Knowledge and practice of health care workers regarding the civil registration and vital statistics system in Cameroon: The case of the Dschang Health District

Background: There is a growing interest in civil registration-generated data, particularly in developing countries, where high-quality vital statistics data are crucial for computing numerous sustainable development goals indicators. However, in many of these countries, civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) data are often unavailable or estimated too poor for citation. This study aimed to describe the CRVS organization and processes in Cameroon and assess related healthcare practitioners’ knowledge and practices in the Dschang health district (DHD).
Methods: We conducted a desk review to describe the CRVS organization and processes, and an analytic cross-sectional survey involving health facility event informants (HFIs) in the DHD. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to conduct interviews and assess their knowledge of the different components of CRVS, as well as their notification and registration practices. Logistic regression was employed to determine associations between suspected factors and notification practice, with statistical significance set at p<0.05 .
Results: A total of 89 HFIs were assessed. Only 6.7% (n=6) of the HFIs demonstrated adequate knowledge of CRVS. The most well-known component of CRVS among the actors was its legal framework, with 71.9% (n=64) of HFIs being aware of the legal provisions concerning birth and death registration obligations. However, knowledge of other components was generally poor. Birth and death notification practices were deemed adequate for 88% (n=78) and 35% (n=31) of HFIs, respectively. A Longer duration of the health facility activity (p=0.043) and female sex (p=0.044) were predictors of better CRVS knowledge. A Higher health facility category alone was associated with better birth and death notification practices (p=0.010).
Conclusion: Cameroon CRVS system is not fully organized. This study also reveals suboptimal CRVS knowledge and practices among health care practitioners in DHD. Improvement can be achieved through intensified training of actors, particularly in older health facilities, and the provision of necessary resources.