I

NATIONAL CENTER Series 4

For HEALTH STATISTICS Number 2

VITAL and HEALTH STATISTICS

DOCUMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

National

Vital Statistics Needs

A Report of the United States National

Committee on Vital and Health Statistics

An analysis of the role of the national vital statistics agency, with recommendations concerning the

procurement and production of regular annual data,

the need for special studies, provision of technical

services to the States, and other policy questions.

Washington, D.C. September 1965

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Public Health Service

Anthony J. Celebrezze Luther L. Terry

Secretary Surgeon General
This report was originally published as Vital Statistics—Special Reports,

Vol. 45, No. 11 (July 1957). Because its recommendations for meeting

needs for national vital statistics are still of interest, the report is

now being reprinted without change in the National Center for Health

Statistics Vital and Health Statistics series.

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000 -Scri es 4-No. 2
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS

FOR’REST E. LINDER, PH. D., ~Z’7%C~07

THEODORE D. WOOLSEY, Ikputy Director

O. K. SAGEN, PH. D., ~Jf;f~(zn~ ~i?’eC~O~

WALT R. SIMMONS, M. A., stati~tical Advi~or

ALICE M. WATERHOUSE, M. D., Medical Advisor

JAMES E, KELLY, D.D.S., Dental zfdui$o?’

LOUIS R. STOLCIS, M.A., Executive O@cer

OFFICE OF HEALTH STATISTICS ANALYSIS

IWAO M. MORXYAMA,PH. D., Chbf

DIVIS1ON OF VITAL STATISTICS

ROBERTD. GROVE, PH. D., Chief

DIV1S1ONOF HEALTHINTERVIEWSTATISTICS

PHILIPS. LAWRENCE,Sc. D., Chief

DIVISION OF HEALTH RECORDS STATISTICS

MONROE G. SIRKEN, PH. D., Chief

DIV1S1ONOF HEALTHEXAMINATIONSTATISTICS

ARTHURJ. MCDOWELL, Chid

DIVISION OF DATA PROCESSING

SIDNEY BXNDER,Chief

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000-Series 4-No. 2
CONTENTS

SUMMARYOF REPORT

Page

Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 221

The role of tbe National Office of Vital Statistics .-- —-. -— -------------------------------- 221

Major recommendations and observations ------------------------------------------------------- Z2Z

Other recommendations ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 223

Completeness of &b ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 223

uIIifOXIUi& Of &ta---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 223

Scope and detail of &ti---------------------------------------------------------------------- 223

Explanatory and interpretive tefi ----------------------------------------------------------- 223

Cyclical schedule of tabulations ------------------------------------------------------------- 223

Utilization of data by consumers ----------------------------------------------------------------- 224

DETAILED REPORT

“---- --- —_ .._. . . -L. s–. --- iicu~ aim meumu ox SIULIy— -------- ------------------------------------------------------------

The present national vital statistics system ----------------------------------------------------

Legislative authority ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Functims of the National Office of Vital Statistics --------------------------------------------

Organtaation, budget, and personnel of the National Office of Vital Statistics ------------------

Findfng$ and recommendations --------------------------------------------------------- ---------

Regular production of basic national vital statistics ------------------------------------------

Statistical studies of public health and population chuacteristics ----------------------------

Coordination of the national vital statistics system ---—--— ------------------------

Observations on economy and efficiency of operations ----------------------------------------

Methods of producing national vital statistics -----------------------------------------------

APPENDIXES

A, Consumer views on national vital stitistic&--------------------------------------------------

Use of vital stithtics ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope or detil of subject matter, timeliness, and accuracy --------------------------------

Reduction in quantity of matertal published by the National Office of Vital Statistics -------

Tables A-1 through A-6-------------------------------------------------------------------

B, Consumer views on national marriage s~tistic=--------------------------------------------

Major ffndfngs of survey -------------------------------------------------------------------

Description of smvey ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis of questionnaire returns ---------------------------------------------------------

Tablee B-1 through B-10 -----------------------------------------------------------------

C. Survey of methods of producing national vital statistics --------------------------------------

Methods of productng tdional vital statisftcs ---------------------------------------------

The problem of duplication -------------------------------------------------------------

The transcript metkd -------------------------------------------------------------------

The punched-card metiti ------------------------------------------------------------------

The pretabulation method ----------------------------------------------------------------

Tablea C-1 and C-2------------------------------------------------------------------------

D, Technical services to Statee ---------------------------------------------------------------

Types of sefice&------------------------------------------------------------------------

219

~L[

22’7

228

228

230

230

231

237

238

239

240

243

243

244

244

245

248

248

248

249

251

256

256

257

258

259

262

264

268

266
National Vital Statistics Needs ~

A Report of the United States National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics

SUMMARY OF REPORT

Introduction

The Committee was requested by the U. S. Public Health Service to make a comprehensive study

of the objectives and the program of national vital

statistics, to report its findings, and to make recommendations for the future development of the program. It was asked, also, to undertake a special

study of the needs for marriage statistics and the

extent to which existing data satisfy these needs.

