Determinants of birth registration and certification in Southwest Ethiopia: Implication for a new strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract Birth registration is a child's basic legal and social right which grants their presence and security in their lifetime. However, it was initiated very recently, and its magnitude has not been well examined in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed the magnitude of birth registration of children under two years old in Southwestern Ethiopia. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 689 mothers or caregivers who had children less than 24 months from 15 April 2023 to 05 June 2023. The study was carried out in Bench Sheko Zone, located in the Southwestern Region of Ethiopia. A face-to-face interview was used to collect data. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the factors associated with birth registration. In this study, 26.4%, 95% CI (23.2%-29.6%) children were registered during birth. Potential factors for birth registration and certification were having notifications about the importance and availability of birth registration (AOR = 21.8, 95% CI; 11.7–40.9), information about birth registration (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI; 1.4–11.3), and lower household income (AOR = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.13–0.62). The current rate of birth registration in the region is very low, with only one-fourth of total births being registered. Birth notification, information about birth registration, and knowledge about birth registration were significant determinants of birth registration. Strategies like improving information dissemination, promoting institutional deliveries, and enhancing community engagement in the region can increase the rate of timely birth registration and ensure that every child's birth is officially recognized. This will put a building block for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).