1. Evaluating the Completeness of the Civil Registration System

2. Civil registration – Quality control
Level of registration completeness
- All local registration areas carried the procedures
- Every vital event has a record on the system
- All local offices transmit the records up the ladder

3. Direct methods Direct methods
Matching – Using civil registration records as independent source
Matching – Using administrative and social records
Matching – Using population censuses and surveys lists
Dual records system

4. M1. Civil registration records as independent source
Evaluating birth register using death register
Consists of matching the death record with the birth record
Up to 30 years of age
Not really a good measure – mobility of population
Useful for infant deaths
Accuracy increases if births occur in medical facilities

5. M1. Civil registration records as independent source
Hand matching
If the number of infant deaths is small
If both events (birth and death) occur in the same health facility
In the local registrar office, given the small numbers, a feasible option

6. M1. Civil registration records as independent source
Electronic matching
Fast, effective approach
Having a PIN - advantage
Requirements
Computerized records
Developing applications
Hardware

7. M1. Civil registration records as independent source
Edit method
Identify, for example, record with low birth-weights
Match with death record
If not found, check with the facility to confirm child is alive

8. M2. Administrative and social records
Involves other organizations
Matching birth and death records with:
School enrolment
Hospital records
Baptism
Burial records
Newborn screening programs
Reporting of HIV

9. M3. Population census and survey records
Lists of births and deaths
Census enumeration areas
Census questions
Matching with civil registration records

10. M4. Dual record system
Matching civil registration system (CVS) and periodical retrospective survey (PRS)
When information from two sources are matched, four mutually exclusive sets of records emerge:
Events recorded by both exercises
Recorded by CVS but not PRS
Recorded by PRS but not CVS
Not recorded by either source:

11. Not recorded by either source:
M4. Dual record system
Not recorded by either source:
N=C+N1+N2+((N1xN2)/C)
Where
C = the number of vital events recorded by both methods
N1= the number of events recorded by the first method but not the second
N2= the number of events recorded by the second method but not the first
Thus, the events omitted by both:
Y=((N1xN2)/C)

12. Advantages and limitations of direct methods
Two sources for matching
If both are quality sources and independent – accurate
Pointing to the cause
Feasible at all levels
Limitations
Really independent?
Population movements undermine accuracy
Costs

13. Indirect methods
These methods were developed to assess the completeness and quality of vital statistics
Statistics is coming from civil registration
Statistics of low quality  most likely consequence of errors in registering events
Comparison of trends

14. Indirect methods
These methods were developed to assess the completeness and quality of vital statistics
Statistics is coming from civil registration
Statistics of low quality  most likely consequence of errors in registering events
Comparison of trends
Delayed registration
Patterns in the sex ratio of births
Comparison with census data
Comparison of rates observed in similar population or previous periods
Incomplete data methods: indirect techniques

15. Comparison of trends
At small area level
Expected values established by previous trends
Unexpected current values
Large proportion of “unknown” answers

16. Delayed registration
Monitoring difference between date of occurrence and date of registration
% of events not registered in prescribed period of time – indicator of possible deficiency
Excessive proportion of delayed registration in health facilities indicates overburden – inadequate infrastructure

17. Comparison with census data
Quality of the census itself
Census content
If all basic components of population are accurately captured by census – birth, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, then
Intercensal population growth of population equals the sum of intercensal births and immigrants minus intercensal deaths and emigrants
Major obstacle – reliable migration statistics

18. Comparison of rates
Useful, but requires caution
Many factors, not necessarily linked to registration errors
Differences in age structures
Population estimates
Skewed population

19. Indirect techniques
Technical approach
Long history of use
Complex
Require specific training

20. Summary
Checks and balances - crucial
A list of techniques
Best approach – a combination of direct and indirect assessment
Computerization increases checking opportunities