BACKGROUND : GGlobally two thirds of annual deaths are not registered and 53.4% deaths occur at home with no properly
assigned cause of death. In India, there is almost 53% home deaths and 45% of total registered deaths have no medical
attention in 2020. In Tamil Nadu 74 % are home deaths of which 62% contribution is from Village panchayat where the
MCCD coverage is 5% in 2020 .In Villupuram district 81% are home deaths of which 85% contribution with 0.2% MCCD
coverage noted in Village Panchayat during March-May 2022 .
OBJECTIVES : To understand the knowledge, attitude and practices from the family members of the deceased, related to
non-availability of medically certified cause of death of those who died at home (non-institutional), from 1st March 2022
to 31st May 2022 in the rural areas Villupuram district.
METHODOLOGY : It was a descriptive cross-sectional study in two Taluks (Vikravandi & Vanur) in Villupuram district
among any one family member of those who died at home between 1st March 2022 to 31st May 2022. Data collected
through semi-structured questionnaire using Health Care Workers (HCW). Proportions would be calculated regarding the
knowledge, attitude and practices as responded by the family members of the deceased
RESULTS : We interviewed 525(88%) relatives of the deceased, of which 93 % personnel died at home. Among home deaths
32% have received medical attention 30 days prior to death in which 6% received MCCD. Among the home deaths, it
was noted 22% among those died in home was brought to home by against medical advice from hospitals of which 3%
received MCCD. Among home deaths 5% received MCCD. The reasons for not attempting death certificate among home
deaths were they didn’t know about MCCD (72%), the cause of death of the deceased were assumed by the relatives (22%),
none of the officials asked MCCD (4%) Others (2%).
CONCLUSION : This study's findings call for community-based awareness programmes to provide a simple, clear and
understandable message to reinforce knowledge about MCCD through Health Care Providers to create awareness on
importance of population level cause-specific mortality statistics. Targeted training for doctors and Registrars on proper
capture of MCCD should be recommended.