Study of Birth Registration Completeness in Sokoto State

Birth registration completeness is a foundational prerequisite for reliable vital statistics, and documenting the extent and causes of incomplete registration in Sokoto State is essential for improving the country's statistical infrastructure. This study assessed birth registration completeness and its barriers among households with children under five years in Sokoto North, Illela, and Shagari Local Government Areas, Sokoto State. A cross-sectional survey of 320 households collected data on birth registration status, awareness of requirements, facility versus home delivery, distance to registration centres, and perceived barriers. Birth registration completeness was 31.4 percent. Facility deliveries showed significantly higher registration rates (68.3 percent) than home deliveries (14.7 percent). Households within two kilometres of a registration centre had 4.3 times higher registration odds. Lack of awareness was cited by 52.8 percent as the primary barrier, followed by distance (38.6 percent) and cost (22.1 percent). Recommendations include mobile registration outreach to remote communities, integrating birth registration with facility delivery services, community awareness campaigns in Hausa, and removing registration fees for under-five births in Sokoto State to improve vital statistics completeness.

Keywords: birth registration, vital statistics, Sokoto State, registration completeness, under-five These findings confirm the critical need for mobile registration outreach, facility-based registration integration, and fee removal to improve Sokoto State birth registration.