The Committee’s findings and recommendations are based ox

1. An extensive questionnaire survey of the

principal users of the various kinds of vital statistics and a special questionnaire survey of the major

users of marriage statistics.

2. Partici@tion in apaneldiscussion at a meeting of the American Association of Registration

Executives on the subject, “A National System of

Vital Statistics.”

3. Intensive studies of particular phases of the

problem.

4. Frequent long discussion meetings of the

subcommittees.

This report is in three parts-the summary,

the detailed report, and the appendixes containing

the detailed information upon which the report is

based.

The Committee has examined the major areas

of responsibility of the National Office of Vital Statistics (NOVS) and for each area has outlined the

goals to be achieved. This is followed by a statement of the principal deficiencies in the present

system with respect to these goals, and finally by

the recommendations.

The Role of the National Office of

Vital Statistics

In thiscountry, the registration of vital events

is the responsibility of the States. Each State also

has the responsibility for tabulating and publishing

its own data so as to meet its special needs. The

tabulation and publication of mtional data on births,

deaths, notifiable diseases, marriages, and divorces

and annulments are functions of the National Office

of Vital Statistics, a branch of the Division of

General Health Services, Bureau of State Services, Public Health Service, U. S. Department of

Health, Education, and Welfare.

The functions of the NOVS should not be regarded as confined to the routine processing and

publication of historic series of data. The justification for publishing data is that they serve some

useful purpose. Vital statistics are essential for

administrative purposes in both business and government, and also for research. Used in conjunc -

tion with population data, they provide a background

for public health programs and medical researc~

for making projections of the size and composition

of the population; sndfor the study of trends regarding family formation, composition and dissolution,

and other aspects of our society. The NOVS has

major responsibilities both for making available the

221
222 VITAL STATISTICS-SPECIAL REPORTS

kind of data that will be most useful in these areas

and for stimulating widespread and fruitful applica -

tion of these data. These responsibilities call for

foresight and flexibility to meet changing needs.

Further, although many of the uses of vital statistics lie in the field of public health, the data also

have important applications to demography.

The fact that the NOVS is a part of the Public

Health Service insures full recognition of the health

interests in vital statistics. This implies an obligation and responsibility to maintain a national vital

statistics program that is not overshadowed by

health inte~ests but also meets the justifiable needs

in the demographic and other areas of interest.

Major Recommendations and Observations

A complete list of the recommendations is given

in the main body of this re~rt. Of these, the Committee wishes to draw particular attention to the following which appear to deserve the highest priority.

1. Immediate priority should be given to the

processing and procurement of data so as to achieve

a schedule of processing which permits the release

for printing of final data within 15 months after the

close of the data year, and this schedule should be

maintained or improved upon in the future.

2. Statistical studies that contribute to knowledge in public health, fertility, marriage, divorce,

and mortality should be developed as part of the

regular program of the NOVS. In particular, attention should be given to the influence of ~pulation

characteristics, such as sex, age, marital status,

and occupation. The program should include collection of new data and development of new methods

of analysis that are needed for program planning,

administrative, and research purposes.

3. The NOVS should be given sufficient fiscal

resources to provide more adequate technical serv -

ices to the States in the following areas: professional advisory and consultant service on technical and

management problems; expanded information and

clearinghouse services on technical subjects and

methodology; educational programs directed towards improvement of source data; national program for recruiting and training professional vital

statistics personnel; and work with State health department program divisions in promoting effective

utilization Oi vital statistics data.

4. The Committee has also examined two alternative methods of producing national vital statistics,

in particular the use of data pretabulated by the

States and of punched cards supplied by the States,

Recommendations with regard to these alternatives

are as follows:

A. The NOVS should reject any data procurement

method that limits or restricts the use of vital

statistics records for research or that prevents

it from controlling the quality of national vital

statistics tabulations. Specifically, the NOVS

should procure transcripts of the individual vital

records for processing.

B. The NOVS should reject the proposal to produce

national vital statistics from data pretabulated

by the States because:

(1)

(2)

(3)

the available national ditta would shrink to

those obtainable from a minimum rigid ltst

of tabulations;

it would become very difficult to make national studies based upon information obtainable only from transcripts of the individual records ok from individual punched

cards;

it would add to the cost of State operations

without a compensatory decrease in the cost

to the NOVS.

C. The NOVS should reject the punched-card method of collecting vital statistics data as a general

method applicable to all States because:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

it restricts the freedom of action both of the

State offices of vital statistics and of the

NOVS, thus making vital statistics less useful rather than more useful;

effective leadership in national and international vital statistics will be sacrificed due

to the loss of technical skills and knowledge

in the NOVS;

the scope and detail of national vital statis -

tics cannot be greater than those of the participating State ranking lowest in these re -

pects;

the possible savings in cost are outweighed

by the dieadvantages of the method;

the overlapping of State and Federal’ vital

statistics procedures, tabulations, and needs

is not great enougirto make this method pos -

sible without serious disadvantages to both

parties.
Vol. 45, No, 11 NATIONAL VfTAL STATISTICS NEEDS 223

D. The NOVS should abandon any further experimentation with the punched-card method in the

collection of mortality statistics and if the use

of this method to collect birth statistics is continued at all, should limit it to the few States

where it can be shovm to be mutually advantageous and where it will not adversely affect the

scope, quality, continuity, and usefulness of national vital statistics.

