Vital Statistics

Vital statistics, the records of birth and death, are a critical national information resource for understanding public health. Over the past few decades, the specific program that gathers the data has evolved into a complex cooperative program between the federal and state governments for social measurement. The Vital Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP) is currently maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The U.S. vital statistics system relies on the original information reported by myriad individuals, channeled through varying state and local information systems, and coordinated and processed by a federal statistical agency that has experienced relatively flat funding for many years. The challenges facing the vital statistics system and the continuing importance of the resulting data make it an important topic for examination. A workshop, held by the National Academies and summarized in this volume, considered the importance of adequate vital statistics. In particular, the workshop assessed both current and emerging uses of the data, considered the methodological and organizational features of compiling vital data, and identified possible visions for the vital statistics program.Table of ContentsFront Matter1 Introduction2 Uses of Vital Statistics Data3 The Federal-State Cooperative Relationship4 Methodological Issues and the 2003 Revision of Standard Instruments5 Options for a 21st Century Vital Statistics ProgramAppendixesAppendix A: The U.S. Vital Statistics System: The Role of State and Local Health DepartmentsAppendix B: The U.S. Vital Statistics System: A National PerspectiveAppendix C: Workshop Agenda and Participant ListAppendix D: 2003 Revisions, Standard Certificates of Death and Live BirthReferencesCommittee on National Statistics