In this course, you will learn about the role and importance of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems that are used to track birth, death, and life events. Experts from around the world will explain what CRVS systems are, how they are used, the legal bases for registering vital events, and challenges experienced with CRVS systems. You will learn about how CRVS data can be used to inform population-level decision-making, including around specific methods such as medical certification of cause of death (MCCOD) and verbal autopsy, and the application of a gender and equity lens to data systems to ensure they are responsive to the needs of populations. Our overarching goals for the course are to support the collection of country-level death and birth data, to improve the use of data to inform policy priorities, track trends, and plan interventions, and enhance monitoring of major risk factors for early death, especially from noncommunicable diseases.

The course is the result of a collaboration among multiple partners, including Vital Strategies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Foundation, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and University of New South Wales, Sydney. This course was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with co-funding from the Australian government and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.