Ratan Singh, MD, Family and Community Medicine, Al Tahady University, PO BOX 16, Sirt, Libya, cell 091 610 1494, singhratan_2000@yahoo.com, Tunis Meidan, MBBS, MSc, LBMS, Family and Community Medicine, Garyounis University, PO Box 18251, Benghazi, Libya, and Ahlam Laradi, MBBS, DOBGY, Family & Community Medicine, Al Fateh University, P O Box13229, Tripoli, Libya.

The objective of the present study was to analyze the mortality data from Benghazi Governorate, Libya for finding pattern and causes of mortality and their role in Health Services Planning and Monitoring. The design of investigation was of a across sectional study, which included analysis of all 2208 deaths among 649 972 Libyan population during 2000. The crude death rate was 3.4 per 1000 population and under five mortality rate was 35.2 per 1000 live births. The age specific mortality rate (ASMR) per 100 000 population respectively ranged from a miimum of 49.5 for 5-19 years to a maximum of 5618.6 for 65 years and more. Out of all deaths, as classified by WHO (WHR 2002) group of communicable diseases, maternal conditions, perinatal conditions & nutritional deficiencies formed 30.0%; non communicable diseases formed 58.5% and injuries formed 11.5% of all deaths. According to age group, the commonest cause of mortality was congenital anomalies during infancy; external cause during childhood, youth & young adulthoodhood; diseases of cardiovascular system in middle age and senility in old age. In the absence National Health Survey and other more sophisticated and authentic data sources a simple analysis of the routinely available mortality data could be a valuable source for understanding mortality trends,the underlying causes of deaths and their differentiation by age,gender and month for planning health service, health manpower production and health promotion programmes. Analysis of mortality data could be quite valuable before morbidity and risk factor data would be generated for necessary modification of National Health Services and Health Manpower Production in a developing country like Libya.

Learning Objectives:

• To draw attention of participants to growing importance of Health Planning based on Mortality data in the absence of compehensive information in developing countries.

Keywords: Mortality,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Al Tahady University
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.