E. The NOVS should continue to cooperate with the

States in studies of ways to improve the division

of labor in the national vital statistics system.

Changes in the system should be made only after

full consideration of:

(.1) the basic requirements for national vital statistics specified on page 231 of this report;

(2) safeguards for the continuity of operation;

(3) opportunities to ixqprove the final product

and to render maximum services.

5, The Committee also notes that marriage

and divorce (including annulment) statistics are in

a highly unsatisfactory state as regards geographic

coverage, uniformity of reporting, accuracy and

amount of detail. A program for the improvement

of these data should be consistent with the above

recommendations and receive the same level of

priority, but it is recognized that it is not possible

to carry out such a program under the present

budgetary position, The Committee recommends

thati

A,

B,

c.

The NOVS work actively to est.ablisha Marriage

Registration Area through implementation of

the four criteria established for admission to

the area, and to extend it until every State is

included.

Methods of collecting marriage statistics be

explored with a view to assu~ing (a) complete

coverage of the United States, (b) uniform data

both between and within States, (c) comparability

of time series, and (d) accuracy of information.

The NOVS obtain copies of marriage records

from the States and local areas to be-processed

in the NOVS,

Similar actions are needed for national statis -

tics on divorces and annulments. However, specific

recommendations are deferred until a thorough

study of this problem can be made.

Other Recommendations

Completeness of data

The NOVS should stimulate and assist in special studies of birth registration completeness in

areas where completeness of registration is still

a problem.

The NOVS should endeavor to develop methods

for measuritig incompleteness of death and late fetal

death registration adaptable to those areas where

this p>oblem is important. If practical techniques

can be found, they should be applied to obtain more

information on the extent of incompleteness and on

means for attaining more complete reporting.

Effort? toward improvement of notifiable dis -

ease reporting should be concentrated first on those

diseases that are major health problems and are

amenable to control procedures.

The NOVS should cooperate with the States in

the development and application of tests to determine the completeness of the reporting of marriages and divorces and annulments to the central

offices, and the accuracy of the information given

on the report forms.

Uniformity of data

The NOVS and the State vital statistics offices

should continue their efforts to obtain complete

coverage of all items on the standard certificates.

Scope and detail of data

The NOVS should keep in closer touch with the

users of its data when planning the scope and detail

of its tabulations and publications and making decisions on fundamental issues.

Explanatory and interpretive text

The analytical functions of the NOVS should be

strengthened to make available more explanatory

and interpretive material useful to consumers.

Cyclical schedule of tabulations

The concept of cyclical collection and tabulation

of data should be firmly established as a part of the

regular program of the NOVS with adequate safeguards for the continuity of the various tabulation

cycles.
224 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECIAL REPORTS

Utilization of Data by Consumers

Questionnaires were sent to 369 persons selected for their presumed interest in some aspect

of vital statistics data. Replies were received

from 254. Although the Committee was aware” of

the limitations of a questionnaire of this type, information was sought regarding the relative fre -

quency with which various types of vital statistics

are used and the different sources from which

these data are obtained, the extent to which the

respondents regard available vital statistics as

adequate for their uses, and ways of reducing the

quantity of material published by the NOVS yet

still meeting the important needs of consumers.

The results of the questionnaire may be summarized as follows (see Appendix A for details):

1. Frequency of use of types of data. —Mor -

tality and natality statistics are the data issued

by the National Office of Vital Statistics which are

used most frequently by the persons replying. Next

in order of frequency of use are the statistics on

marriages and notifiable diseases. The consumers

surveyed showed the least interest in fetal death

statistics and divorce statistics. This generally

corresponds to the requests for data received by

the NOVS.

2. Geographic categories used. —An overwhelming majority of the consumers surveyed indicated use of statistics for the country as a whole

and for States. Also, the majority of resgmdents

appeared to have need for data on all of the other

geographic areas listed.

3. Use of State and local publications .—Excluding State registrars of vital statistics, relatively little reference appears to be made to State

and local publications. However, this may be due,

in part, to the composition of the list of persons

and agencies surveyed.

4. Secondary references. —Of the secondary

references, the Statistical Abstract of the United

States published by the Bureau of the Census is

most frequently used, followed by the United Nations Demographic Yearbook and by the World

Almanac.

5. Unpublished data .—About one-half of the

respondents stated that they have requested unpublished data from the NOVS.

6. Timeliness .—The dissatisfaction expressed

most frequently and most strongly concerning the

NOVS publications related to the lack of timeliness

of their issuance. The release of unpublished data

to those requesting them appears to have softened

the reactions of some of the respondents. Considerable understanding and appreciation of the problems faced by the NOVS in the early publication of

data were evident, but the general opinion was that

the data would be much more useful if they could

be issaed on a more timely schedule.

‘7. Accuracy. —Most of the respondents did not

express any opinion concerning accuracy, except

to indicate general satisfaction with the quality of

data. Most of the defects mentioned were those

that have been already recognized by the NOVS,

namely, errors in residence allocation of births

and deaths, and incompleteness of notifiable disease statistics.

