DETERMINANTS AND IMPACT OF NON-REGISTRATION BIRTH ON THE CHILDREN IN CAMEROUN Presented by:

Register a birth is a first step to ensuring the identity of a child. Registration is evidence not only of identity but also of existence. In many countries it’s considered like the main identification document. This paper studies issues relating to non-registration births on the children. Data used are from Third Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted in Cameroon by the National Statistics Institute in 2006. This study presents a theoretical review on birth registration. Thereof, it appears that in several countries, a birth certificate is required to access to basic services and to exercise the fundamental human rights. Without a birth certificate, a child may be unable to pass school examinations, immunization or receive free health care. An adult without a birth certificate haven’t the right to marry, to vote, to be employed in the formal sector, or even register the births of his children. To analyze the impact of non-registration of children birth in Cameroon, we identified firstly the constraints of birth registrations, using a dichotomous Logit model. Then, using propensity score matching, we showed the impact that non- registration birth may have on the children. It appears from this study that several factors can explain lack registration of births, like, place of residence, age of mother, size or income of household… Furthermore, children who didn’t have a birth certification have a lower probability to go to the school, have a good health and have a good job in the future. Also, it’s necessary to ameliorate the system of civil registration in ours countries