Transcription
Strengthening civil registrationand vital statistics for births, deathsand causes of deathRESOURCE KIT
Strengthening civil registrationand vital statistics for births, deathsand causes of deathRESOURCE KIT
WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication DataStrengthening civil registration and vital statistics for births, deaths and causes of death: resource kit.1. Vital statistics. 2. Birth rate. 3. Mortality. 4. Cause of death. 5. Registries. 6. Data collection. I. World Health Organization.ISBN 978 92 4 150459 1(NLM classification: WA 900) World Health Organization 2013All rights reserved.Publications of the World Health Organization are available on the WHO web site (www.who.int) or can be purchased from WHOPress, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: 41 22 791 3264; fax: 41 22 791 4857; e-mail:bookorders@who.int).Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should beaddressed to WHO Press through the WHO web site (http://www.who.int/about/licensing/copyright form/en/index.html).The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinionwhatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of itsauthorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines forwhich there may not yet be full agreement.The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended bythe World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, thenames of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication.However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility forthe interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damagesarising from its use.Designed by Lisa Schwarb, LausannePrinted in Luxembourg
AcknowledgementsThis publication is the outcome of expert collaboration in the fields of civil registration,vital statistics, and public health. The authors of the eight modules which comprise thisresource kit were: Alan Lopez, Lene Mikkelsen, Rasika Rampatige and Susan Upham(School of Population Health, University of Queensland); Carla AbouZahr (Consultant toHealth Information Systems Knowledge Hub, School of Population Health, University ofQueensland); Saman Gamage (National Institute of Health Sciences, Kalutara, Sri Lanka);Don de Savigny (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland); and AnnekeSchmider (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Brisbane, Australia).The authors wish to thank the following for their contributions, comments andsuggestions: Mohamed Ali (WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo,Egypt); Mark Amexo (WHO Health Metrics Network, Geneva, Switzerland); Ties Boerma(WHO Department of Health Statistics and Information, Geneva, Switzerland); KarenCarter (School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia); JyotsnaChikersal (WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, Delhi, India); Yusuf Hemed (MEASUREEvaluation, Maryland, USA); Mie Inoue (WHO Department of Health Statistics andInformation, Geneva, Switzerland); Robert Jakob (WHO Department of Health Statisticsand Information, Geneva, Switzerland); Gregory Kbadi (Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakaraand Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania); Derege Kebede (WHO Regional Officefor Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo); Mark Landry (WHO Regional Office for theWestern Pacific, Manila, Philippines); Andrea Lanyon (Health and Vitals Program, AustralianBureau of Statistics, Brisbane, Australia); Enrique Loyola (WHO Regional Office for Europe,Copenhagen, Denmark); Rafael Lozano (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation,University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA); Doris MaFat (WHO Departmentof Health Statistics and Information, Geneva, Switzerland); Fran Mawdsley (Health andVitals Program, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Brisbane, Australia); Henry Mwanyika(Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland); Chalapati Rao (School ofPopulation Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia); Philip Setel (The Billand Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA); William Soumbey-Alley (WHORegional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo); Claudia Stein (WHO RegionalOffice for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark); Bedirhan Ustun (WHO Department of HealthStatistics and Information, Geneva, Switzerland); Sue Walker (School of Public Health,Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia); Maxine Whittaker (AustralianCentre for International and Tropical Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia);and Christopher Zielinski (WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of theCongo).The authors also wish to acknowledge the developmental editing services provided byTony Waddell.Financial support was received from the Health Metrics Network hosted by WHO, and fromthe Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub, School of Population Health, Universityof Queensland, supported by the Australian Agency for International Development.iii
ContentsAbbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VIIForeword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IXExecutive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . XIIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1MODULE 1: Strategic options and roadmap for improvement1.11.21.31.41.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19MODULE 2: Legal basis for civil registration and vital statistics2.12.22.32.42.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2121283538MODULE 3: Registration practices, coverage and completeness3.13.23.33.43.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63MODULE 4: Death certification and cause of death4.14.24.34.44.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6565768284MODULE 5: Coding mortality data5.15.25.35.45.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102v
MODULE 6: Data quality checks, access and use6.16.26.36.46.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105107110122127MODULE 7: Interim methods for generating vital statisticswhen civil registration is inadequate7.17.27.37.47.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131132139154155MODULE 8: Building support for strengthening civil registrationand vital statistics8.18.28.38.48.5Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Key actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tools and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159159167182184References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203AnnexesAnnex A:Annex B:Annex C:Annex D:Annex E:Annex F:Annex G:Annex H:Annex I:Examples of Plan International’s role in changing law and policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Approved ICD-10 training materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Application of data-quality criteria to civil statistics –an example from Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Four dimensions of the GDDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Contents of the INDEPTH Demographic Surveillance System Resource Kit. . . . .SAVVY Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stakeholder identification template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Poster used in communication campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Recommended structure for a business case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212214215217218222223224225INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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IS alian Coding Benchmark AuditAutomated Classification of Medical EntitiesAfrican Development Bankacquired immunodeficiency syndromeAfrican UnionAustralian Agency for International DevelopmentCenters for Disease Control and Preventioncompact disk – read only memoryCommission Internationale de l’État Civil (International Commission on Civil Status)Central Population Registercivil registration and vital statisticsDublin Core Metadata InitiativeData Documentation Initiativedemographic surveillance areadead on arrivalData Quality Assessment FrameworkDisease Surveillance Point (China)Economic Commission for Africaentity reference numberEconomic and Social Commission for Asia and the PacificGeneral Data Dissemination Systemglobal positioning satelliteHealth and demographic surveillance systemHealth Information Systems Knowledge Hub, School of Population Health,University of Queenslandhuman immunodeficiency virusHealth Metrics NetworkInternational Commission on Civil StatusInternational Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health ProblemsInternational Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems,10th revisioninformation and communications technologyInternational Federation of Health Information Management AssociationsInstitute for Health Metrics and EvaluationInternational Monetary FundInternational Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations andTheir Health in Developing Countriesvii
