A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories

Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries with limited death registration statistics, adult mortality rates are commonly estimated through sibling survival histories (SSH). In full SSH, respondents are asked about either the age, or the age and time of death, of each of their siblings...

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Main Authors: Bruno Masquelier, Ashira Menashe-Oren, Georges Reniers, Ian M. Timæus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Population Health Metrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-024-00350-0
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author Bruno Masquelier
Ashira Menashe-Oren
Georges Reniers
Ian M. Timæus
author_facet Bruno Masquelier
Ashira Menashe-Oren
Georges Reniers
Ian M. Timæus
author_sort Bruno Masquelier
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries with limited death registration statistics, adult mortality rates are commonly estimated through sibling survival histories (SSH). In full SSH, respondents are asked about either the age, or the age and time of death, of each of their siblings in turn. Full SSH allow direct mortality estimation but can be time-consuming to collect. In this study, we introduce a new indirect estimation method using summary SSH, requiring only a limited set of questions to produce recent mortality estimates. Methods We developed a set of 192 microsimulations representing a wide range of fertility and mortality patterns, and reconstructed summary SSH within these simulations as if they had been collected from adults aged 15–49. For each age group of respondents, we calculated coefficients that convert the proportion of adult siblings who died in the previous 5 years into age-specific mortality rates. We then evaluated the performance of this new method with real data, using 154 Demographic and Health Surveys. Results The new indirect method provides mortality rates that are consistent with direct estimates from full SSH. Across all DHS, the mean absolute percentage error in the risk of dying in adulthood (ages 15–49) is 6% for both men and women. In all but one survey, 95% confidence intervals around the direct and indirect estimates overlap. As with direct estimates of adult mortality from SSH, the indirect estimates remain, however, lower than those of the Population Division of the United Nations. Conclusions Summary questions on sibling survival can be included in censuses and rapid turn-around surveys for the measurement of recent adult mortality.
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spelling doaj-art-0d6ba3c2a4804772b91a08c0385541872024-11-17T12:40:33ZengBMCPopulation Health Metrics1478-79542024-11-0122112010.1186/s12963-024-00350-0A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling historiesBruno Masquelier0Ashira Menashe-Oren1Georges Reniers2Ian M. Timæus3Center for Demographic Research, University of Louvain (UCLouvain)Center for Demographic Research, University of Louvain (UCLouvain)Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineAbstract Background In low- and middle-income countries with limited death registration statistics, adult mortality rates are commonly estimated through sibling survival histories (SSH). In full SSH, respondents are asked about either the age, or the age and time of death, of each of their siblings in turn. Full SSH allow direct mortality estimation but can be time-consuming to collect. In this study, we introduce a new indirect estimation method using summary SSH, requiring only a limited set of questions to produce recent mortality estimates. Methods We developed a set of 192 microsimulations representing a wide range of fertility and mortality patterns, and reconstructed summary SSH within these simulations as if they had been collected from adults aged 15–49. For each age group of respondents, we calculated coefficients that convert the proportion of adult siblings who died in the previous 5 years into age-specific mortality rates. We then evaluated the performance of this new method with real data, using 154 Demographic and Health Surveys. Results The new indirect method provides mortality rates that are consistent with direct estimates from full SSH. Across all DHS, the mean absolute percentage error in the risk of dying in adulthood (ages 15–49) is 6% for both men and women. In all but one survey, 95% confidence intervals around the direct and indirect estimates overlap. As with direct estimates of adult mortality from SSH, the indirect estimates remain, however, lower than those of the Population Division of the United Nations. Conclusions Summary questions on sibling survival can be included in censuses and rapid turn-around surveys for the measurement of recent adult mortality.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-024-00350-0Adult mortalityIndirect estimationSibling survival historiesDemographic and Health Surveys
spellingShingle Bruno Masquelier
Ashira Menashe-Oren
Georges Reniers
Ian M. Timæus
A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories
Population Health Metrics
Adult mortality
Indirect estimation
Sibling survival histories
Demographic and Health Surveys
title A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories
title_full A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories
title_fullStr A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories
title_full_unstemmed A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories
title_short A new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories
title_sort new method for estimating recent adult mortality from summary sibling histories
topic Adult mortality
Indirect estimation
Sibling survival histories
Demographic and Health Surveys
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-024-00350-0
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