Vital Registration Services Uptake and Associated Factors among Residents of Southern Ethiopia

Fankasho HW; Molis AK; Fikire N

Fankasho HW, Molis AK and Fikire N

Volume6-Issue10
Dates: Received: 2025-10-10 | Accepted: 2025-10-16 | Published: 2025-10-18
Pages: 1470-1481

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the utilization of vital registration services among mothers of under-five children in Areka Town, Southern Ethiopia. It was initiated in response to the 2012 proclamation that mandated such registrations but highlighted the lack of evidence on service usage.
Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional design with systematic sampling from households, focusing on mothers with under-five children. Data were analyzed using SPSS, applying binary logistic regression to identify factors influencing service utilization.
Results: Out of 264 participants, the majority were female (91.7%), and the mean age was approximately 30 years. Knowledge of vital registration services uptake was found (51.8%) 95% CI: (45.9%-57.9%). Altitude towards vital registration services uptake (41.5%) 95% CI: (36.5%-48.4%. Practice towards vital registration services (37.9%) 95% CI: (32.0%-43.7%). Key findings indicated that educational status significantly influenced service utilization. Illiterate mothers had higher odds of not utilizing services (AOR = 1.7), while those with primary education showed even greater odds (AOR = 2.93). Poor knowledge and attitudes towards vital registration further exacerbated the issue, with both factors having an AOR of 4.06.
Conclusion: The conclusion underscored a paradox where, although respondents had a good understanding of the registration's importance, their attitudes and practices were lacking. Significant associations were found between educational status, knowledge, attitude, and service utilization.
Recommendations: To enhance uptake, the recommendation was made for vital registration offices to collaborate with health facilities, media, and religious organizations to raise awareness and improve service access for clients.
This study provides critical insights into the barriers to vital registration service utilization, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions.

FullText HTML FullText PDF DOI: 10.37871/jbres2203

Certificate of Publication

Copyright

How to cite this article

Fankasho HW, Molis AK, Fikire N, Laure VNN. Vital Registration Services Uptake and Associated Factors among Residents of Southern Ethiopia. J Biomed Res Environ Sci. 2025 Oct 18; 6(10): 1470-1481. doi: 10.37871/jbres2203, Article ID: JBRES2203, Available at: https://www.jelsciences.com/articles/jbres2203.pdf

Subject area(s)

References

Abay ST, Gebre-Egziabher AG. Status and associated factors of birth registration in selected districts of Tigray region, Ethiopia. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2020 Jul 29;20(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s12914-020-00235-x. PMID: 32727474; PMCID: PMC7388520.
Phillips DE, Adair T, Lopez AD. How useful are registered birth statistics for health and social policy? A global systematic assessment of the availability and quality of birth registration data. Popul Health Metr. 2018 Dec 27;16(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s12963-018-0180-6. PMID: 30587201; PMCID: PMC6307230.
Suthar AB, Khalifa A, Yin S, Wenz K, Ma Fat D, Mills SL, Nichols E, AbouZahr C, Mrkic S. Evaluation of approaches to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems: A systematic review and synthesis of policies in 25 countries. PLoS Med. 2019 Sep 27;16(9):e1002929. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002929. PMID: 31560684; PMCID: PMC6764661.
Yokobori Y, Matsuura J, Obara H, Sugiura Y, Kitamura T, Moyo C, Mwango C, Yuasa M. Rapid assessment of the civil registration and vital statistics performance of health facilities in the five districts of Zambia: A cross-sectional study. Heliyon. 2021 Nov 11;7(11):e08367. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08367. PMID: 34825083; PMCID: PMC8605283.
Hailemariam G. Endline assessment: Improving birth registration using the existing community structures and immunization processes. 2019.
Wakibi S, Ngure E. An Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Birth and Death Registration in Kilifi County in the Coastal Region in Kenya. Biomed Res Int. 2021 Oct 1;2021:9963703. doi: 10.1155/2021/9963703. PMID: 34631893; PMCID: PMC8500746.
Assesments birth and death registration of under five childern in gamo gofa zone and konso. Grey Literture. 2018.
Toma SA, Senbeta BA, Bezabih AA. Assessing knowledge, attitude and practice of residents towards civil registration & vital statistics at hawassa city administration and its neighbourhoods. SNNPRS. Ethiopia. Int J Adv Multidiscip Soc Sci. 2020;1:13-27.
Kasasa S, Natukwatsa D, Galiwango E, Nareeba T, Gyezaho C, Fisker AB, Mengistu MY, Dzabeng F, Haider MM, Yargawa J, Akuze J, Baschieri A, Cappa C, Jackson D, Lawn JE, Blencowe H, Kajungu D; Every Newborn-INDEPTH Study Collaborative Group. Birth, stillbirth and death registration data completeness, quality and utility in population-based surveys: EN-INDEPTH study. Popul Health Metr. 2021 Feb 8;19(Suppl 1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12963-020-00231-2. PMID: 33557862; PMCID: PMC7869445.
ACOG committee opinion. The importance of vital records and statistics for the obstetrician-Gynecologist.
Adedini S, Odimegwu C. Assessing knowledge, attitude and practice of vital registration system in South-West Nigeria. IFE Psychol. 2011.
Gizaw ME. The status, challenges and opportunities of civil registration and vital statistics in Ethiopia: A systematic review. Int J Sci Reports. 2020;6(5):200.
Plus-Crvs PMA. Final report: PMA Plus/Crvs - birth registration survey in addis ababa and SNNPR. Ethiopia.
Tigray-Zone W. Population size of towns by sex, region, zone and weredas as of July 2021 tigray-region male female total. 2021.
Ethiopian demographic health survey. 2016.
Busetto L, Wick W, Gumbinger C. How to use and assess qualitative research methods. Neurol Res Pract. 2020 May 27;2:14. doi: 10.1186/s42466-020-00059-z. PMID: 33324920; PMCID: PMC7650082.