LAO PDR FINAL PRESENTATIONMs. Khonesavanh voralathMs. Thirakha ChanyhalanouvongMs. Kathleen Vosen

Vital Statistics and Civil RegistrationIs the vital statistics produced from Civil Registration?

• There is no adequate civil registration system currently in place

• In Lao PDR, statistical collection is carried out by LSB through Census (planned for 2015) and LSIS population survey 2011-2012.

Vital Statistics SystemUniversal coverage• Administrative Record from different ministries, Ministry of

Health also has its own reports and records. • Whilst there is some registration of births and issuance of birth

statistics – this is not a universal vital statistics system.• Death is rarely registered properly – people prefer to die at

home.

Continuity • Each ministry provides an annual report to its own minister for

use within ministry. This information is not necessarily shared. • There is no national official data, nor continuous registration of

births and deaths.

Vital Statistics SystemConfidentiality? • Confidentiality has not been considered an essential

part/priority of the a statistics system in the past. This will be improved and promoted when implementing the CRVS Strategic Plan is developed and implemented.

Regular Dissemination• Dissemination occurs after Census and upon request. • Lao Statistics Bureau produced an annual report based

on population projections based on census 2005. • Age, sex and region released upon request, but also

based on population projection

Ministry of Health What is the role of health institutions in the system?• Ministry of Health:

• collects its own statistical collection and analysis but this is not follow International Standard and not passed on to LSB.

• undertakes ICD10 coding in Major hospitals but not in provincial areas.

• provides birth notifications. • undertakes foetel death analysis, but data analysis indicates these

records are not yet accurate.

Coordinating Body Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) is the coordinating body; takes role as civil registrar at the central level. An inter-ministerial Citizen Management Steering Committee (CMSC) has been established in 2013, led by MOHA.

The CMSC includes seven line ministries:• Health, • Education • Sports, • Foreign Affairs, • Justice, • Public Security, and • Planning and Investment.

The CMSC is responsible for inter-ministerial coordination, leadership in citizen administration, and policy-making.

Definitions Do the definitions of vital events in the vital statistics system comply with international standards?• Birth and Death definitions comply, however foetal deaths

remains un-defined under the law.

• MOH has defined foetal deaths in accordance with International standards, but this information is not shared with LSB or MOHA.

TopicsDoes the list of topics in the vital statistic system comply with internationally recommended core topics?• Core topics for Birth and Death statistics are covered (with

exceptions noted below) • Foetal death is not covered at all. Note:• Migration status, date of birth of mother and father, occupation

of mother or father is not covered, and educational attainment of both parents is not covered.

• Place of occurrence of event is covered, but noted that for practical purposes this often is confused with Place of residence.

• Whilst ask usual residence, do not ask if rural or urban.

Coverage and assessmentWhat is the coverage of civil registration? How was the assessment been made/methodology• There is some coverage of civil registration but it is not

adequate. • A Comprehensive Assessment (and report) was

completed in 2012 that made recommendations for the way forward. The assessment was carried out through field-work, interviews with at least 70 key informants in 8 districts, 16 villages in Vientiane Capital and 3 provinces (north, central and southern Lao).

Quality AssessmentAs the vital statistics system is still being established there are no quality assessment methods being applied at this stage. Appropriate and cost effective assessment and assurance system will be identified during the development of the Strategic Plan.

The quality assessment and assurance system will include: Coverage, correctness, availability and timeliness

Strategies for the future1. Adopt recommendations from Comprehensive

Assessment (2012)• identify gaps in comprehensive assessment

2. Develop a Strategic Plan and Framework

3. Consolidate Coordinating Mechanisms – ensure commitment from relevant ministries, in particular Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Security

Laws• Review of current legal framework–

• to look at gaps;• any definitional issues, for example will need to include foetal

deaths as vital statistic. • Topics and themes will need to be adequately addressed• Draft implementation laws, if required• Also review other laws that refer to birth registration to ensure

consistency• Adequacy re content of current laws and proposed new laws• Set out procedures, requirements using recommended Legal

framework.

Activities for implementation• Training for government officials and stakeholders

• Awareness raising for population – what is registration (to overcome current confusion) importance of registration, incentives (penalties??). Information dissemination: Regular radio program, TV programs

• Increase access to registration - mobile registration units, digital registration, use available technologies

• Civil registration Month (to tie in with festival activities. (International Children’s Day)

• Mobile registration• Civil Registrars workshop and training courses provided. • Training health officials for accurate medical records and

ICD10.

Thank you