How to Increase the Rate of Birth Registration in Low-Income Countries
Birth registration is a critical protection tool for children. Without it, children cannot access essential services. A child without legal proof of identity is invisible to governments. In many countries, the rate of birth registration has increased substantially over the past 20 years, but there are still inequities in the process www.bdris.gov.bd.
Household
surveys are the only source of birth registration data in most low-income
countries. These surveys measure trends in birth registration and estimate the
completeness of the process. Surveys include information about factors
associated with non-registration and reported barriers to registration. This
information is also useful to identify areas for improvement. The quality of
reporting varies greatly between countries, however.
One
key barrier to registration is the cost of the process. Parents often have
difficulty affording the fees and other costs involved. Additionally, a large
number of people live in remote locations, making it difficult to get to a
registration facility. To reduce this obstacle, a registrar can send trained
staff to rural areas. Another promising solution is technology. Smartphone apps
allow registrars to digitally collect birth registration data in real time.
While
the majority of children registered within the first 6 months of life, there
are few children registered after 2 years. This is probably due to the
increased likelihood of orphan status. Nevertheless, it is important to
register the children as soon as possible. It is estimated that up to one
billion people around the world do not have any way to prove their identity. If
this trend continues, the entire global population could be unregistered by
2030. There is a need for increased investment in universal birth registration.
In
order to improve the rate of birth registration, countries should remove fees
for birth certificates. This will reduce barriers for people living in poverty
and with limited financial autonomy. As well, increasing the number of trained
registrars will help to improve the completeness of birth registration. Plan
International's Birth Registration Innovation Team is developing sustainable
solutions to address this challenge.
Among
the most common reasons for not registering a child are distance to a
registration facility and the complexity of the process. However, the process
can be made easier by eliminating fees and sending registrars to remote areas.
For example, Pakistan has developed a smartphone app for birth registration
that is easy to use and enables parents to register their baby online. By
implementing similar programs, countries will be able to increase the rates of
registration.
Among the most critical indicators of a well-functioning CRVS system are those relating to live births that are registered within a year. This information can be disaggregated by age, vital status and location. Using this information, countries can compare their total birth registration with their absolute numbers of registered births bdris.
Birth
registration is also an important indicator of civil rights. Children who are
not registered do not receive the benefits of birth certificate, which includes
parent titles, a birthweight, date and place of birth. Furthermore, children
who do not get registered often live in poorer households and are more likely
to live in remote locations.
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