8. Scope and detail.—A large proportion of

respondents indicated satisfaction with the existing

scope and detail of the published data. There were

relatively few suggestions for reducing the quantity

of data published.

Another questionnaire devoted exclusively to

marriage statistics, was sent to 539 persons and

organizations to obtain information concerning uses

and needs of consumers of marriage statistics. Replies were received from 262 or 49 percent.

Since users of marriage statistics were selected as respondents it is to be expected that use

would be reported in ways proportionate to the kind

of persons included in the mailing list, namely,

business men, university people, private researchers, and government officials. In the judgment of

the Committee the mailing list of business users

stressed national organizations, and the survey

may have failed to reach local users in business

fields. While one question dealt with potent ial uses

if statistics were available, it is doubtful that the

full effect of supply on demand is revealed. Perhaps improved statistics must actually be available

in order to call out full expression of demand from

consumers. Probably the questionnaire survey

was most effective in revealing the varied uses of

marriage statistics, in indicating the scope of the

desired data, and in eliciting new suggestions (see

Appendix B for details).
Vol. 45, No, 11 NATIONAL VfTAL STATISTICS NEEDS 225

There are four general findings of the survey

cm marriage statistics:

1, There is evidence of extensive use of marriage statistics in large business organizations, in

colleges and universities, in government, and in

private research.

2. The returns indicate use by individuals in

business organizations for estimating household

formation and for predicting demand for consumer

goods . Persons in research and academic fields

expressed a preference for data useful in socio -

logical and demographic research.

3. With respect to the time-space aspects of

statistical reporting, the broader categories were

favored. Although there was strong support for

monthly totals and for annual national and State

reporting of more detailed figures, there seemed

to be a relatively limited demand for reporting of

the monthly figures in advance of present publications.

4. Strong support was expressed for complete

natioml and State coverage on an annual basis snd

for more specific data, with cross -tabulations by

bride and groom, and information

available from registration records,

on items not
FIIWIRE .. ----- 1

FLOW OF VITAL RECORDS AND STATISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES

RESPON~LE FETAL DEATH

PEWN OR BfRTH CERTIFICATE

NOTIFIABLE DISEASE DIVORCE, C

DEATH CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATE REPGRTfNG

AGENCY (Stlilbirfh)

RSFORT OFFfCIALS bfARRIAGE RECORD ANNULMFA

RJXORD

Completes entire 1. Completes medfcaf 1. Receives applfcatfcm

Physician certUlcate in consuf. certtflcation and Certifies to the came Reports each ca8e by for marriage ftcense.

or Other tation with parent(s). signs certificate. of fetaf death and telephone or by maff

Professional

Fifes certificate with SISI16certificate. Re - on swclal form to

local registrar cd

2. Verifies information

Attendant 2. Returns certificate turns it to funeral di- local or State health

district in which

from aerologlcaf

to funeraf director. rector. department.

birth occurs.

Clerk of LCWaf

tests.

Government 3. Issues marriage 11-

1

cenae.

1. Obtains personaf 1. 0k4afns facts almut

facts about the de- the fetid death. 4. Sends completed recceased. ord of marriage to

2. Takes certificate to State registrar.

2. Takes certificate to

Funeral

physician for entry

pbyslcian for medf - of causea of fetid

Director caf certification. death.

1. Perf0rm8 the marriage ceremony.

3. Delivers completed 3. Deffvers completed

Marrfage

certificate to locaf Officimt 3. Certffies to facts ofcertificate to local

registrar and obtains

marriage and sends

registrar and obtains

burial permit.

the recurd to Ucense

burlaf permit. clerk.

‘ 1

1. Verifies cOmpiete- 1. Verifies cOmplete1. Provides for

neas and accuracy. ness and accuracy.

- 1

report to pet

Makes coPy, ledger fdakes copy, ledger

or attorney, c

entry, or index for entry, or index for

petftion for d<

Verifie8 complete, Iocaf use. Sends Iocaf use. Sends

make entries

nem and accuracy. certificates to local

form.

Makes copy, ledger

certificates to local

Lc+al Registrar health department or heafth department or Clerk

of entry, or index for to State registrar. to State registrar.

3. Verffies entr

of

locaf use. Sends

returned fern

vital Sfatfstfcs certificates to local

court

3. Issues burlaf permit 2. 1ssue8 burial permit

health department or to ftmeraf director.

3. Enters final

to funeral dfrector,

to State registrar.

fact%

3. Verlfie* returns of 3. Verifies returns of

buriaf permits. bwial permits.

4. Sends comple

port to State

+ —J---+ +

trar.

1. Enter8 prmn

city or cOuntJ 1. Uses certificates in alfocatfng medical and nursing services, follow up of fnfectioua diseases,

Heafth

relative to sw

plannlng programs, and meammfng effectiveness of activities. Attorney for

L3cprtment 2. Forwards certificates and case repofis to State registrar. PeUtioner 3. Returns form

of court.

