UNASSIGNED: Birth registration is the official and permanent recording of a child\'s birth within a civil registry, according to the legal requirements of a country. Although the Sustainable Development Goal targets providing legal identity for all by 2030, birth registration levels remain critically low. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postpartum women\'s knowledge of and attitudes towards birth registration and its associated factors in Northwest Ethiopia.
UNASSIGNED: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1-30/2022 among 422 participants who were selected using systematic random sampling. A pretested and structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were entered into EPI Info 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify the factors associated with knowledge and attitudes towards birth registration. Variables with a p-value of <0.05 were considered to be significantly associated with the dependent variable.
UNASSIGNED: Among the participants, 41.7% had good knowledge of birth registration. Less than one-quarter (22.6%) had a favorable attitude towards birth registration. Having a college and above educational level (AOR = 4.01, 95% CI: 2.3-8.4), being urban resident (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI: 3.1-7.4) and full exposure to media (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.5-5.7) were associated with knowledge of birth registration. Having primary educational status (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 2.96-8.31), being fully exposed to different media (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.22-11.36) and having four or more antenatal care visits (AOR = 5.10, 95% CI: 1.18-14.35) were associated with favorable attitudes towards birth registration.
UNASSIGNED: Postpartum women had poor knowledge of and attitudes towards birth registration. Increasing educated women at all levels, awareness rising through different media and integration of birth registration with antenatal care is crucial for realizing the registration of all births by 2030.

Orphans, especially those who experience maternal loss at a young age, face significant long-term negative impacts on their lives and psychological well-being, extending beyond the age of 18. As of July 2023, the global death toll of COVID-19 has reached 6.9 million, leaving behind an unknown number of orphans who require immediate attention and support from policymakers. In Thailand, from April 2020 to July 2022, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reached 42,194, resulting in 4,139 parental orphans. Among them, 452 (10.9%) were children under the age of five, who are particularly vulnerable and necessitate special policy attention and ongoing support. While the provision of 12 years of free education for all and Universal Health Coverage helps alleviate the education and health expenses borne by households supporting these orphans, the monthly government support of 2,000 Baht until the age of 18 is insufficient to cover their living costs and other education-related expenditures. We advocate for adequate financial and social support for COVID-19 orphans, emphasizing the importance of placing them with relatives rather than institutional homes. In the context of post-pandemic recovery, this perspective calls upon governments and global communities to estimate the number of orphans and implement policies to safeguard and support them in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Due to shortcomings in death registration and medical certification, the excess death approach is recommended for COVID-19 mortality burden estimation. In this study the data from the civil registration system (CRS) from one district in India was explored for its suitability in the estimation of excess deaths, both directly and indirectly attributable to COVID-19.
All deaths registered on the CRS portal at the selected registrar\'s office of Faridabad district in Haryana between January 2016 and September 2021 were included. The deaths registered in 2020 and 2021 were compared to previous years (2016-2019), and excess mortality in both years was estimated by gender and age groups as the difference between the registered deaths and historical average month wise during 2016-2019 using three approaches - mean and 95 per cent confidence interval, FORECAST.ETS function in Microsoft Excel and linear regression. To assess the completeness of registration in the district, 150 deaths were sampled from crematoria and graveyards during 2020 and checked for registration in the CRS portal. Agreement in the cause of death (CoD) in CRS with the International Classification of Diseases-10 codes assigned for a subset of 585 deaths after verbal autopsy was calculated.
A total of 7017 deaths were registered in 2020, whereas 6792 deaths were registered till 30 September 2021 which represent a 9 and 44 per cent increase, respectively, from the historical average for that period. The highest increase was seen in the age group >60 yr (19% in 2020 and 56% in 2021). All deaths identified in crematoria and graveyards in 2020 had been registered. Observed peaks of all-cause excess deaths corresponded temporally and in magnitude to infection surges in the district. All three approaches gave overlapping estimates of the ratio of excess mortality to reported COVID-19 deaths of 1.8-4 in 2020 and 10.9-13.9 in 2021. There was poor agreement (κ<0.4) between CoD in CRS and that assigned after physician review for most causes, except tuberculosis and injuries.
CRS data, despite the limitations, appeared to be appropriate for all-cause excess mortality estimation by age and sex but not by cause. There was an increase in death registration in 2020 and 2021 in the district.

