Data & Methodology
How HEAL-SL collects and determines cause of death across Sierra Leone
Data Collection in the Community
HEAL-SL field data collection covers over 600 primary sampling units (PSUs) across 190 chiefdoms in 16 districts and 4 provinces. Each PSU contains approximately 100 households and 550 individuals.
Enumeration
Electronic forms are used for baseline and annual follow-up surveys. Surveyors record household membership, demographics, and death events across all primary sampling units.
Verbal Autopsy
With consent, trained surveyors conduct electronic verbal autopsies (eVA) using the 2016 WHO instrument to document symptoms and circumstances of each death.
Cause of Death
Two physicians independently review each verbal autopsy and assign ICD-10 codes. A third physician reconciles any discrepancies to determine the final cause.
District Coverage
Blue dots represent surveyed houses across Sierra Leone