Death certificates errors in academic hospital; Review of 617 cases at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi

The importance of death certification goes beyond the benefits to the health facility as they also provide invaluable legal and epidemiological benefits. Errors in filling Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD) greatly affect global mortality statistics and hence create challenges for public health programs to be executed effectively. The present study used both retrospective and prospective study design to review 617 death certificates. Male mortality rate was prevalent, accounting for 54.0% (p=0.033), modal age range was from 40 to 59 years (p=0.000), while most certificates were issued in January (p=0.000). Most death cases and errors were from the medicine specialty with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Chirurgery (MBCHB) qualification. Single, double and multiple errors were recorded in the present study. Absence of time interval of cause of death, incomplete cause of death and abbreviations were the prevailing errors. Others include absence of physician qualification and department/ward, handwriting and cause of death queries (p=0.000). Errors can be reduced by organizing periodic seminar on death certification for clinicians, especially trainees/interns.