Lost hospital documents, difficult travel, and social stigma were identified as key reasons behind delayed birth registrations across Fiji, according to findings from nationwide outreach campaigns.
The Fiji Bureau of Statistics said one of the most common causes of late registration is the delay or loss of Notification of Birth forms at health facilities.
Without the forms, parents are unable to complete registration, often having to return to hospitals or request replacements — a process that adds cost and significant delays.
Geographic isolation further compounds the problem. In outer islands and remote villages, access to registry offices depends on boat travel or long overland journeys that are costly and weather dependent.
Limited digital connectivity also affects mobile registration programs, slowing data transmission and reducing outreach effectiveness.
In Lakeba, the findings revealed that baptism cards are being used for school enrolment due to prolonged delays in birth registration.
While this enabled children to attend school, officials warned that the lack of birth certificates can affect legal identity and access to future services.
Social factors are also highlighted. In Tailevu, stakeholders reported that stigma associated with children born outside formal marriage discourage some parents, particularly single mothers, from engaging with the registration process, leading to late or missed registrations.
The report said these challenges show that birth registration is not only an administrative issue, but also a social and access-related problem that require coordinated responses across multiple agencies.
