Trends in the completeness of birth registration in Nigeria: 2002 – 2010

Olusesan A. Makinde, Viable Knowledge Masters
Bolanle Ajao, Johns Hopkins University
Osondu Ogbuoji, Harvard School of Public Health
Stella Babalola, Johns Hopkins University

It is unclear how much progress has been made towards attaining universal birth registration in Nigeria over the years. This manuscript reports findings from a secondary analysis of data from the 2007 and 2011 UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Trends in birth registration completeness based on year of birth of children and age at survey were computed, tabulated, graphed and mapped. Birth registration completeness was 31.5% and 41.5% in 2007 and 2011 respectively. Children were more likely to be registered in 2011 than in 2007 (P<0.001). Likewise, urban residents were over three times more likely to be registered than rural dwellers (P<0.001). Children of women with at least secondary education and those in the higher income class were more likely to be registered. Birth registration improved in 2011 over 2007 across Nigeria except in the North East region. However, much still needs to be done to achieve universal birth registration.