+

1. Qeries incomplete or Inconsistent information. wState Health 2. Maintafns fifes for permanmt reference and source of certffied copies.

Dqutment 3. Compiles statistics for fite and civil divisions of State for use of the health department and other interested

Bureau of agenciem or groups.

vital Statfatfcs 4. Prepsres transcripts or micro[ilm copies of birth, death, and fetal death certificates, and summary reports

of marriage, dfvorce, and notifiable disease records for transmissim to Naticiml Office of VIM Statistics.

Publkc Health

+

service 1. Prepares and pubffshes Iuttonal statistics of bids, deafbs, fetal de~ths, marriages, divorces, and mdffiable

Naticaml Office diswes for officfal and voluntary consumers.

C4 2. Publisbes znafyses of data as they refate to PLMIC bedtb and sc-cial problems.

vim Statistics 3. Provides .mwices needed to fcdter more cmmplcte and uniform registrattcm.

XGZZ.-IB _ S-t,’ certifimt,, of blti, dutl,,u+ fetal d,mth d rqmrt. of mtiflabl, dl,use, mmmt routed thmu&b led hcaltb .ie~t,; in ah,rm, there 1. IJOcemtrm.1 fle for ~m.se 4 .UWXW

t m? state level.
DETAILED REPORT

Scope and Method of Study

The U. S. National Committee on Vital and

Health Statistics was asked by the U. S. Public

Health Service to make a critical study of the objectives and the program of national vital statistics, and to report its findings, and to make rec -

ommendations on the following topics:

1. The effectiveness of the National Office of

Vital Statistics in meeting the major consumer

needs in all fields of use, with respect to timeliness, degree of accuracy, periodicity, et cetera.

2. Types of data and analytical studie 3 to be

produced routinely and as special studies, with

Suggestions on proportion of total budget that should

be allocated to special studies.

3. Program of technical assistance to States.

4. Coordination of vital statistics activities at

various levels of government-Federal, State, and

locaI, and interrelation between these levels.

5. General blueprint outlining goals to be

achieved by the national vital statistics system.

In addition to making various studies of different aspects of the program and operations of the

NOVS, an inquiry was conducted among 369 principal users of national vital statistics, by means of

a questionnaire designed to discover what types of

data published by the NOVS are most frequently

used and what deficiencies, if any, the users have

found in these data (see Appendix A). Information

along the same lines was ‘also sought from business

news services.

At the request of the special Subcommittee on

Vital Statistics Needs, the American Association

of Registration Executives held a panel discussion

on’ ‘A National System of Vital Statistics” at its

Omaha meeting, June 14, 1955. Three members of

the Subcommittee participated and obtained a helpful sounding of the views of registration officials.

The National Committee also undertook a special study of the status of national marriage statistics with emphasis on (a) the uses of marriage

data by business, government, research, and other

interests, and (b) the extent to which existing statistics on marriages meet consumer needs.

A questionnaire survey of 539 organizations

and individuals to determine present uses of snd

needs for marriage statistics was conducted by the

special Subcommittee on Utilization of Marriage

Statistics. The survey findings were presented at

meetings of the Working Group on Marriage and

Divorce and of the Council of the Public Health

Conference on Records and Statistics.

Although it was recognized that a similar study

on statistics of divorces and annulments is needed,

the investigation of this subject was deferred. The

Committee suggests that a survey of consumer

needs for divorce and annulment statistics be conducted.

The Present National Vital Statistics System

This section presents a brief account of cer -

tain aspects of the present national vital statistics

system, as a background for the discussion leading

to the findings of the Committee.

227
228 VITAL STATISTICS-SPECIAL REPORTS

Legislative authority

The method of producing nationaI vital statistics in the United States differs from those of a

large majority of other coontries. Registration

of vital events in the United States has been’ established as part of the public health responsibilities

that are included within the general powers re -

served to the States. The legal authority for the

production of national vital statistics is found in a

law of Congress (1904) which requires the U. S.

Bureau of the Census to collect “statistics of the

births and deaths in registration areas annually,

the data for which shall be obtained from and restricted to such registration records of such States

and municipalities as in the discretion of the Director possess records affording satisfactory data

in necessary detail . . . .“ This authori~ VZISt.HIS -

ferred to the Federal Security Agency, now the

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, in

1946. The language of the reorganization plan that

made this transfer, in referring to vital statistics,

included marriages, divorces, and annulments along

with births and deaths. However, there is no sps -

cif ic statutory authority to pay for marriage, divorce, and annulment records. The Surgeon General of the Public Health Service has statutory

authority to collect morbidity and mortality statistics. All of the present activities of the NOVS

derive from these authorizations.

Under this system, a major problem faced by

the NOVS is to develop procedures that will produce adequate national vital statistics in a situation

where the legal authority over the registration or

collection of the original information rests with the

States.

Functions of the Natioml Office of

Vital Statistics

Collection of data. —This office tabulates and

publishes data on births, deaths (including fetal

deaths), notifiable diseases, marriages ~d di -

vorces (including annulments). Figure 1 taken from

Volume I of Vital Statistics of the United States,

~ shows the flow for each of these items from

the original record to its processing in the NOVS.

