COLLECTION OF VITAL STATISTICS IN ZAMBIA

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COLLECTION OF VITAL STATISTICS IN ZAMBIA
Margaret Tembo-Mwanamwenge Central Statistical
Office
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Legal mandate

• Collection of vital statistics is in accordance
  with Cap 127 of the laws of Zambia.
• Allows director of CSO to collect statistics on
  any prescribed matter (including vital
  statistics)
• Mechanism regulating the links between CSO and
  DNR not clearly established by the law.

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Stakeholders of the vital statistics system in
Zambia?

• Central Statistical Office
• Department of National Registration
• Local Authorities
• Ministry of Health

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Data sources

• Censuses
• Mortality rates
• Fertility rates
• Surveys
• Mortality rates
• Fertility rates

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Data sources

• Civil registration
• Births
• Deaths
• Marriages

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Problems encountered

• Statistical functions
• Delays in transmission of forms from local to
  national level and to CSO
• Lack of adequate data processing equipment
• Staff and training
• Inadequate staff (especially at sub centres)
• Most officers trained on the job
• No refresher courses
• Limited coverage of the data has rendered
  statistical output unusable. (10 of births are
  registered)

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Current status of collection of vital statistics

• Current system does not ensure that key
  information required for accurate fertility and
  mortality assessment is readily available in an
  accurate and timely manner.
• Rely on censuses and surveys for fertility and
  mortality estimates
• Compilation and dissemination of vital statistics
  has currently been suspended

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Plans for the future

• Another source of information being planned for
• Sample Vital Registration with Verbal Autopsy
  (SAVVY)
• not to replace the current registration system,
  but to support and strengthen the reporting,
  recording, analysis and dissemination of vital
  events, particularly births and deaths.

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Institutions collaborating in implementing SAVVY?

• Central Statistical Office (CSO)
• The Department of National Registration (DNR)
• The Ministry of Finance and National Planning
  (MFNP)
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
• The Ministry of Health (MOH)
• The Ministry of Local Government and Housing
  (MLGH)
• The Ministry of Community Development and Social
  Services (MCDSS)
• The United States of America, Centers for Disease
  Control and Prevention (CDC)
• The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)

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END OF PRESENTATION

• Thanks for your attention!