1. New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics Data Kimberley Peters November 17, 2004

2. History of Vital Records 16 th century - Bills of Mortality issued in London. John Graunt first to analyze. 1880-Massachusetts and New Jersey first states to enter the U.S. Vital Statistics System. 1919- NM began registering births and deaths as part of the newly-created Health Department. 1928-NM joined U.S. Vital Statistics system.

3. Benefits of Vital Statistics Data Due to legal (and financial) aspects of vital certificates, we have data for virtually all births and deaths. High Quality. State, National, and International Comparability.

4. Data Timelines Birth file is closed ~ 6 months after the end of the calendar year. Death file is closed ~ 7-8 months after the end of the calendar year. Preliminary data files are ready about ~ 10 months after end of the year.

5. Current Birth Registration Process Hospital enters information into electronic birth certificate software (EBC) using worksheets and medical records. If midwife or non-EBC hospital, paper birth certificate is completed and key-entered by VRHS staff. Electronic data is coded and run through internal program and edits. Data file is prepared and sent to data users. Statistics are calculated and published.

6. Current (Paper) Death Registration Process Funeral industry or OMI initiates death certificate process. Physician completes Cause of Death Section and Injury section (OMI). Funeral industry completes demographic section and assures certificate has physician signature. Funeral industry brings certificate to one of 26 local registrar offices. Registrar verifies that certificate is complete and correct.

7. Current (Paper) Death Registration Process Continued…. State vital records office hand numbers and codes items on the death certificate, including demographic and cause of death. Certificate is key entered. Data file goes through cause-of-death software package. Data file is prepared and sent to data users. Statistics are calculated and published.

8. Birth Data: 27,799 (2003) MAJOR DATA ELEMENTS Mom Baby Age and Marital Status Race/Ethnicity Spacing Between Births Sex Multiple Births Birth Weight Methods of Delivery Abnormal Conditions Cesarean/Vaginal Births Prenatal Care Race/Ethnicity Education County (with justification)

9. Death Data: 14,493 (2003) MAJOR DATA ELEMENTS Age Sex Cause & Manner of Death Race/Ethnicity Education Injury at Work Occupation/Industry Marital Status County (with justification)

10. Data Products & Services Publications Aggregate level data requests Interactive Web System – NewMICA Data Files

11. Vital Records and Health Statistics Publications

13. County Profiles…

15. Vital Fact/Vital Quiz

16. Vital Statistics Data Release Practices Data Release Protocol. Identified Types of Data: - Aggregate Data - Special Request Data Files.

17. Aggregate Level Data Release Data requestors complete a simple data request form for summary data. Send an email to: vrhsdata@health.state.nm.us

18. Special Data File Requirements Completion of BVRHS Protocol; Research proposal, if available; IRB approval, if available; Justification of confidential/identifiable information; Files may not be copied or shared; Review of publication/presentation statistics are requested.

19. Considerations for Data Release Balancing the protection of confidential birth and death records while still providing necessary data for public health research. NM is a “Closed Record State.” Birth Records are confidential for 100 years after birth, unless individual is alive; Death Records are confidential for 50 years after death. Data release is based on VRHS protocol and team decision.

20. Contact Information DOH Website: http://www.health.state.nm.us/ Vital Records Data Request: vrhsdata@health.state.nm.us kimberley.peters@doh.state.nm.us

21. Thank you!