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Birth Registration
Maldives
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Maldives
Birth Registration
Declaration and Notification
Declaration and Notification
Informants
Who is designated as the primary informant for births occurring in health facilities?
Either parent
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The informant is the person who reports to the local registrar the occurrence of a vital event within the prescribed time limit. The law should establish, clearly and unequivocally, one person primarily responsible for providing the information needed for birth registration to the civil registrar. The head of the health facility should be the primary informant for live births occurring in a health facility. Alternative informants, in order of priority, are: mother, father, nearest relative of the mother, any adult having knowledge of the facts. Additionally, the legislation should explicitly state what type of facility is considered a “health facility” for purposes of being an informant.
Regardless of where the birth occurred, the parent of the child is the primary informant. If the parents are absent, the informant is the guardian of the child. As the informant, the parent (or guardian) must sign the Birth Record Form. However, the health facility submits the form directly to the Island or City Council.
Who is designated the primary informant for births occurring outside health facilities?
Either parent
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
It is recommended that the law establish clearly and unequivocally one person primarily responsible for providing the information needed for the registration to the civil registrar. If a live birth occurs outside a health facility, the birth attendant (such as a midwife, nurse, doctor or other medical professional), should be the primary informant designated by law. However, the law may designate alternative informants and establish the order in which each of them must assume his or her responsibilities. Alternative informants, in order of priority, are: mother, father, nearest relative of the mother, any adult having knowledge of the facts.
Regardless of where the birth occurred, the parent of the child is the primary informant. If the parents are absent, the informant is the guardian of the child. As the informant, the parent (or guardian) must sign the Birth Record Form and submit it to the health facility in the Island or City where the child was born.. The health facility submits the form to the Island or City Council.
What is the role of the health sector in birth registration for births occurring in health facilities?
Completing and Facilitation of submission of form
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
For births occurring in health facilities, the most effective approach is to designate the head of the institution (or designee) as informant. Some countries follow a two-step process, in which the health sector notifies the registrar of the birth (providing some, but no all, needed information), but he parents must still declare the birth to the registrar in order for the birth to be registered. This two-step approach is considered less effective in ensuring high registration rates. In some countries, the health sector is neither informant nor notifier, but instead simply issues a document to the parent(s) that serves as proof of the birth. The health sectors limited role in this third option is not recommended practice. Finally in some countries, specified health staff may be designated as registrars or assigned some registrar functions, which helps bring registration closer to the people.
When a birth occurs in a health facility, the health workers that assisted during the birth of the child complete the Birth Record Form, and the health facility submits the form to the Island or City Council.
What is the role of the health sector in birth registration for births occurring outside health facilities?
Completing and Facilitation of submission of form
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
For births that occur outside a health facility, the most effective approach is to designate the birth attendant - e.g., doctor, nurse, or midwife - as the informant. For births occurring outside a health facility without a birth attendant, an effective approach is to designate community health workers (including vaccination workers, nurses, doctors and other health professionals who see newborns for paediatric visits) as informants to register the birth of children that are unregistered and visited by them. Alternatively, some countries follow a two-step process, wherein the healthcare workers notify the birth to the civil registrar; however, the parent or other informant must still declare the birth to the civil registrar in order to register the birth.
When a birth occurs outside a health facility, the child should be taken to the local health center. The health worker at that health center completes the Birth Record Form, and the health facility submits the form to the Island or City Council.
Does the law provide a process for the registration of births occurring in prison or other detention facility?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
For births in custody, it is recommended that the law assign responsibility to a specified person, such as head of detention facility or head of health services within detention facility, to notify the civil registrar of such births.
Analysis of the legal instruments available to the reviewer did not identify any provisions relevant to this question.
Law Source
What role do local leaders or local authorities have in the registration process for births that occur in the community?
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
For births occurring outside a health facility, local leaders or local authorities may have a role in providing parents with proof of the event (such as a birth notification), notifying the birth to the local registrar, or acting as the informant. It can be good practice to Integrate civil registration functions with the duties and responsibilities of established local authorities who have close direct links to communities
