Civil registration and vital statistics: progress in the data revolution for counting and accountability

Abstract

New momentum for civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) is building, driven by the confluence of growing demands for accountability and results in health, improved equity, and rights-based approaches to development challenges, and by the immense potential of innovation and new technologies to accelerate CRVS improvement. Examples of country successes in strengthening of hitherto weak systems are emerging. The key to success has been to build collaborative partnerships involving local ownership by several sectors that span registration, justice, health, statistics, and civil society. Regional partners can be important to raise awareness, set regional goals and targets, foster country-to-country exchange and mutual learning, and build high-level political commitment. These regional partners continue to provide a platform through which country stakeholders, development partners, and technical experts can share experiences, develop and document good practices, and propose innovative approaches to tackle CRVS challenges. This country and regional momentum would benefit from global leadership, commitment, and support.

Captação de óbitos não informados ao Ministério da Saúde: pesquisa de busca ativa de óbitos em municípios brasileiros

“…Despite their importance, a significant number of countries do not have vital information systems for continuous registration, and among those that do, data coverage is not always complete, making their direct use for the construction of mortality indicators unfeasible 3 . In Brazil, the Mortality Information System (SIM) was implemented in 1976, based on the death certificate.…”

Measuring maternal, foetal and neonatal mortality: Challenges and solutions

“…However, population-based data on the causes of maternal, fetal and neonatal deaths are scarce in many high-burden countries, due to the lack of CRVS and medical certification. (33) Facility records can provide information on causes of death, but the extent to which these data represent causes of these deaths at the population level is questionable given low levels of institutional delivery across many parts of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. For example, women delivering at home and experiencing post-partum haemorrhage may die very rapidly before reaching a facility for emergency care, potentially underestimating the proportion of deaths attributable to haemorrhage if only facility level data are used.…”

Assessment of infant mortality surveillance: case study

“…1 In view of the magnitude and transcendence of infant mortality, in 2000, the United Nations established the reduction of these deaths by 2/3 by 2015 as one of the Millennium Development Goals. 2 Although Brazil achieved this goal in 2012, some countries did not reach the goal despite their efforts, leading to an extension of the deadline to 2030. 3,4 Several nations have acknowledged the need to associate the epidemiological profile of mortality with quality assessments of care provided to women and children during their trajectory, and have perfected strategies to facilitate greater understanding of social and care-related determinants of the deaths, including the mortality surveillance.…”

“…6 Given its potential, mortality surveillance generates special interest for the monitoring actions required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 2,3 Despite the relevance and scope of national infant mortality surveillance and the guidelines adopted by Brazilian states and municipalities, no publications assessing the implementation of this strategy in Brazil were identified. A case study, with its high potential for internal validity, provides valuable insight for managers, technicians, and researchers.…”