Abstract
Strengthening civil registration systems requires a better understanding of motivations and barriers related to the registration of deaths. We used data from the 2013 Senegalese census to identify deaths that are more likely to be registered in the Dakar region, where the completeness of death registration is higher than 80%. We also interviewed relatives of the deceased whose death had been registered to collect data on reasons for registration and sources of information about the process. The likelihood of death registration was positively associated with age at death and household wealth. Death registration was also more likely in households whose head was older, had attended school, and had a birth certificate. At the borough commune level, the geographical accessibility of civil registration centres and population density were both positively associated with completeness of death registration. The main motivations for registering deaths were compliance with the legal obligation to do so and willingness to obtain a burial permit and a death certificate. Families, health facilities, and friends were the primary sources of information about death registration. Further research is needed to identify effective interventions to increase death registration completeness in Dakar, particularly amongst the poorest households and neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city.
Highlights
A functional system of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) is widely recognized by the international community as a crucial component of development planning and good governance
Many targets adopted under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda, such as reducing neonatal and under-five mortality, require high-quality statistics from CRVS
We focus on the Dakar region and aim to advance the understanding of motivations, or lack thereof, for obtaining a death certificate and the barriers to comprehensive death registration
Summary
A functional system of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) is widely recognized by the international community as a crucial component of development planning and good governance. We use a study conducted in civil registration centres in the Dakar region among relatives of the deceased to identify reasons for death registration and sources of information. A simpler method, developed by Adair and Lopez (2018), estimates completeness based on expected relationships with crude mortality rate, child mortality, and the proportion of the population aged 65 years and older, informed by estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study (Adair & Lopez, 2018) We applied this method to census data from the Dakar Region and obtained an estimate of 67%.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
