UNDERCOUNT OF DRUG-RELATED DEATH REGISTRATION IN IRAN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY FOR CAUSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Background and Aim : The death registration is conducted by different systems in Iran. The drug-related death registration is exclusively conducted by Ministry of Health and Legal Medicine Organization using death certificates, autopsy reports, and toxicology report. However, this study aimed to investigate the causes of undercounting drug-related deaths in Iran and provide recommendations to solve it.Methods : This was qualitative (content analysis) study. The interview was conducted purposefully and separately with 12 experts in death registration in Ministry of Health and Legal Medicine Organization to collect data; then, the collected data was analyzed.Results : According to participants, the causes of undercounting drug-related deaths registration in Legal Medicine Organization and Ministry of Health were classified in four categories: weak administration system, physician and personnel training problems, system constraints, and problems of client. Also, the recommendations for eliminating the undercounting were provided in three administrative-system, technology, and educational domains.Conclusion : The high-quality registration of death data is a good source of research and policy-making. Eliminating the weaknesses in administrative, education, and technology systems may help better registration of data

Keywords:

Death Certificates , Iran , Drug-Related Side Effects.