{
  "abstract": "The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent public health responses have highlighted significant challenges in global mortality data collection, with approximately 40% of deaths unregistered and fragmented reporting systems hampering public health responses. This paper supports the establishment of routine mortality surveillance as a core function of essential public health services, emphasising the need for integration with civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems. By leveraging existing frameworks and proposing a Theory of Change (ToC), we outline critical linkages between CRVS and mortality surveillance that enhance data accuracy, timeliness and utility for public health decision-making. The paper provides examples across key enablers—policies, agreements and legislation; infrastructure; governance, funding and resources; and people and organisational culture—that facilitate these linkages. We also present examples from initiatives like the Africa CDC’s Mortality Surveillance Programme to illustrate effective strategies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ToC serves as a blueprint for stakeholders to implement strategic interventions aimed at overcoming barriers to linking systems and data integration and utilisation. Ultimately, this paper underscores the importance of coordinated efforts among national public health agencies, civil registration authorities and other stakeholders to improve mortality data systems globally. By addressing these systemic challenges through enhanced collaboration and technological innovation, we can significantly advance public health outcomes and policy formulation in response to future health crises.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Public Health Service, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Erin Nichols"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Kingsley Arhin-Wiredu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Global Health Protection, Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Shelly Bratton"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Emily Cercone"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Stephen Longa Chanda"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Cobos Muñoz"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Surveillance and Disease Intelligence, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Joy Ebonwu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Global Health Protection, Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Andres Espinosa-Bode"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Global Health Protection, Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Endang Handzel"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "CDC Zambia, Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lusaka, Zambia"
      ],
      "name": "Priscilla Kapombe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Global Health Protection, Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Martin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Global Health Protection, Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Ronald Moolenaar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "African Centre for Statistics, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "William Muhwava"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Surveillance and Disease Intelligence, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Emily Barigye Atuheire"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Integrating mortality surveillance as a routine component of national essential public health functions: a blueprint for action",
  "uid": "bd88cd01-1e5d-5c2a-ac4f-203917f0beec"
}