Background: With the expansion of antiretroviral treatment in the country, HIV prevalence figures alone, are expected to become insufficient for monitoring the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Objective: To develop a life table method for estimating AIDS mortality based on a surveillance of deaths at burial sites in Addis Ababa.
Methods: An empirical life table for 2001 based on observed deaths and the projected population is matched with a model life table on an age range where AIDS mortality is minimal. Excess mortality in adulthood is attributed to AIDS.
Results: Between 54.7 and 62.4% of adult deaths in Addis Ababa (age 20-64) are attributed to AIDS. The absolute numbers of AIDS deaths for the year 2001 is estimated between 7,000 and 9,000. Estimates of the absolute number of
deaths are sensitive to under-reporting of burials and therefore on the conservative side. In terms of the share of AIDS attributable mortality, women are worse affected than men. The absolute number of AIDS deaths is higher for men
than for women.
Conclusion: Life table methods corroborate earlier estimates of AIDS mortality based on other methodologies. Burial surveillance data used as an input to life table methods may be used for monitoring the demographic impact of AIDS
as well as the population level effects of the provision of antiretroviral treatment.