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Administrative data linkage to Census 2021 in Wales, UK: A cross-sectional study examining completeness and representativeness for population analytics

Jane Lyons, Rhodri Johnson Orcid Logo, Mike Edwards Orcid Logo, Samantha Turner Orcid Logo, Rich Fry Orcid Logo, Lucy Griffiths Orcid Logo, Ronan Lyons

International Journal of Population Data Science, Volume: 10, Issue: 1

Swansea University Authors: Jane Lyons, Rhodri Johnson Orcid Logo, Mike Edwards Orcid Logo, Samantha Turner Orcid Logo, Rich Fry Orcid Logo, Lucy Griffiths Orcid Logo, Ronan Lyons

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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/ijpds.v10i1.2994

Abstract

Introduction: Measuring population representativeness is an important methodological step in public health and epidemiological studies. Objectives: To explore the representativeness of Census 2021 data linkage when compared with the Welsh Demographic Service Dataset (WDSD) within the Secure Anonymis...

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Published in: International Journal of Population Data Science
ISSN: 2399-4908
Published: Swansea University 2025
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70741
Abstract: Introduction: Measuring population representativeness is an important methodological step in public health and epidemiological studies. Objectives: To explore the representativeness of Census 2021 data linkage when compared with the Welsh Demographic Service Dataset (WDSD) within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank for research on the population of Wales, UK. To understand the characteristics of individuals linked and not linked and which subgroups of the population are disproportionately represented in data linkage population-wide studies. Methods: An observational, population-wide cross-sectional comparison study, utilising administrative demographic data and decennial survey data held in SAIL. Two data sources, the WDSD and Census 2021, were used to create and compare two cohorts of the resident population of Wales, UK, on 21st March 2021. The two cohorts were linked to understand how many individuals from Census 2021 can be successfully linked within SAIL, in WDSD and not in Census 2021, and found across both sources. Logistic regression models analysed the variation in the linkability of the survey data within SAIL by various demographic and household characteristics. Results: The central analytical cohort contained 2,440,191 individuals present in both data sources. WDSD contained 3,090,976 individuals with 2,965,196 individuals in Census data. With a positively classed outcome indicating non-linkage from WDS to Census the characteristics associated with the highest odds of individuals being registered in WDS but not linked to Census (in SAIL) are male (aOR = 1.28 [95%CI 1.28,1.32]), 75+ years of age (aOR = 1.27 [95%CI 1.25,1.29]), of Asian ethnicity (aOR = 1.27 [95%CI 1.24,1.30]), a more recent migrant (arriving to UK after 2000) (aOR = 1.30 [95%CI 1.28,1.32]), a member of the LGBTQ+ community (aOR = 1.29 [95%CI 1.25,1.29]) or not disclosing LGBTQ+ status (aOR = 1.41 [95%CI 1.39,1.43]), being separated, divorced or widowed (aOR = 1.28 [95%CI 1.27,1.29]), or living in rental accommodation (aOR = 1.47 [95%CI 1.45,1.48]). Conclusions: Results show that certain personal characteristics and sub-groups of the population of Wales are disproportionately represented when combining population estimates and utilising Census data in data linkage population-wide studies in SAIL.
Keywords: data linkage; census representativeness; administrative data
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: This work is supported by Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales (Grant ref: ES/W012227/1), part of the ADR UK investment, uniting research expertise from Swansea University Medical School and WISERD (Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data) at Cardiff University with analysts from Welsh Government. ADR UK is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation.
Issue: 1

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