Compilation of Vital Statistics at International Level

1. Compilation of Vital Statistics at International Level Session 10

2. Outline • Introduction • UN Demographic Yearbook • How complete are the data sent from countries? • Response and quality of data provided to DYB • Importance of collecting and providing data • What are the challenges countries face? • Census • Questions on Vital Statistics • Ways forward

3. Introduction • The UN international data collection process is based on sending a set of questionnaires to national statistics authorities. • A great deal of this process depends on the replies received from countries. • The major vehicle for international dissemination of national population and vital statistics is the UN Demographic Yearbook (DYB).

4. Demographic Yearbook (DYB) • Questionnaires: • Population estimates • Vital Statistics • Population census • General characteristics • Economic characteristics • Housing • Household characteristics • International Migration and travel Yearly When a census has been conducted Pilot test

5. Demographic Yearbook (DYB) • Vital Statistics (VS) questionnaire: • Comprehensive collection of tables distributed in 10 sections: 1. VS summary by urban/rural residence for the last 5 year 6. Infant deaths (deaths under 1 year of age) 5. Deaths 3. Fertility rates 4. Life Tables 2. Live births 8. Legally induced abortions 9. Marriages 7. Foetal deaths and Late foetal deaths 10. Divorces

6. Demographic Yearbook (DYB) • New characteristics of VS questionnaire: • Pre-filled with available data from past years for each country • Password protected to avoid changes in format which can impair data processing and validation • Currently being revised to reduce burden on countries

7. Demographic Yearbook (DYB) • Metadata: • Table called “coding scheme” requesting information of the quality and methods of vital statistics being sent to DYB • None of the SADC countries filled in the metadata “coding scheme” in this year’s data collection

8. Demographic Yearbook (DYB) • Sources of variation in data reliability (and thus affecting international comparability): • Completeness and accuracy of the data produced by a national registration system vary from one country to another. • In some cases, the registration system covers only certain vital events. • Differences in statistical definitions of vital events.

9. Demographic Yearbook (DYB) • … Sources of variation of data reliability (and thus affecting international comparability): • Differences in geographical coverage and national groups. • Diverse tabulation procedures • Official estimates, frequently from sample surveys: subject to sampling errors, non-sampling errors and completeness issues.

10. How complete are the data sent from countries?

11. How complete are the data sent from countries?

12. How complete are the data sent from countries? DYB 2006

13. How complete are the data sent from countries? • A look at specific tables, last 5 years

14. How complete are the data sent from countries? • A look at specific tables, last 5 years

15. How complete are the data sent from countries? • A look at specific tables, last 5 years

16. How complete are the data sent from countries? • Last 10 years

17. Response and quality of data provided to DYB • There’s a fair response within SADC region for general mortality and natality data. • But it is low for the rest of subjects. • E.g. Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe provide mortality and natality tables but no other subjects • Quality • Gaps in historical data

18. Importance of collecting and providing data • Informed public policy decisions • Enabling of social studies to test hypotheses • Better representation of countries in the international setting • International comparability • Global dissemination of data by UNSD

19. What are the challenges for providing data? • Information not collected within the country • Information collected within the country, but not reported to UNSD • Information collected and reported but because of lack of metadata, it cannot be published

20. Census • Questions recommended on Vital Statistics (core topics) • Children ever born alive • Children living • Date of birth of last child ever born alive • Household deaths in the past 12 months

21. Census – 2000 round

22. Census - 2010 round • Questions actually used by SADC countries • 2006 Lesotho Census • Children ever born alive • Date of birth of last child born alive • Children living • 2008 Malawi Census • Children ever born alive • Children living • Household deaths in the past 12 months

23. Census - 2010 round • Questions actually used by SADC countries • 2007 Mozambique Census • Children ever born alive • Children living • Household deaths in the past 12 months • 2007 Swaziland Census • Household deaths in the past 12 months • Children ever born alive • Children living

24. Discussion of ways forward • The DYB seeks to promote the dissemination and utilisation of national data at the international level. • How to improve level of response from countries to DYB? • Factors endogenous to DYB • Factors associated to national circumstances and civil registration system • How to improve quality of data provided to DYB? • What are the benefits to countries of responding to the DYB system?

25. Thank you