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have any sores or ulcers anywher
i228o
Did (s)he have sores?
i229o
Did the sores have clear fluid and/or pus?
i230o
Did (s)he have an ulcer (pit) on the foot?
i231o
Did any ulcer ooze pus?
i232a
Did the ulcer ooze pus for at least 2 weeks?
i233o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have any skin rash?
i234a
Did (s)he have the skin rash for less than one week?
i234b
Did (s)he have the skin rash for at least one week?
i235a
Did (s)he have a rash on the face?
i235b
Did (s)he have a rash on the trunk or abdomen?
i235c
Did (s)he have a rash on the extremities?
i235d
Did (s)he have a rash everywhere?
i236o
Did (s)he have measles rash?
i237o
Did (s)he ever have shingles or herpes zoster?
i238o
During the illness that led to death, did her/his skin flake off in patches?
i239o
During the illness that led to death, did he/she have areas of the skin that tur
i240o
During the illness that led to death, did he/she have areas of the skin with red
i241o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he bleed from anywhere?
i242o
Did (s)he bleed from the nose, mouth or anus?
i243o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have noticeable weight loss?
i244o
Was (s)he severely thin or wasted?
i245o
During the illness that led to death, did s/he have a whitish rash inside the mo
i246o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have stiffness of the whole body
i247o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have puffiness of the face?
i248a
Did (s)he have puffiness of the face for at least one week before death?
i249o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have swollen legs or feet?
i250a
Did the swelling last for at least 3 days before death?
i251o
Did (s)he have both feet swollen?
i252o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have general puffiness all over
i253o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have any lumps?
i254o
Did (s)he have any lumps or lesions in the mouth?
i255o
Did (s)he have any lumps in the neck?
i256o
Did (s)he have any lumps in the armpit?
i257o
Did (s)he have any lumps in the groin?
i258o
During the illness that led to death, was (s)he in any way paralysed?
i259o
Did (s)he have paralysis of only one side of the body?
i260a
Was only the right side of the body paralysed?
i260b
Was only the left side of the body paralysed?
i260c
Was only the lower part of the body paralysed?
i260d
Was only the upper part of the body paralysed?
i260e
Was only one leg paralysed?
i260f
Was only one arm paralysed?
i260g
Was the entire body paralysed?
i261o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have difficulty swallowing?
i262a
Did (s)he have difficulty swallowing for at least one week before death?
i263a
Did (s)he have difficulty with swallowing solids?
i263b
Did (s)he have difficulty with swallowing liquids?
i264o
Did (s)he have pain upon swallowing?
i265o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have yellow discolouration of th
i266a
Did (s)he have the yellow discolouration for at least 3 weeks before death?
i267o
During the illness that led to death, did her/his hair change to a reddish or ye
i268o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he look pale (thinning/lack of bloo
i269o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he have sunken eyes?
i270o
During the illness that led to death, did (s)he drink a lot more water than usua
i271o
Was the baby able to suckle or bottle-feed within the first 24 hours after birth
i272o
Did the baby ever suckle in a normal way?
i273o
Did the baby stop suckling?
i274a
Did the baby stop suckling on the 2nd day of life or later?
i275o
Did the baby have convulsions starting within the first 24 hours of life?
i276o
Did the baby have convulsions starting more than 24 hours after birth?
i277o
Did the baby's body become stiff, with the back arched backwards?
i278o
During the illness that led to death, did the baby have a bulging or raised font
i279o
During the illness that led to death, did the baby have a sunken fontanelle?
i281o
During the illness that led to death, did the baby become unresponsive or uncons
i282o
Did the baby become unresponsive or unconscious soon after birth, within less th
i283o
Did the baby become unresponsive or unconscious more than 24 hours after birth?
i284o
During the illness that led to death, did the baby become cold to touch?
i285a
Was the baby more than 3 days old when it started feeling cold to touch?
i286o
During the illness that led to death, did the baby become lethargic, after a per
i287o
Did the baby have redness or discharge from the umbilical cord stump?
i288o
During the illness that led to death, did the baby have skin ulcer(s) or pits?
i289o
During the illness that led to death, did the baby have yellow skin, palms (hand
i290o
Did the baby or infant appear to be healthy and then just die suddenly?
