ANNEX I. >> M
etadata sheets on selected indicators
Survey results may be unreliable where the sample size is too small or incorrectly designed
for the target population, where insensitive or inconsistent questioning methodology is used, or
where surveys of the entire population are used to draw conclusions for particularly vulnerable
groups. Such groups are less likely to respond to surveys, so specifically targeted surveys with
special sampling methodologies are required for each vulnerable group.
Examples of references of relevance to the right to a fair trial: Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, arts. 10 and 11; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, arts. 14 and 15;
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, art. 5 (a);
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, art. 2; Convention
on the Rights of the Child, arts. 12 (2), 37 (d) and 40; International Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, arts. 16 (5)–(9) and 18; and
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, art. 13.
Indicator 9
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
[e.g., table on the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health]
Definition
The indicator refers to the proportion of childbirths attended by skilled health personnel trained to
give necessary supervision, care and counsel to women during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period; to conduct deliveries on their own; and to care for newborns.
Rationale
The health and the well-being of the woman and the child during and after delivery greatly
depend on their access to obstetric services, the quality of these services and the actual
circumstances of the delivery. All of these are influenced by the State’s health policies, the public
provision of health services and the regulation of private health care. Indeed, the availability
of professional and skilled health personnel with adequate equipment to assist in childbirth is
essential for reducing mortality—maternal as well as of the child—during and after delivery. The
indicator captures efforts by the State to promote and provide professional and skilled health
personnel to attend to the medical needs of pregnancy and birth. It is a process indicator related
to the “sexual and reproductive health” attribute of the right to health.
Method of computation
The indicator is computed as the ratio of births attended by skilled health personnel (doctors,
nurses or midwives) to the total number of deliveries.
Data collection and source
The main sources of data are administrative records maintained by local authorities, registration
systems for population data, records of health ministries and household surveys, including
Demographic and Health Surveys.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
compile country data series based on these sources. The United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) also provides country data series through the implementation of its Multiple Indicator
Cluster Survey (MICS).
Periodicity
In general, the indicator based on administrative records is available annually and the indicator
based on household surveys every three to five years.
Disaggregation
Disaggregation of the indicator by age (at least for women under the age of 18), economic and
social situation, ethnicity, minority, indigenous, colour, language, religion, national or social origin,
migrant, disability, marital and family status, place of residence, region and rural/urban, is useful in
assessing disparities in the availability of health services.
154 Human Rights Indicators
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