When plague epidemics swept India in the second half of the 19th century, there was an epidemiological need for mortality statistics; as a result, vital event registration systems were established. However, despite the existence of multiple sources of mortality statistics in many ministries/departments of the government, neither the number of deaths nor the causes of deaths reported annually are complete yet. Multilateral international organisations have supported modelling for the generation of mortality statistics in developing countries rather than supporting and funding the development of real-time mortality data. With specific initiatives for decentralising the registration process to primary health centres and sub-health centres, the civil registration system despite its flaws, can be improved for gathering accurate data on mortality, including the causes of deaths.

Despite the civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system in Nepal operating for several decades, it has not been used to produce routine mortality statistics. Instead, mortality statistics rely on irregular surveys and censuses that primarily focus on child mortality. To fill this knowledge gap, this study estimates levels and subnational differentials in mortality across all ages in Nepal, primarily using CRVS data adjusted for incompleteness.
We analyzed death registration data (offline or paper-based) and CRVS survey reported death data, estimating the true crude death rate (CDR) and number of deaths by sex and year for each province and ecological belt. The estimated true number of deaths for 2017 was used with an extension of the empirical completeness method to estimate the adult mortality (45q15) and life expectancy at birth by sex and subnational level. Plausibility of subnational mortality estimates was assessed against poverty head count rates.
Adult mortality in Nepal for 2017 is estimated to be 159 per 1000 for males and 116 for females, while life expectancy was estimated as 69.7 years for males and 73.9 years for females. Subnationally, male adult mortality ranges from 129 per 1000 in Madhesh to 224 in Karnali and female adult mortality from 89 per 1000 in Province 1 to 159 in Sudurpashchim. Similarly, male life expectancy is between 64.9 years in Karnali and 71.8 years in Madhesh and female male life expectancy between 69.6 years in Sudurpashchim and 77.0 years in Province 1. Mountain ecological belt and Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces have high mortality and high poverty levels, whereas Terai and Hill ecological belts and Province 1, Madhesh, and Bagmati and Gandaki provinces have low mortality and poverty levels.
This is the first use of CRVS system data in Nepal to estimate national and subnational mortality levels and differentials. The national results are plausible when compared with Global Burden of Disease and United Nations World Population Prospects estimates. Understanding of the reasons for inequalities in mortality in Nepal should focus on improving cause of death data and further strengthening CRVS data.

Even though digitization is widely recognized as one of the most imperative trends in achieving effective urban governance, digital infrastructure remains far from the global trend in many African countries. This paper proposes a novel, resilient data manipulation architecture model called the Birth Notification Verification Model (BNVM) using blockchain and smart contracts. The proposed solution was evaluated in a real-world use case scenario in Ghana. The model, which is based on the Ten Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Framework, focuses on the initial inputs for birth registration at the birth notification level. The approach presented in this study paves the way for the creation of decentralized, secure, transparent, and automated systems for civil registration. The application of a smart contract architecture that blends a centralized design with an on-chain and off-chain architecture is further supported by this, providing more evidence of its viability. It offers a safe verification framework for the Ghana Birth and Death Registry based on smart contract technology and can guarantee a birth notification as proof of birth certificate registration in accordance with international standards. The findings provide insight into the use of blockchain technology in public registry institutions. Furthermore, exploring its adoption and implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa contributes to the growing field of blockchain technology research and demonstrates how the concept will address long-standing issues with corruption and security in developing countries.

Objectives: Considering the aspiration embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals to Leave No One Behind by 2030, civil registration and vital statistics systems have an essential role in providing reliable, up-to-date information to monitor the progress. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to compile empirical evidence on the benefits of a functioning civil registration and vital statistics system. Methods: Selected databases were systematically searched until 2019. Key experts were also contacted for relevant literature. The review process was managed with the software EPPI-Reviewer and followed standard methods for systematic reviews. Results: A total of 18 studies were included. The findings revealed that having birth, death, and/or marriage registration, and vital statistics were associated with access to rights and protection, positive impact on economic and health outcomes, and increased access to education. Conclusion: The present review supports the idea that systemic approaches strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems due to the cumulative effects of vital events\' registration. Ensuring appropriate systems for civil registration will have an impact not only on the individuals but also on the generations to come.