i294o
During the illness that led to death, did she have any swelling or lump in the b
i295o
During the illness that led to death, did she have any ulcers (pits) in the brea
i296o
Did she ever have a period or menstruate?
i297o
During the illness that led to death, did she have excessive vaginal bleeding in
i298o
Was the bleeding excessive?
i299o
Did her menstrual period stop naturally because of menopause?
i300o
Did she have vaginal bleeding after cessation of menstruation?
i301o
Was there excessive vaginal bleeding in the week prior to death?
i302o
At the time of death was her period overdue?
i303a
Had her period been overdue for at least 4 weeks?
i304o
Did she have a sharp pain in her abdomen shortly before death?
i305o
Was she pregnant (incl. in labour) at the time of death?
i306o
Did she die within 6 weeks of delivery, abortion or miscarriage?
i309o
Was she, or had she been, pregnant for less than 6 months when she died?
i310o
Please confirm: When she died, she was NEITHER pregnant NOR had recently been pr
i312o
Did she die during labour or delivery?
i313o
Did she die after delivering a baby?
i314o
Did she die within 24 hours after delivery?
i315o
Did she die within 6 weeks of childbirth?
i316o
Did she give birth to a live baby (within 6 weeks of her death)?
i317o
Did she die during or after a multiple pregnancy?
i318o
Was she breastfeeding the child in the days before death?
i319a
Did she die during or after her first pregnancy?
i319b
Did she have four or more pregnancies before this one?
i320o
Had she had any previous Caesarean section?
i321o
During pregnancy, did she suffer from high blood pressure?
i322o
Did she have foul smelling vaginal discharge during pregnancy or after delivery?
i323o
During the last 3 months of pregnancy, did she suffer from convulsions?
i324o
During the last 3 months of pregnancy did she suffer from blurred vision?
i325o
Did she have excessive bleeding during pregnancy or shortly after delivery?
i326o
Was there vaginal bleeding during the first 6 months of pregnancy?
i327o
Was there vaginal bleeding during the last 3 months of pregnancy but before labo
i328o
Did she have excessive bleeding during labour, before delivery?
i329o
Did she have excessive bleeding after delivery or abortion?
i330o
Was the placenta completely delivered?
i331o
Did she deliver or try to deliver an abnormally positioned baby?
i332a
Did her labour last longer than 24 hours?
i333o
Did she attempt to terminate the pregnancy?
i334o
Did she recently have a pregnancy that ended in an abortion (spontaneous or indu
i335o
Did she die during an abortion?
i336o
Did she die within 6 weeks of having an abortion?
i337a
Did the mother deliver at a health facility or clinic?
i337b
Did the mother deliver at home?
i337c
Did the mother deliver elsewhere (not at a health facility nor at home)?
i338o
Did she receive professional assistance during the delivery?
i340o
Did she have an operation to remove her uterus shortly before death?
i342o
Was the delivery normal vaginal, without forceps or vacuum?
i343o
Was the delivery vaginal, with forceps or vacuum?
i344o
Was the delivery a Caesarean section?
i347o
Was her baby born more than one month early?
i354o
Was the child part of a multiple birth?
i355a
If the child was part of a multiple birth, was it born first?
i356o
Is the child's mother still alive?
i357o
Did the child's mother die during or shortly after the delivery?
i358a
Did the child's mother die in the baby's first year of life?
i360a
Was the baby born in a health facility or clinic?
i360b
Was the baby born at home?
i360c
Was the baby born somewhere else (e.g. on the way to a clinic)?
i361o
Did the mother receive professional assistance during the delivery?
i362o
At birth, was the baby of usual size?
i363o
At birth, was the baby smaller than normal (weighing under 2.5 kg)?
i364o
At birth, was the baby very much smaller than usual, (weighing under 1 kg)?
i365o
At birth, was the baby larger than normal (weighing over 4.5 kg)?
i367a
Was the baby born during the ninth month (at least 37 weeks) of pregnancy?
i367b
Was the baby born during the eighth month (34 to 37 weeks) of pregnancy?
i367c
Was the baby born before the eighth month (less than 34 weeks) of pregnancy?
i368o
Were there any complications in the late part of the pregnancy (defined as the l
i369o
Were there any complications during labour or delivery?
i370o
Was any part of the baby physically abnormal at time of delivery? (for example:
i371o
Did the baby/child have a swelling or defect on the back?
Total: 359
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