An average of 23 deaths registered per day

In 2022, a total of 8,284 deaths were registered in Davao del Norte, a decrease of 21.5 percent from 10,551 in 2021. This corresponds to an average of 23 deaths per day, which translates to about 1 death per hour.

Highest number of deaths reported in the City of Tagum

Areas with relatively large population reported the highest number of deaths by place of occurrence and by usual residence. The highest number of registered deaths by place of occurrence was recorded in the City of Tagum with 3,490 (42.1%), followed by the City of Panabo with 1,148 (13.9%), and Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) with 771 (9.3%).

In terms of usual residence, the City of Tagum recorded 2,084 deaths (27.2%), City of Panabo 1,455 deaths (19.0%), and IGACOS 893 deaths (11.6%). These cities accounted for 57.8% of the total registered deaths in 2022.

January had the highest number of deaths 

In 2022, the highest number of deaths was recorded in January at 854 deaths. This is equivalent to an average of 28 deaths per day. The months of June and April had the lowest number of deaths in terms of daily average at 21 deaths per day.

More male deaths than female deaths recorded

Figure 4 shows the age-sex structure of registered deaths in 2022. It shows an inverted pyramid, with fewer deaths at the younger ages, except for children under one, and progressively increasing as people grow older.  

In Davao del Norte, the number of male deaths (4,892 or 59.1%) was higher than female deaths (3,392 or 40.9%) in 2022. 

The proportion of males who died was highest at the age of 65 to 69 years old (593 or 12.1% of male deaths) while for females, the largest was at the oldest age group, 85 years old and over (378 or 11.1% of female deaths).

The sex ratio of 130 indicates that there were about 144 male deaths for every 100 female deaths. 

Further, higher proportions of female deaths were observed in the older age groups (80 years old and over) compared to their male counterparts.

Four out of ten deaths were attended by health care provider

Attendant refers to a private physician, public health officer, hospital authority, or any other allied health care provider who attended the deceased.

In the province, more deaths were unattended, with only 44.4% or 3,676 deaths attended by a health care provider. 

Eight of ten attended deaths were attended by a hospital authority.

More than half of the total registered deaths occurred at home

In 2022, 4,755 or 57.4% of the total deaths occurred at home while 3,389 or 40.9% died in any health facilities. A few (1.7%) died in places other than home and health facilities, such as on the street, in public places, on board a vehicle, airplane or vessel while in transit, among others.

Six of ten infant deaths were male

Infant deaths are deaths that occurred before reaching age 1. In the province, 351 infant deaths were registered in 2022.

Six out of ten infant deaths were males (218 or 62.1%). Moreover, majority of infant deaths were attended by a hospital authority.

Table 1. Number of Registered Infant Deaths by Sex, Davao del Norte: 2022

Table 2. Number of Registered Infant Deaths by Attendant, Davao del Norte: 2022

Majority of maternal deaths were of women aged 35 to 39

A maternal death is defined by the World Health Organization as, “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.’’

Table 3. Number of Registered Maternal Deaths by Place of Occurrence,          Davao del Norte: 2022

In 2022, a total of 36 women were identified as having died of maternal causes in the province.

Among cities and municipalities, the City of Tagum recorded the highest number of maternal deaths with 30 deaths (83.3%). Majority of women who died of maternal causes were aged 35 to 39 (38.9%).

Ischaemic heart diseases, pneumonia were the leading causes of death

Deaths due to ischaemic heart diseases were the biggest contributors among the total deaths in the province in 2022, making up 10.2% (848) of the total registered deaths. This was followed by deaths due to pneumonia at 5.1% (422).

PEPITO D. AMOYEN

Chief Statistical Specialist