In WHO recommended Death Certificate, Main Underlying Cause of Death is recorded on
**Core Concept**
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of a standardized death certificate to ensure accurate and consistent recording of mortality data. The death certificate is a crucial tool for public health surveillance and research, and its completion requires careful consideration of the underlying cause of death.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The main underlying cause of death is recorded on the "I" box of the WHO death certificate. This is the box that corresponds to the disease or condition that initiated the train of events leading directly to death, or the underlying condition that started a chain of events that ultimately led to death. The ICD (International Classification of Diseases) codes are used to classify and report the underlying cause of death, and the I box is where the code for the main underlying cause is recorded.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because the I box is specifically designated for the main underlying cause of death, not the contributing causes.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because the II box is used to record the secondary or contributing causes of death, not the main underlying cause.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because the III box is used to record the underlying cause of death in cases where the main cause is unknown or cannot be determined.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
When completing a death certificate, it is essential to prioritize the main underlying cause of death, as this information is critical for public health surveillance and research.
**Correct Answer: I. Main underlying cause of death.**