Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa
The value of good-quality mortality data for public health is widely acknowledged. While effective civil registration systems remains the ‘gold standard’ source for continuous mortality measurement, less than 25% of deaths are registered in most African countries. Alternative d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2012-12-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/19263/pdf_1 |
| _version_ | 1811232699732459520 |
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| author | Jané Joubert Chalapati Rao Debbie Bradshaw Rob E. Dorrington Theo Vos Alan D. Lopez |
| author_facet | Jané Joubert Chalapati Rao Debbie Bradshaw Rob E. Dorrington Theo Vos Alan D. Lopez |
| author_sort | Jané Joubert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The value of good-quality mortality data for public health is widely acknowledged. While effective civil registration systems remains the ‘gold standard’ source for continuous mortality measurement, less than 25% of deaths are registered in most African countries. Alternative data collection systems can provide mortality data to complement those from civil registration, given an understanding of data source characteristics and data quality. We aim to document mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa; to report on availability, limitations, strengths, and possible complementary uses of the data; and to make recommendations for improved data for mortality measurement. Civil registration and alternative mortality data collection systems, data availability, and complementary uses were assessed by reviewing blank questionnaires, death notification forms, death data capture sheets, and patient cards; legislation; electronic data archives and databases; and related information in scientific journals, research reports, statistical releases, government reports and books. Recent transformation has enhanced civil registration and official mortality data availability. Additionally, a range of mortality data items are available in three population censuses, three demographic surveillance systems, and a number of national surveys, mortality audits, and disease notification programmes. Child and adult mortality items were found in all national data sources, and maternal mortality items in most. Detailed cause-of-death data are available from civil registration and demographic surveillance. In a continent often reported as lacking the basic data to infer levels, patterns and trends of mortality, there is evidence of substantial improvement in South Africa in the availability of data for mortality assessment. Mortality data sources are many and varied, providing opportunity for comparing results and improved public health planning. However, more can and must be done to improve mortality measurement by improving data quality, triangulating data, and expanding analytic capacity. Cause data, in particular, must be improved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:07:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f474c458c504443bbaeebaf7642260d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:07:26Z |
| publishDate | 2012-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-f474c458c504443bbaeebaf7642260d32022-12-22T03:35:42ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802012-12-015011910.3402/gha.v5i0.19263Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South AfricaJané JoubertChalapati RaoDebbie BradshawRob E. DorringtonTheo VosAlan D. LopezThe value of good-quality mortality data for public health is widely acknowledged. While effective civil registration systems remains the ‘gold standard’ source for continuous mortality measurement, less than 25% of deaths are registered in most African countries. Alternative data collection systems can provide mortality data to complement those from civil registration, given an understanding of data source characteristics and data quality. We aim to document mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa; to report on availability, limitations, strengths, and possible complementary uses of the data; and to make recommendations for improved data for mortality measurement. Civil registration and alternative mortality data collection systems, data availability, and complementary uses were assessed by reviewing blank questionnaires, death notification forms, death data capture sheets, and patient cards; legislation; electronic data archives and databases; and related information in scientific journals, research reports, statistical releases, government reports and books. Recent transformation has enhanced civil registration and official mortality data availability. Additionally, a range of mortality data items are available in three population censuses, three demographic surveillance systems, and a number of national surveys, mortality audits, and disease notification programmes. Child and adult mortality items were found in all national data sources, and maternal mortality items in most. Detailed cause-of-death data are available from civil registration and demographic surveillance. In a continent often reported as lacking the basic data to infer levels, patterns and trends of mortality, there is evidence of substantial improvement in South Africa in the availability of data for mortality assessment. Mortality data sources are many and varied, providing opportunity for comparing results and improved public health planning. However, more can and must be done to improve mortality measurement by improving data quality, triangulating data, and expanding analytic capacity. Cause data, in particular, must be improved.http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/19263/pdf_1mortality data sourcesSouth Africacivil registrationcensussurveyssurveillancedata availability |
| spellingShingle | Jané Joubert Chalapati Rao Debbie Bradshaw Rob E. Dorrington Theo Vos Alan D. Lopez Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa Global Health Action mortality data sources South Africa civil registration census surveys surveillance data availability |
| title | Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa |
| title_full | Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa |
| title_short | Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa |
| title_sort | characteristics availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post democracy south africa |
| topic | mortality data sources South Africa civil registration census surveys surveillance data availability |
| url | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/19263/pdf_1 |
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