Accuracy and reliability

Overall accuracy

Statistics Denmark counsels and advises municipalities on correct data reporting practice. However, Statistics Denmark does not have the necessary knowledge to asses the differences in municipal proceedings regarding preventive measures given to children and youth. In order to ensure that transmittion of data and reporting are done in a most uniform manner, the municipalities are obliged to implement and adhere to the criteria stipulated in the Databekendtgørelsen (ie. The Executive Order on Data Transition in the Field of Social Policy)

Municipalities use different systems for registration of cases and measures. As a result, the registration procedure can differ and is not uniform. For instance, one municipality can post a given measure under a paragraph, included in the registry of disadvantaged children and young people, while another municipality can charge the same measure under a different paragraph, not included in the registry. Data regarding paragraphs 57a, 57b and 57c of the Social Service Act are underestimated as these are not reported directly in all of the digital systems used by the municipalities.

Sampling error

Not relevant for these statistics.

Non-sampling error

The statistics contain data from all of the 98 municipalities in Denmark. The data, which the municipalities approve, are summarized.

Differences in the municipalities' digital systems, used for reporting, can result in the fact that not all municipalities register cases uniformly. What is posted in one municipality under a section, that is included in the register of disadvantaged children and youth, may in another municipality be registered under another section that is not reported.

Municipalities should report all measures, granted to disadvantaged children and young people, but it must be assumed that there are missing cases. Validation process and yearly meetings with the municipalities minimize such errors.

There may be some measurement errors in the period variable for the given measures. Some municipalities tend to set the start date of a measure as being the date when it is granted, while other municipalities correctly specify the start date as being the time when the measure actually takes effect.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

Data is generally regarded as reliable. The quality of data on specific paragraphs can be less accurate.

The statistics are published annually, no later than 9 months after the end of the reference period. This ensures that users have actual knowledge of municipal preventive measures and thus an illustration of the scope and the character of support that children and youth at risk receive. The number of measures and children, who receive one or more measures is more accurate than the quality of specific paragraphs. The reason for this is that municipalities have differing procedures in registration of measures to specific paragraphs. Yearly validation process ensures that the data is precise, but can also contribute to minor fluctuations, as data for previous years can on occasions be corrected. In general, such fluctuations are considered as minor, and therefore the statistics are considered to be reliable.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

The register is a progress register, which is updated yearly. Generally, the statistics contain updated data for the last 5 year period. Upon the 2022 publication, 4 new statistical tables were created and published (ISBU01, ISBU02, IBSU03, ISBU04). These tables contain updated data for the period from year 2015 to 2022. Furthermore, in 2022, Statistics Denmark has updated and changed the manner in which the number of children and young people is calculated. A child or a young person can now occur in several municipalities or provinces in the same reference year. Therefore, the data on specific municipalities or provinces can be higher than previously, since there is a possibility of more cases occurring. Due to this fact, Statistics Denmark has chosen to update the data in tables BU43 and BU04A for the period 2011-2022.