UNASSIGNED: Frontier governorates in Egypt have widely dispersed residential areas, which may make birth/death registration difficult for people because of the distance to registration offices.
UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to assess the accessibility of birth/death registration offices in the Red Sea Governorate, one of Egypt\'s frontier governorates.
UNASSIGNED: OpenStreetMap was used to locate residential areas and road networks of the Red Sea Governorate. Buffer analysis, with a radius of 20 km around registration offices, was done to assess the coverage. Network analysis was also conducted to calculate the distance between residential areas and registration offices. All spatial analysis work was done using ArcGIS 10.1 software.
UNASSIGNED: On delineating the areas of the Red Sea Governorate, 73 residential areas were identified (eight cities, 12 main villages and 53 residential areas outside of the cities and villages). Buffer analysis showed that even a 20 km buffer was not enough to cover all the residential areas. All cities had a good accessibility to registration offices compared with main villages (e.g. 1.5 km compared with 104.5 km), although two main villages had a good accessibility (0.2 km and 0.4 km) as the registration offices were in the villages. For all 73 residential areas, the median distance was 37.6 km with 60.65 km interquartile range.
UNASSIGNED: Residential areas in the Red Sea Governorate have varying levels of accessibility to birth/death registration offices. New registration techniques are suggested to improve accessibility to birth/death registration.
إمكانية الوصول إلى مكاتب تسجيل المواليد والوفيات: محافظة البحر الأحمر، مصر.
نسمة لطفي.
UNASSIGNED: تتسم المحافظات الحدودية في مصر بوجود مناطق سكنية متفرقة على نطاق واسع، وهو ما قد يجعل من الصعب على الناس تسجيل المواليد/ الوفيات بسبب بُعد المسافة عن مكاتب التسجيل.
UNASSIGNED: هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم إمكانية الوصول إلى مكاتب تسجيل المواليد/ الوفيات في محافظة البحر الأحمر، وهي إحدى المحافظات الحدودية في مصر.
UNASSIGNED: استُخدمت خريطة OpenStreetMap لتحديد المناطق السكنية وشبكات الطرق في محافظة البحر الأحمر. وأُجري تحليل باستخدام منطقة عازلة بلغ نصف قطرها 20 كيلومترًا حول مكاتب التسجيل، لتقييم التغطية. وأُجري أيضًا تحليل للشبكات من أجل حساب المسافة بين المناطق السكنية ومكاتب التسجيل. وأُجريت جميع أعمال التحليل المكاني باستخدام الإصدار 10.1 من برمجية ArcGIS.
UNASSIGNED: فيما يتعلق بتحديد مناطق محافظة البحر الأحمر، عُيِّنت 73 منطقة سكنية (ثماني مدن، و12 قرية رئيسية، و53 منطقة سكنية). وأظهر تحليل المناطق العازلة أنه حتى مع وجود منطقة عازلة يبلغ نصف قطرها 20 كيلومترًا، فلم يكن ذلك كافيًا لتغطية جميع المناطق السكنية. وكانت إمكانية الوصول إلى مكاتب التسجيل مناسبة في جميع المدن مقارنة بالقرى الرئيسية (1.5 كيلومتر مقارنة بمسافة 104.5 كيلومترات)، بالرغم من تمتُّع قريتين رئيسيتين بإمكانية وصول جيدة (0.2 كيلومتر و0.4 كيلومتر)، نظرًا لوجود مكاتب تسجيل فيهما. وبلغ متوسط المسافة لجميع المناطق السكنية البالغ عددها 73 منطقة 37.6 كيلومترًا، مع وجود مدى بين رُبعي بلغ 60.65 كيلومترًا.
UNASSIGNED: تتباين مستويات إمكانية الوصول إلى مكاتب تسجيل المواليد/ الوفيات في المناطق السكنية الواقعة في محافظة البحر الأحمر. وتُقترح أساليب جديدة للتسجيل من أجل تحسين إمكانية الوصول إلى مكاتب تسجيل المواليد/ الوفيات.
Accessibilité des bureaux d\'enregistrement des naissances et des décès : Gouvernorat de la mer Rouge (Égypte).
UNASSIGNED: Les gouvernorats d\'Égypte qui sont en bord de frontières comportent des zones résidentielles largement dispersées, ce qui peut rendre l\'enregistrement des naissances et des décès difficile pour les personnes en raison de la distance qui les sépare des bureaux d\'enregistrement.
UNASSIGNED: La présente étude visait à évaluer l\'accessibilité des bureaux d\'enregistrement des naissances et des décès dans le Gouvernorat de la mer Rouge, l\'un des gouvernorats de l\'Égypte qui sont en bord de frontières.
UNASSIGNED: OpenStreetMap a été utilisé pour repérer les zones résidentielles et les réseaux routiers du Gouvernorat de la mer Rouge. Une analyse des zones tampons, dans un rayon de 20 km autour des bureaux d\'enregistrement, a été effectuée pour évaluer la couverture. Une analyse de réseau a également été réalisée pour calculer la distance entre les zones résidentielles et les bureaux d\'enregistrement. Tous les travaux d\'analyse spatiale ont été effectués à l\'aide du logiciel ArcGIS 10.1.
UNASSIGNED: Lors de la délimitation des zones du Gouvernorat de la mer Rouge, 73 zones résidentielles ont été identifiées (huit villes, 12 villages principaux et 53 zones résidentielles ne faisant pas partie des villes et des villages). L\'analyse des zones tampons a montré que même un tampon de 20 km n\'était pas suffisant pour couvrir toutes les zones résidentielles. Toutes les villes avaient une bonne accessibilité aux bureaux d\'enregistrement par rapport aux villages principaux (par exemple, 1,5 km par rapport à 104,5 km), même si deux villages principaux avaient une bonne accessibilité (0,2 km et 0,4 km) car les bureaux d\'enregistrement étaient dans les villages. Pour les 73 zones résidentielles, la distance médiane était de 37,6 km avec un intervalle interquartile de 60,65 km.
UNASSIGNED: Les zones résidentielles du Gouvernorat de la mer Rouge ont une accessibilité plus ou moins grande pour les bureaux d\'enregistrement des naissances et des décès. De nouvelles techniques d\'enregistrement sont proposées pour améliorer l\'accessibilité à l\'enregistrement des naissances et des décès.