DVAWHOWHO-FICviiiLatin America and the Caribbean RegionMillennium Development GoalMinistry of Women and Social Development, PeruMortality Medical Data SystemMonitoring of Vital Events, including through the use of Information TechnologyNational Centre for Health Statistics, United Statesnongovernmental organizationNational Institute of Health Sciences, Sri LankaOrganization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentPan American Health OrganizationPartnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st CenturyPopulation Health Metrics Research Consortiumpersonal identification numberSociety for Participatory Research in Asiareference data modelSample vital registration with verbal autopsySample Registration System (India)United Nations Population FundOffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesUnited Nations Children’s FundUnited Nations Statistics DivisionUnited States Agency for International Developmentverbal autopsyWorld Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization Family of International Classifications
ForewordThis Resource Kit appears at just the right moment. The 2015 deadline for the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) is fast approaching, and health and development practitionersare engaged in a wide-ranging critical analysis of the progress made, the challengesremaining and emerging needs. The world is, however, a very different place now comparedwith the year 2000 which carried all the hopes and expectations of a new millennium. Todaywe are grappling with financial, economic and food crises, accelerating environmentalchange, ongoing wars and civil conflict and a myriad of challenges to human health andsustainable development. In these circumstances, accountability is at a premium – healthactions must be carefully monitored, results delivered and efficiency enhanced. Andaccountability implies the ability to count. This is what this document is all about – theability to count births and deaths, and to correctly determine the causes of those deaths.Currently, millions of people in Africa and Asia are born and die without leaving any tracein legal records or official statistics – because these systems have stagnated over the past30 years. Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems are not only a source of legaldocumentation and empowerment for individuals, but also generate crucial evidence foreconomic, social and health decision-making. The global commitment to the MDGs hashighlighted the urgent need for reliable, continuous and comparable vital statistics and hascreated a momentum to improve birth and death data. As attention shifts to understandingand addressing the challenges posed by the post-2015 agenda – including disease control,human rights, equity, sustainable development and access to basic services – it is becomingever more apparent that weak CRVS systems impair the ability of countries to monitorand strengthen targeted development policies, particularly for health. This Resource Kitspecifically provides key guidance that countries with weak CRVS systems can use todevelop and successfully implement improvement strategies.The registration of vital events thus provides the foundation for policy and programmedevelopment and implementation, and a platform for the delivery of government servicesto the population. It also contributes to efforts to promote equity and justice by enhancingaccess to public services by the poorest and most vulnerable population groups. It bolstersthe capacity of national and local administrators to deliver services by helping to identifywhat interventions are needed and by whom. Investments in civil registration pay forthemselves many times over by improving the targeting of services and increasing theefficiency of resource allocation. Generating trustworthy statistics on mortality levels andtrends, and on causes of death, enables not only the identification of those groups at mostrisk, but is the key to evaluating the responses mounted to emerging health threats.In 2011, at the request of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Commissionon Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health was convened bythe World Health Organization. The Commission recommended that countries prioritizeincreased efforts to strengthen their CRVS systems. In all regions, including Africa, theAmericas, Asia, the Eastern-Mediterranean and the Pacific, regional and country activitiesare now under way, with the full support of the United Nations, the World HealthOrganization, the Health Metrics Network and development partners.ix
All stakeholders working to strengthen national statistics on births, deaths and causes ofdeath will find this Resource Kit to be of great and immediate value. It presents materials,drawn from many sources, in a user-friendly format that is accessible to both experts andthose with a general interest in evidence-based decision-making. The kit is part of a setof tools prepared by the World Health Organization, the Health Metrics Network and theUniversity of Queensland which uses a standards-based and country-driven approachto assessing CRVS systems and developing improvement plans. Some of these tools areintended to support countries in developing a strategic plan that is based on evidence. ThisResource Kit is of particular value at the implementation stage and will enable its users toidentify, locate and make use of the core standards, tools and materials needed to buildstronger and more-efficient systems.Thanks to the technical inputs of many individuals representing a broad range of expertisein the areas of civil registration, vital statistics, health information systems and public health,this Resource Kit represents a truly unique compilation of knowledge, experiences andresources. We have no doubt that it will serve as a valuable tool for all those working in thiscritically important area of human development.It is a fundamental principle of human rights that every life counts and that every individualmatters. If we are to give life to such principles it is time to start counting everyone. Whetheryou are engaged in CRVS on a day-to-day basis or only occasionally, a technical expert oran interested layperson, a producer or user of vital statistics, we urge you to make use ofthis document, draw upon the resources it contains and become part of the growing globalmomentum for action in this vital endeavour.Richard HortonThe LancetxMarie-Paule KienyAssistant Director-GeneralWorld Health OrganizationHMN Executive Secretary, a.i.Alan LopezChairman, HMN Executive BoardExecutive Director, HealthInformation Systems Hub,University of Queensland
Executive summaryThis Resource Kit is designed to support countries in planning and implementingimprovements to their civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) sy
MMDS Mortality Medical Data System MoVE-IT Monitoring of Vital Events, including through the use of Information Technology NCHS National Centre for Health Statistics, United States NGO nongovernmental organization NIHS National Institute of Health Sciences, Sri Lanka OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
