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Myanmar Civil Registration: Difference between revisions

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{{Myanmar-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
{{CountrySidebar
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|Name=Myanmar
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Records
|Records=Civil Registration
|Rating=Acceptable
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| link1=[[Myanmar Genealogy|Myanmar]]
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==How to Find the Records==
==Resources==


===Offices to Contact===
===Offices to Contact===
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National Civil Registration Office, local police registry offices
National Civil Registration Office, local police registry offices


The registration of births and deaths in Myanmar started in 1907. The system was gradually improved in order to reach all the areas to register the vital events. Nowadays, four institutions are involved in the CRVS system. At the village level, data collection is the responsibility of the local workers of the General Administration Department, in collaboration with midwives. They work in close collaboration with the Department of Immigration for household listing. At the township level, medical officer, under the Ministry of Health and Sport (MOHS), issue the certificates. At the national & sub-national levels, the gathering of vital events in a database is carried by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) under the Ministry of Planning and Finance, which then proceeds to produce and publish vital statistics. Considering the complexity of such relations, coordination committees on Birth and Death Registration were formed at the national level, state/regional level, district level, township level, ward and village tract level. The national level committee is led by Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population
At the village level, data collection is the responsibility of the local workers of the General Administration Department, in collaboration with midwives. They work in close collaboration with the Department of Immigration for household listing.  


Any death must be registered within 3 days. Birth registration has currently been extended to all children under 10 years old without fees to speed up the process to universal registration. According to the 2010 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, the birth registration completeness was 72%. However, there is a strong inequality between urban and rural, with 93.5% and 63.5% respectively. In 2014, the government estimated that death registration was 60% complete. For cause of death coding, only hospital deaths (16% of total deaths) have medically certified cause of death by doctors, and the coding is usually of poor quality, with an estimated 45% of these deaths coded to ill-defined codes.
At the township level, a medical officer, under the Ministry of Health and Sport (MOHS), issue the certificates.  


Reliable cause of death information for community deaths (84% of total deaths) is not available.
At the national and sub-national levels, the gathering of vital events in a database is done by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) under the Ministry of Planning and Finance, which then publishes vital statistics.  


The challenges for Myanmar include its lack of a legislative framework for CRVS and limitation in resources and personnel. Combined with a lack of community awareness on the importance of birth and death registration, this has led to inequitable access to services within the country. Suggested solutions include the linkage between birth registration and public services such as immunization, school enrolment, and application of household registration, as an incentive for registration.<ref>United Nations ESCAP, Get Everyone in the Picture, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific, [https://getinthepicture.org/country/myanmar Myanmar], (accessed 21 July 2023).</ref>
Considering the complexity of such relations, coordination committees on Birth and Death Registration were formed at the national level, state/regional level, district level, township level, ward and village tract level. The national level committee is led by Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population.<ref name="UN">United Nations ESCAP, Get Everyone in the Picture, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific, [https://getinthepicture.org/country/myanmar Myanmar], (accessed 21 July 2023).</ref>


United Nations ESCAP<br>
United Nations ESCAP<br>
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Phone: +66 2 2882593
Phone: +66 2 2882593


==Historical Background==
== Historical Background ==


BMD returns were not formally organized until the arrival of the British in 1826, when they gained the territory of Tenasserim, bordering Siam. Civil Administration was initially centered at Prince of Wales Island, Penang.  
Birth, marriage, and death returns were organized in 1826 when the British gained the territory of Tenasserim, next to Siam. Civil Administration was first at Prince of Wales Island, Penang.  


In 1834 the province became part of Bengal, however military administration was based in Madras until the 1840's. Records relating to baptisms, marriages and burials in Tenasserim may therefore appear in Chaplain's Returns in the UK or Madras (for military events) or in Madras, Penang or Bengal returns during this period.  
In 1834 Myanmar became part of Bengal with military administration based in Madras until the 1840's. Records relating to baptisms, marriages and burials in Tenasserim may appear in Chaplain's Returns in the United Kingdom or Madras (for military events) or in Madras, Penang or Bengal during this period.  


The only official returns were Anglican and RC until the 1850's, when the Government of India provided means for returns of minority religions such as the Baptists.
Until the 1850's, the only official returns were Anglican and Roman Catholic when the Government of India provided means for returns of minority religions such as the Baptists.


Records from the Myanmar National Archives show that Baptist marriages were not reported until November 1858.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Myanmar,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 2001.</ref>
Records from the Myanmar National Archives show that Baptist marriages were not reported until November 1858.


==Coverage and Compliance==
=== Coverage and Compliance ===
Records may exist beginning in 1852 and cover about 20% before 1960; after 1960, 70%.


Time period: 1852-present
The registration of births and deaths in Myanmar started in 1907. The system was gradually improved in order to reach all the areas to register the vital events.<ref name="UN" />
 
Population coverage: Before 1960, 20%; after 1960, 70%.
 
==Information Recorded in the Records==
 
===Births===


=== Information Recorded in the Records ==
The following information may be found in these records:<BR>
'''Births'''
{{columns-list|2|
*Child’s name
*Child’s name
*Birth date and place
*Birth date and place
*Parents’ names, residence, and occupation
*Parents’ names, residence, and occupation
*Witnesses’ ages, relationships, residences<ref name="profile" />
*Witnesses’ ages, relationships, residences
 
}}
===Marriages===
'''Marriages'''
 
{{columns-list|2|
*Bride and groom names
*Bride and groom names
*Ages
*Ages
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*Parents' names, residences, occupations
*Parents' names, residences, occupations
*Witnesses' names
*Witnesses' names
*Names of former spouses<ref name="profile" />
*Names of former spouses
 
}}
===Divorces===
'''Divorces'''
 
{{columns-list|2|
*Names
*Names
*Ages
*Ages
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*Occupations
*Occupations
*Residences
*Residences
 
}}
Often listed on the back of the marriage register.<ref name="profile" />
'''Deaths'''
 
{{columns-list|2|
===Deaths===
 
*Name of deceased
*Name of deceased
*Age
*Age
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*Informant’s name and residence
*Informant’s name and residence
*Cause of death
*Cause of death
*Sometimes:
*Birth date and place
::-Birth date and place
*Parents’ names
::-Parents’ names
*Children’s names
::-Children’s names<ref name="profile" />
}}
 
== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Myanmar]]
[[Category:Myanmar]]