Determining Cause of Death (DeCoDe) Panel Process (CHAMPS DeCoDe Process)

A panel of 8-10 experts (paediatrician, obstetrician, microbiologist, pathologist, epidemiologist) are using all available information from linked maternal data; child clinical data; household and individual demographic and epidemiologic data; verbal autopsy; microbiology; molecular biology (TAC); clinical diagnostics; site histopathology findings; and CHAMPS pathology laboratory (CPL) histopathology findings to assign each MITS case a cause of death.

Figure 1: DeCoDe Data source
 
All panel members individually review the case and using the available information, the site panel ascertains the underlying cause (event that precipitated the fatal sequence of events), and other antecedent, immediate and maternal causes of death in accordance with the WHO International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision and International Form of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
Figure 2: CHAMPS Local Expert Panel to Determine Cause of Death (DeCoDe)
See the Data

*Last updated on 17th February, 2024