{
  "abstract": "Objectives The study sought to understand the characteristics of community deaths due to cholera in Zambia. We sought to examine the drivers of mortality from cholera among communities in Zambia’s 2023–2024 outbreak.Design/setting This is a descriptive study of the characteristics of community deaths due to cholera in three provinces in Zambia. Routine surveillance data collected between 14 October 2023 and 16 April 2024, comprising a national line list of cholera deaths, were used for this study.Participants 178 participants were included in the study and completed it. All community deaths on the line list were eligible for inclusion. This comprised: deceased individuals whose death was associated with cholera or who met the national cholera case definition (suspected or confirmed); death occurring in the community, en route or on arrival to a health facility prior to admission; and death must have occurred between 14 October 2023 and 16 April 2024. Deceased individuals whose family members could not be traced or did not consent to participate in the interview were excluded.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was identifying characteristics of cholera-related community deaths. There were no secondary outcomes measured.Results Among 178 community deaths due to cholera, the majority were males (61.8%), with the highest mortality in adults aged 35–49 years (22.5%). Over half of the deaths occurred on arrival at healthcare facilities due to delays influenced by socioeconomic barriers. Comorbidities such as HIV/AIDS and hypertension were present in 23% of cases.Conclusions The study found that males, death on arrival at healthcare facilities, delays in seeking healthcare and comorbidities such as HIV/AIDS and hypertension were more frequently observed among those who died due to cholera in the community. These findings highlight the need for enhanced early care-seeking behaviours, improved access to timely treatment and targeted interventions for individuals with comorbidities to potentially reduce cholera mortality.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Oliver Mweso"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Agatha Shula"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Cephas Sialubanje"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Stephen Longa Chanda"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Thelma Shinjeka"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Kelvin Mwangilwa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Lusungu Chirwa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Danny Kabwe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia",
        "School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Jonathan Mwanza"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Nyuma Mbewe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia",
        "Zambia Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia",
        "University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Sombo Fwoloshi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Nyambe Sinyange"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Muzala Kapina"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Azmach Gebregiorgis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Otipo Shikanga"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Moses Mwale"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Muyereka Nyirenda"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organization, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Peter Lisulo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Peter Chipimo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Wildlife Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Benjamin Mubemba"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public Health, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia",
        "Public Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Nawa Mukumbuta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Nathan Bakyaita"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Roma Chilengi"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Descriptive study of cholera-related deaths in communities during Zambia’s 2023–2024 outbreak: key insights",
  "uid": "8b635ed9-e1e1-5219-9e5f-e1fc68a4d752"
}