Determinants of Unregistered Births Among Children Under Five in Indonesia

Birth registration is a critical aspect of a child’s identity and an essential human right, facilitating access to education and health services. There is a need for evidence regarding the availability of information about children with unregistered birth status. This study aims to identify factors affecting unregistered births. It employed a cross-sectional study design using the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey data involving 16,555 children born to women of childbearing age. The dependent variable was birth registration status, whereas the independent variables covered characteristics of children, parents, and health services. Determinants of unregistered births were analyzed using logistic regression. The results of this study indicated that 81% of children under five have a birth registration document, 64% have a birth certificate, and 17% have a birth notification letter. Still, the rest are without it due to various reasons, including the high costs involved in arranging for a birth registration document, parents’ lack of awareness, and distance issues. The results further revealed the determinants of unregistered births, including low maternal education, extreme poverty, a lack of official marital status, residency in the eastern region of Indonesia, and childbirths outside health facilities without the assistance of health professionals. These findings highlight the need for strengthened collaboration among health facilities, the civil organization system, and public education services to raise awareness about the importance of birth registration.