1. National Vital Statistics System - Natality
Stephanie J. Ventura, M.A.
National Center for Health Statistics
Presented at the 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Public Health Association Continuing Education Institutes
November 4, 2007 Washington, DC

2. Joyce A. Martin (Team Leader) T. J. Mathews Fay Menacker
The Natality Team
Brady E. Hamilton
Sharon Kirmeyer
Marian F. MacDorman
Joyce A. Martin (Team Leader)
T. J. Mathews
Fay Menacker
Martha L. Munson
Paul D. Sutton
Stephanie J. Ventura (Branch Chief)
Began with 12 registration areas in 1900
All States included beginning in 1933

3. Core of our health data system
Vital Statistics
Core of our health data system
Base for public health, social science, economic planning and program development
Monitor key indicators of health world-wide and at the local, state and national level
Track progress to goals
Identify disparities
Alert to emerging problems
Every now and then we need to even remind ourselves of the value of this data system. And why all of our efforts to re-engineer are so worthwhile.
-- It’s the core of our health data system – the oldest, the leader, a pioneer
-- Vital statistics provide the base for public health research, policies and programs but also in every phase of life, here and throughout the world
-- Vital statistics track progress, identify disparities, alert us to new or emergency programs.

4. National Vital Statistics System
Registration of births and deaths is not a Federal activity – responsibility lies with the states
Vital Statistics Cooperative Program
Includes all 57 registration areas (all states and territories, DC and NYC)
Standardization of data collection and data processing
Comparability among states
Compilation of national vital statistics data sets
Began with 12 registration areas in 1900
All States included beginning in 1933

5. U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth: 2003 Revision
Legal information:

6. U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth: 2003 Revision
LOCAL FILE NO BIRTH NUMBER:
U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth: Revision
Parents’ Demographic Information and Birth Place Information:
REV. 11/2003

7. U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth: 2003 Revision
LOCAL FILE NO BIRTH NUMBER:
U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth: Revision
Maternal Medical and Health Information:
REV. 11/2003

8. U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth: 2003 Revision
LOCAL FILE NO BIRTH NUMBER:
U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth: Revision
Newborn Information:
REV. 11/2003

9. Implementation of the 2003 Revised Birth CertificateMT WY ID WA OR NV UT CA AZ ND SD NE CO NM TX OK KS AR LA MO IA MN WI IL IN KY TN MS AL GA FL SC NC VA WV OH MI NY PA MD DE NJ CT RI MA ME VT NH AK HI DC
2003 or 2004
2005
Mid-year reviser
2006
2007 or later
NOTE: New York State but not New York city implemented for 2004.

10. Challenges in Implementing the 2003 Revised Birth Certificate
Delayed/Phased/Selective implementation of 2003 revised birth certificate
Multiple-race and geographic coding
Modified (improved) and new items
Natality data files for 2003 and later years – larger and complex

11. Benefits in Implementing the 2003 Revised Birth Certificate
Changes to existing items
New items
Improved data quality
Worksheets
Edit data at source
Standardized edits for all items

12. Types of Data Dissemination: National Vital Statistics Reports
Provisional Reports
Counts of births, deaths, infant deaths
Only source of information on marriages and divorces
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

13. Preliminary Data
Based on substantial sample of records – 99% of all births for 2005
More detailed inclusive annual report
Provides preview of data in final report
Data track very well with those from final report
Sample of all records received and processed by cut-off date – 4-5 months after end of data year
Published 6-10 months after end of year

14. Final Data
Annual report – based on all US births in a given year
Discussion and detailed data on almost all items in the data set
Released months after end of year
Accompanies release of public use data file

15. Types of Data Dissemination: National Vital Statistics Reports
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

16. Types of Data Dissemination: Topical Reports
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

17. Selected Findings from Reports

18. From: Expanded Health Data from the New Birth Certificate, 2004
Rates of prepregnancy diabetes: 7 reporting states, 2004
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

19. From: Births: Preliminary Data for 2005
Cesarean delivery rates by age of mother: US,
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

20. From: Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2004 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set
Total and preterm-related infant mortality rates by race and ethnicity of mother: United States, 2004
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

21. Population of Hispanic Origin and Subgroups, 2000
From: Birth and Fertility Rates for States by Hispanic Origin Subgroups: United States, 1990 and 2000
Population of Hispanic Origin and Subgroups, 2000

22. From: Births: Preliminary Data for 2005
Percentage of preterm births: United States, 1990, 2004, and 2005
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

23. Upcoming Reports
Births: Preliminary Data for 2006
Expanded Health Data from the New Birth Certificate, 2005
Fetal and Perinatal Mortality: United States, 2005
Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2005 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set
Estimated Pregnancy Rates: United States,
Teenage Birth Rates for the United States,
Births: Final Data for 2005

24. Types of Data Dissemination: Vital Statistics of the United States
Tabulated Data

25. Types of Data Dissemination: Public Use Micro Data Files (ASCII and SETS versions)
Unit Record Data
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

26. Types of Data Dissemination: Online Data Access Tools
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System

29. Interactive Table from VitalStats

30. Other Web based interactive data systems
CDC WONDER:
CDC Interactive Atlas of Reproductive Health:

31. Website addresses
National Center for Health Statistics Web Page:
Birth Data Web Page:
Linked Birth/Infant Death Web Page:
2003 Revisions of the U.S. Standard Certificates of Live Birth and Death and the Fetal Death Report Web Page:
U.S. Census Populations with Bridged Race Categories Web Page:

32. For more information contact:
Stephanie Ventura
Joyce Martin
Brady Hamilton
Paul Sutton Or