What is the importance of civil registration and vital statistics for health planning in South Sudan?

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) are the foundation of health planning. Without accurate data on births, deaths, and causes of death, it is impossible to calculate key health indicators like maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate, and life expectancy. South Sudan relies heavily on household surveys (MICS, DHS) for these estimates because the CRVS system is too weak to provide reliable data.

Improving CRVS requires a multi-sectoral approach involving the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior (which manages civil registration), local government, and communities. Health facilities can contribute by registering births and deaths that occur in their facilities and reporting them to the civil registration system. SSHIA advocates for stronger integration between health information systems and the civil registration system.