Copies of individual records of births, deaths,

and fetal deaths filed in the State registration offices are received by the NOVS in the form of

microfilm reproductions of the record or as transcriptions. In addition to the microfilm copies,

punched cards for births were received in 1954 from

i 1 reporting areas, and punched cards for deaths

were obtained on a trial basis from California and

Oregon. The numbers of records collected for 1954

from the State vital statistics offices in the various

forms are as follows:

Punched

Micro- cards and TranT&A f~m microfilm scripts

Total --5,717,854 4,274,795 1,028,036 415,023

Births --4,119,313 2,923,551 904,043 291,719

Deaths-- 1,502,364 1,262,853 123,993 115,518

Fetal

deaths- 96,177 88,391 7,786

Data on marriages and divorces and annulments

are provided by the registration areas on table

forms prepared by the NOVS. The number ofStates

and other areas providing tables for 1954 data

varied for marriages from 37 areas giving data by

month to 19 areas providing. data by ages of bride

and groom and number of previous marriages. For

divorces, the number of areas varied from 38 giving

data by county to 7 providing statistics by ages of

husband and wife.

Publications. —The publications issued by the

NOVS may be classified into three types: current,

annual, and special reports.

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Repor~

and an accompanying press release Communicable

Disease Summa ry, are issued at the end of each

week following the week to which the data refer.

The Monthly Vital Statistics Report, issued about 6

weeks after the end of the month to which the data

refer, gives summary data for each State and the

entire country on total births, deaths, infant deaths,

and marriages. Divorce and annulment data are

included for slightly more than one-half of the

States. In addition, mortality statistics for the

country are classified by cause of death, age, sex,

and color, for a 10-percent sample of the death

certificates. All data in these publications are

provisional.

The regular, comprehensive compilation of

vital statistics for this country is the publication,

Vital Statistics of the United States, which is issued

annually by the NOVS. It contains the most com -

prehensive and detailed vital statistics for the

United States and individual States and local areas.
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 229

It is the basic statistical reference source for research workers concerned with the study of mor -

tality, natality, fetal mortality, marriage, and divorce and annulment.

Sp?cial reports on particular subjects are published in Vital Statistics —Special Reports. One

volume of this series comprises 20 or so separate

reporti issued for the year, and subtitled National

Summaries. Typical titles in such a volume are:

“Births by Age of Mother, Race, and Live-Birth

Order: United States, 1954”; “Divorces and Annulments: Detailed Statistics for Reporting Areas,

1954’‘; “Infant Mortality: United States, 1954.”

While these reports are devoted primarily to data

for the most recent year, they frequently contain

summary tables with rates or other index figures

for earlier years.

Another volume of the Vital Statistics –Special

-s series is subtitled Selected Studies. It

is devoted entirely to special analytical studies of

vital statistics subjects in which detailed analysis

and interpretation of the statistics are emphasized

as much as the presentation of the data. An example

of this type is “Weight at Birth and Its Effect on

Survival of the Newborn in the United States, Early

1950,” Vol. 39, No. 1, 1954,

Occasionally, an entire volume of the V~

Statistics-Special Re~rts is devoted to one major

subject, An example is Volume 32, “Cancer Mortality in the United States, 1900-1945.”

Technical services. —The NOVS has two continuing programs of technical service to the State

vital statistics offices (see Appendix D). One pro -

gram includes the training of cause-of-death coders

through quarterly comparisons of State and NOVS

cause -of -death codes; monthly publication of a

column on cause-of-death coding problems in ‘llQ

Registrar, a NOVS publication for State and local

registrars; and a monthly issue of 10 coding problems and answers for cause -of -death coders. The

other program pertains to serving the Public Health

Conference on Records and Statistics and the working groups of the Conference in a secretariat and

consulting capacity.

Other technical services are rendered upon

request. These include ‘‘ioan” of personnel to

international and State organizations, as well as

consultation on various problems in registration,

statistical processing, machine tabulation procedures, and analytical methods. Requests for

technical opinions are generally handled by corre -

spondence,

Coordination and standards. -In order to produce uniform national vital statistics, the NOVS

must coordinate registration and statistical prac -

tices of the States insofar as they affect interstate

and international comparability of data. The principal mechanism utilized by the NOVS for coordination is the Public Health Conference on Records

and Statistics. In collaboration with the Public

Health Conference on Records and Statistics, the

NOVS develops, for adoption by States, recommendations on basic items such as the model vital statistics law, and standard certificates of live birth,

fetal death, death, marriage, and divorce. The NOVS

participates in the development of uniform definitions on other specific aspects such as motor-vehicle accidents and home accidents, for national

use. In the international field, the NOVScontributes

to the formulation of international standards and

assumes the responsibility for interpretation of

these standards and practices for national use. The

NOVS participation in the development of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death, and of the international

recommendations of definitions of live birth and

fetal death are examples of its activities in the

internatioml field.

Status of national marriage statistics. —In recent years many efforts have been made to improve

national marriage data. Transcripts of marriage

records for the years 1939 and 1940 were purchased

from the State vital statistics offices in those States

which maintained central files of marriage records.

