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Cited by 40Insurance, Mortality, Demography, Risk ManagementGlobal Maternal and Child HealthGlobal Health and Epidemiology

Characteristics, availability and uses of vital registration and other mortality data sources in post-democracy South Africa

Open access
Joubert, Jané, Rao, Chalapati, Bradshaw, Debbie, Dorrington, Rob E., Vos, Theo, Lopez, AlanD·2012·Global Health Action
DOI 10.3402/gha.v5i0.19263PMC PMC3532367
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Abstract

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.

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  1. [7]United Nations Secretariat Approaches to the collection of mortality data in the context of data needs 1984 In: United Nations, ed. Data bases for mortality measurement: Proceedings of the United Nations/World Health Organization Working Group on Data Bases for Measurement of Levels, Trends, and Differentials in Mortality 1981 Bangkok New York United Nations 33 44 ST/ESA/Series/A/84
  2. [49]Nannan N Bradshaw D Timeaus I Dorrington R The impact of HIV/AIDS on infant and child mortality in South Africa (poster) 13th International AIDS Conference 9–14 July 2000 Durban, South Africa
  3. [94]Stephen C Bamford L Patrick M Wittenberg D Saving children 2009: five years of data 2011 Pretoria Tshepesa Press, MRC, CDC A sixth survey of child healthcare in South Africa

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Authors
Joubert, J., Rao, C., Bradshaw, D., Dorrington, R. E., Vos, T., & Lopez, A.
Affiliations
  • South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • University of Cape Town (ZA)
  • ,
Corresponding author
Joubert, Jané
ORCID
Venue
Global Health Action
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2012-12
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
1-19
ISSN
  • 1654-9716 (ISSN-L)
  • 1654-9880
DOI
10.3402/gha.v5i0.19263
PMC
PMC3532367
OpenAlex
W2107385043
Cited by
39
References
99
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
2.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Global Health Action (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • South African Medical Research Council
  • University of Queensland
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
  • University of Cape Town
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Insurance, Mortality, Demography, Risk Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Global Health and Epidemiology
Keywords
civil registration, mortality measurement, data quality, cause of death data, demographic surveillance, mortality audit, maternal mortality, child mortality, post-apartheid South Africa, data triangulation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Cause of Death, Child, Child, Preschool, Data Collection, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Demography, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Population Surveillance, Registries, South Africa, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution, Young Adult

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