Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 51 3 2022 03 11 659 668 EN Mahmoud Khodadost Department of Public Health, School of Health, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran Arash Fattahi Neurosurgery Ward of 7tir Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nasrin Hoseiny Nejad Pediatrics Department, Aliasghar Children's Hospital, School Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Azad Shokri Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sci-ences, Sanandaj, Iran Hamed Fattahi 1. Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2. Center for Primary Health Care Network Management, Deputy for Public Health, Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran Fatemeh Sarvi Department of Public Health, School of Health, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran Alireza Mosavi-Jarrahi Department of Health and Community Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2020 06 03 2020 12 28 Background: Cancers seldom happen in childhood age and awareness of accurate cancer incidence is essential in order to preventive programs. This study aimed to estimate the childhood cancer incidence in Iran using the three-source capture -recapture method. Methods: Total new cases of childhood cancer reported by three national data sources of MAHAK charity database, pathology reports and clinical records in Iran were enrolled in this study. The common cases among three sources were determined using data linkage method. The childhood incidence rate per 1 million populations was estimated based on three-source capture-recapture method. We used BIC, G2 and AIC statistics to select the best-fit model. Arch GIS was used to determine geographic distribution. Results: Overall, 2567 childhood cancer was included by three sources of registries. The total estimated number of childhood cancer was 5388 (95% CI: 4742.15-6228,14). The higher estimated incidence rate was Leukemia, Lymphoma by 94.91 and 24.80 per 1 million populations and the lower incidence was liver and retinoblastoma with 2.35 and 7.01 per 1 million populations. Provinces of Ardabil and Kohgiluyeh with an incidence rate of 420.01 and 404.61 per 1 million populations had a higher incidence rate and Mazandaran and Ilam with an incidence rate of 60.87 and 66.88 per 1 million populations had the lowest incidence. The overall completeness of the childhood cancer registry based on three-source was 48%. Conclusion: The low-quality childhood cancer registration system highlights the needs for urgent screening programs for early detection in the high prevalent area in Iran. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/21015 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/21015/7543