Some of the data obtained from these transcripts

were published in reports showing data on marriages by various characteristics of brides and of

grooms. This program was discontinued in the

early years of the war.

Beginning with data for the year 1948, a cooperative program was inaugurated under which

certain States provide the NOVS with completed

tables on marriages classified by age, previous

marital status, race, and other characteristics of

individuals at the time of marriage. There has

been considerable expansion in this program, but

the coverage remains far from complete. Many

States lacking central files of marriage records

provide no detailed data on marriages. The States

that cooperate in the program complete varying

numbers of tables so that coverage is not uniform

either within one year or from year to year, One

reason for this variation is the lack of uniformity

in State marriage records. This is being changed.
230 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECIAL REPORTS

In cooperation with the Public Health Conference

on Records and Statistics (PHCRS), an organization

of State statistical and registration officials, the

NOVS has developed a Standard Record of Marriage. To further encourage uniform tabulations,

the NOVS and the Public Health Conference have

drafted a Manual for Registration of Marriages to

serve as a guide to the States on definitions of

terms, registration procedures, and coding, punching, and tabulation’ of data. It is expected that a

Marriage Registration Area will be established to

promote improvement in marriage statistics and

stimulate all States to provide for central State

registration of marriages. This would follow the

pattern of the Birth and Death Registration Areas.

To obtain information on important sociM and

economic characteristics of recently married persons for the United States, the facilities of the

Current Population Survey (CPS) of the Bureau

of the Census have been used. In the first of these

surveys (April 1953), data were obtained for the

United States on demographic and economic characteristics of persons who married between 1950

and the survey date.1 The second survey (June

1954) provided data on education, occupation, num -

ber of marriages, and residence status of persons

marrying between 1947 and the survey date.

Status of national statistics on divorces and

annulments .—The development of national statistics

on divorces and annulments has proceeded along

lines similar to marriage statistics, Transcripts

of divorce records for the years 1939 and 1940

were obtained from the State vital statistics offices

in those States which maintained central files of

divorce records, and a repok”t was issued.

Beginning with the data year 1948, a cooperative program was started where certain States

provide the NOVS with completed tables on divorces

classified according to certain characteristics.

While there has been expansion in this program,

the coverage is even less complete than for marriages, The States that participate in the program

prepare varying numbers of tables so that data are

not entirely comparable from year to year, or from

State to State. One reason for this is the lack of

uniformity in the State records of divorces and

lN~ti~n~l Office of Vital statistics, Vital Statietics —Special Reports, Vol. 39, No, 3, ‘ ‘Demographic Characteristics of Recently Married Persons:

United States, April 1953, ” 1954; and No. 5, “Economic Characteristics of Recently Married Persons:

United States, April 1953,1 ~ 1955.

amulments. The recent development of the Standard Record of Divorce or Annulment will promote

more uniform tabulations. Also, the Manual for

Registration of Divorces which is being drafted

will contribute further to uniformity in tabulations.

It is anticipated that a Divorce and Annulment

Registration Area will stimulate States to provide

for central registration.

Organization, budget, and personnel of the

National Office of Vital Statistics

The NOVS is organized in several large service sections and in professional sections established

on subject-matter lines. About three-fourths of

the approximately 200 employees are in the Statistical Processing Section which is responsible for

the operations involving receipt, checking, and

processing of data from the States, including coding,

punching, tabulating, computing, table posting, editing, and typing for reproduction. There is an administration section with about 16 employees which

handles psrsonnel,budget, data procurement, travel,

supplies and equipment, correspondence files, mes -

senger service, and routine inquiries for infor -

mation. The remaining sections are staffed with

from 2 to 6 persons, chiefly of professional grade,

who are responsible for planning statistical tabulations and published reports, conducting analyses

of data, and planning and conducting special studies.

These sections are: Mortality, Natality, Marriage

and Divorce, Actuarial Analysis, Morbidity, and

State Consulting Service. overall technical md

administrative coordination and relations with the

Public Health Conference on Records and Statistics

are the responsibilities of the Office of the Chief,

staffed by 8 persons.

The total annual budget for the fiscal year 1955

has been about $1,300,000. Of this sum, about

$740,000 is used for personnel salaries; $200,000

for purchase of data; $160,000 for communication

costs, chief ly penalty mai~ $70,000 for equipment

rental; $60,000 for printing; $35,000 for travel; and

the remainder for miscellaneous items.

Findings and Recommendations

In its directive, this Committee was asked to

prepare findings on the five distinct topics mentioned in the section on Scope and Method of Study

(p. 22’7). As a matter of presentation, it was decided to use topic 5 -general blueprint outlining

goals to be achieved by the national vital statistics
NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 231

system -as a frame into which to fit the discussion

of the other topics.

In the detailed consideration of these goals,

the Committee recognizes four major types of problems which are pertinent to work of the NOVS:

1. Production of national vital statistics.

2. Statistical studies of public health and population characteristics (including the development

of new data),

3. Coordimtion of the national vital statistics

system.

4. Economy and efficiency of operations.

Subsequently in this report, each type of problem is examined in turn. Under each, the Committee presents a statement of the goals to be achieved

as it sees them, a statement of the principal deficiencies in the present system with respect to

these goals, and its recommendations.

