Vital Statistics System in Mauritius Managing administrative data

Vital Statistics System in Mauritius Managing administrative data

Presentation Outline Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø To provide an overview of Vital Statistics (VS) in Mauritius The Vital Statistics System Desirable characteristics of VS system derived from Civil Registration Data Source and Coverage Civil Registration Compilation & examples of VS Dissemination of Vital Statistics Compliance of VS of Mauritius with desirable characteristics Uses of VS Future developments

The Vital Statistics System • It is the collection of information on vital events by civil registration or through surveys. • Compiling, processing, analysing, evaluating, presenting and disseminating these data in statistical form. • In Mauritius our source of vital statistics is mainly the Civil Registration System that is based on administrative data.

Desirable characteristics of Vital Statistics System derived from Civil Registration • Universal coverage (inclusive of all vital events in every population group comprising the national area) • Continuity (data should reflect short-term fluctuations, seasonal movements & longer-term movements) • Confidentiality (intended uses for specific administrative & statistical purposes) • Regular dissemination (for health intervention & population estimation, administrative uses, vital event cross classified by its demographic & socioeconomic characteristics, etc. )

Coverage & Data Source for Mauritius • • • Live Birth Still Birth Marriage Civil Status Division Death Divorce (Supreme Court)

Civil Registration • 35 Civil Status Offices scattered around the Republic to register live births, still births, marriages and deaths. • All Civil Status Offices are computerized and certificates may be obtained instantly at these offices. • The regional Civil Status Offices are well within reach of the average citizen for registration purposes. Registration and the first issue of a birth, death and marriage certificate is free of charge.

Compilation of Vital Statistics • Records on live birth, still birth, marriage & death in electronic formats are obtained from the Central Civil Status Office on a monthly basis with a lag of 2 -3 weeks. • The data is uploaded into a system, set up under the e-Business Plan, that automatically codes district of residence, Town/VCA & occupations. • A set of standard tables based on the data can easily be generated by the system. • The coding of causes of death is undertaken by the staff of the M/Health & Quality of Life. • Statistics on Divorces on hard copies obtained on a yearly basis from the Judicial department with 5 -6 months lag.

Examples of Vital Statistics produced • Live Births: Crude Birth Rate, Total Fertility Rate (TFR), Age Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR), etc. • Still Births: Still Birth Rate • Marriage: Marriage Rate • Death: Crude Death Rate, Infant Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate, etc. • Divorce: Divorce Rate Life tables, Deaths by selected causes & age, Infant Death by selected causes, Early & Late neonatal mortality rate, etc.

Dissemination of Vital Statistics • Print publications: ØEconomic & Social Indicator (twice yearly) ØAnnual Digest ØDigest of Demography(Annual) ØCivil Status Report • SM website: Historical series as from 1972 http: //statsmauritius. govmu. org

Compliance of Vital Statistics of Mauritius with desirable characteristics Mauritius complies in every respect with the required characteristics given that: – Vital Registration System of Mauritius has all the desirable characteristics as opposed to enumeration through survey – Our statistics are governed by the Statistics Act – Our statistics are regularly disseminated – Birth and death registration is complete • Given that the registration of children at school requires a birth certificate leads towards complete birth registration • The disposal of a dead body strictly requires the registration of the deceased which leads towards complete death registration

Uses of Vital Statistics in Mauritius • To inform policy makers(at national level) • Statistics on births widely used to shape & monitor population policies in the past when fertility was high (birth control) • For prompt health interventions & analysis on causes of death • Life tables & expectancy of life will allow for in-depth analysis of mortality

Uses of Vital Statistics in Mauritius • International comparison • Providing inputs for the UN Demographic Yearbook – a major instrument for international statistical data dissemination • Monitoring of MDGs/SDGs where indicators are directly derived as in cases of: (i) Reducing child mortality (ii) Improving maternal health (iii) Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases

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