Background
Respiratory diseases are illnesses that affect the lungs and airway systems, making gas exchange and respiration difficult.1 Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, tuberculosis, acute lower respiratory tract infections and lung cancer are the major causes of death and disability.2 According to the 2020 report of the WHO, respiratory diseases were among the top 10 causes of death globally.3 Moreover, they caused significant economic impacts on patients, families and societies through direct healthcare expenses and indirect costs associated with lost productivity.4 People living in low- and middle-income countries were disproportionately affected by these diseases, mainly due to poverty, overcrowding, indoor air pollution and occupational exposures.5
The prevention and control of respiratory diseases have been areas of global health priority.4–6 The Forum of International Respiratory Societies is a major collaborative effort in this area, aiming to reduce the global burden of respiratory diseases by 2030. The forum calls for improvements in healthcare policies, systems, care delivery and research. Ethiopia has also shared this global initiative and incorporated respiratory health issues into its strategic document for health, the health sector transformation plan (2016–2025), which is adapted from the Sustainable Development Goal.7 8 To achieve this commitment, the government has further developed a specific national strategic plan for the prevention and control of respiratory diseases, with the overall goal of reducing the fatal and non-fatal effects of these diseases by promoting healthy lifestyles, reducing the prevalence of common risk factors, and providing integrated treatment and care services in all health facilities across the country most cost-effectively. For example, immunisation with a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, integrated service provision for tuberculosis and HIV, screening and treatment of tuberculosis among households with index cases, integrated community case management of pneumonia and availability of essential antibiotics can be mentioned as some of the interventions.9 Consequently, there has been a significant reduction in the death rates from major respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.8
However, despite such gains, there is still a high disparity in the burden of respiratory diseases among communities in different geographical areas and socioeconomic groups in Ethiopia.10 Moreover, obtaining information that explains respiratory-related deaths has been difficult, mainly due to a lack of reliable vital registration systems.11 This study aimed to assess respiratory-related proportionate mortality and associated factors in Alicho-Weriro district, southern Ethiopia, by using a verbal autopsy method to ascertain the cause of death in a population-based cross-sectional study. The findings may help the local health authority and other stakeholders as a guide for planning, budgeting and resource mobilisation.