Demographic and Socio-economic Correlates of Birth Registration and Having Birth Certificates:

Implications for the Civil Registration Authority in Zambia

Abstract

Background: The study investigated socio-economic and demographic correlates of birth registration in Zambia; and determined implications for the Civil Registration System. Although the issue of unregistered children is a global problem, most unregistered children are found in Least Developed Countries, Zambia inclusive, where only 39 percent of the children under-five years are registered (UNICEF, 2013).
Methods: The study used data generated through the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey by pooling two datasets namely the Kids and Personal Record Datasets. A total of 12,229 children under five formed the basis of analysis.
Results: This study reveals that, overall birth registration among children under-5 years in Zambia is extremely low (11%) with only (4%) of those registered having a birth certificate. The major correlates of birth registration included household heads working status at the time of the survey and wealth index of households. For those who managed to be certified, the most significant correlates were, age, birth order (2nd), place of delivery, mothers educational level, religion and wealth index.
Conclusion: This study has revealed that while specific correlates apply generally and are true across space and regions, it is important to examine in detail influences of each of them on birth registration and certification. As a result, the need to ensure sustainable avenues of collecting birth data and motioning upon the citizenry of the importance of this exercise should be heightened.