Reliable and timely mortality data from a civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system are of crucial importance for generating evidence for policy and monitoring the progress towards national and global development goals. In Nepal, however, the death registration system is not used to produce mortality statistics, because it does not providing data on age at death and only reporting deaths by year of registration. This study assesses the completeness of death registration in Nepal - both the existing offline system and the newer online system - as well as the completeness of death reporting from a CRVS Survey, and assesses differences by year, sex, ecological belt, and province.
The empirical completeness method is used to estimate completeness at all ages from the offline (paper-based) registration system (2013-17), the online registration system (2017-19) and the CRVS Survey (2014-15).
Completeness of the offline death registration system was 69% in 2017, not increasing since 2013 and being higher for males (73%) than females (65%). Completeness of online registration was only 32% in 2019, but almost double the 2017 figure. Completeness of death reporting in the CRVS Survey was 75% in 2015. The largest subnational differentials in completeness exist for the offline registration system, ranging from 90% in Gandaki to just 39% in Karnali.
Improvement in the utility of the Nepalese death registration system for mortality statistics is dependent on continued roll-out of the online death registration system (which reports age at death and deaths by year of occurrence) throughout the country, focusing on areas with low registration, building a strong coordination mechanism among CRVS stakeholders and implementing public awareness programs about death registration.

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems and legal identity systems have become increasingly recognized as catalytic both for inclusive development and for monitoring population dynamics spanning the entire life course. Population scientists have a long history of contributing to the strengthening of CRVS and legal identity systems and of using vital registration data to understand population and development dynamics. This paper provides an overview of the Genus thematic series on CRVS systems. The series spans 11 research articles that document new insights on the registration of births, marriages, separations/divorces, deaths and legal residency. This introductory article to the series reviews the importance of population perspectives and demographic methods in strengthening CRVS systems and improving our understanding of population dynamics across the lifecourse. The paper highlights the major contributions from this thematic series and discusses emerging challenges and future research directions on CRVS systems for the population science community.