Two other items were discussed. These were

the level of the NOVSin the organizational hierarchy

of the Public Health Service and the channel of

communications to the State vital statistics offices.

While it was agreed that these were problems that

have an important bearing on the effectiveness of

operation of the NOVS, they were considered to be

outside of the scope of the Committee’s assignment.

Regular production of basic national

vital statistics

The responsibility for producing national vital

statistics carries an obligation to make them of

maximum value for administrative, public health,

research, and other pu%poses which they should

serve. In the postwar years the importance of

the need for detailed national vital statistics for

research in the social sciences and in the medical and allied sciences has increased greatly. For

example, detailed birth, death, and marriage sta -

tistics are basic for the study of determinants of

population trends and for making population pro -

jections, Government at its several levels is concerned with population projections in planning for

schools, for public health services, for housing

development, for power development, for the national defense, for agricultural needs, and in administering its social security program. Population

pro jections are used by business for gauging potential markets and determining the locations fQr

plants. With the greatly intensified efforts by both

private and public agencies to promote health and

reduce mortality, the medical and allied sciences

have increased their demands for detailed national

vital statistics in order to detect problems requiring

study, to design. health studies or programs, to

evaluate the results of such studies or programs,

and also to study the relation of disease to environment.

In the production of national vital statistics

the responsible agency should make every effort

to publish statistics which

1. Cover the entire country.

2. Are based on as complete reports as it is

feasible to obtain, with measurement of the degrees

of completeness achieved.

3. Are based on as accurate reports as it is

feasible to obtain, with measurement of the degree

of accuracy achieved.

4. Are based on records which are essentially

uniform with respect to all items of statistical information needed for natioml vital statistics.

5. Are compiled according to uniform classifications and classification rules.

6. Give sufficient detail, in terms of crossclassification of items, to serve adequately not only

administrative needs, but also research interests:

7. Are available for public use at the earliest

practicable time.

8. Are accompanied by adequate explamtions

of factors bearing upon the interpretation of the

statistics.

The current status of national vital statistics

data with respect to these eight objectives is as

follows:

Geographic coverage. —The U.S. Death Regis -

tration Area was established in 1900 and the U. S.

Birth Registration Area in 1915, in each case with

10 States and the District of Columbia. Additional

States were added year by year so that nationwide

coverage was achieved in 1933. The situation with

respect to marriage and divorce statistics is similar to that for birth and death statistics prior to

the establishment of the registration areas, except

for the publication by the NOVS of data tables showing marriages performed or divorce or annulment

decrees granted which are based on tabulations

supplied by some States.

Vol. 45. No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATIS’HCS NEEDS 233

In order to extend coverage there is need for

the organization of registration areas for marriage and divorce at an early date. One necessary

step in this process is the centralization of marriage and divorce records in each State. There

are now 30 States, 4 Territories and one independent reporting city with central registration of both

divorces and marriages. In addition, there are 6

States with central registration of marriages but

not divorces. (See figure 2.) It would be particularly desirable for the latter group of States to

establish central records of divorces and annulments in the near future because of the close interrelationship between the two subjects, Eventually,

all States should have central files of both marriage and divorce records.

RECOMMENDATION. The NOVS should increase its efforts to obtain nationwide marriage and divorce statistics through the establishment of registration areas based on

central files of marriage and divorce rec -

orals which contain specified items.

Completeness of data, —Excellent progress has

been made toward the goal of complete birth regis -

tration for the country as a whole. The 1950 test

showed that the problem of unrecorded births is

now limited to a few States and to certain rural

areas and population groups in those States.

RECOMMENDATION The NOVS should stimulate and assist in special studies of birth registration completeness in areas where completeness of registration is still a problem.

In death and fetal death registrations, there

are indications that underregistration, particularly

of infant deaths, is significantly high in ,certain

rural areas, as in the case of birth registration.

For fetal deaths, a study made in New York Cityz

indicates that reporting is seriously incomplete.

Even for late fetal deaths (28 weeks or more) reporting may be more than 20 percent incomplete

for the country as a whole.

It is recognized that there are technical difficulties involved in measuring completeness of death

registration. The problems are even more difficult in testing completeness of fetal death regis -

tration. Nevertheless, the increased attention being

given to the reduction of fetal and early neonatal

mortality emphasizes the need for improvement of

death snd late fetal death registration. There seems

to be little possibility of obtaining complete regis -

tration of early fetal deaths.

RECOMMENDATION: The NOVS should endeavor to develop methods for measuring incompleteness of death and late fetal death

registration adaptable to those areas where

this problem is important. If practical techniques can be found, they should be applied

to obtain more information on the extent of

incompleteness and on means for attaining

more complete reporting.

In notifiable disease reporting, most, if not

.aIl, notifiable diseases are incompletely reported.

In many instances, the administration of therapeutic measures before a definitive diagnosis is made

makes it very difficult to obtain complete reporting

of illness due to certain diseases. k other instances, failure to report arises from oversight on

the part of the physician or from lack of interest

or appreciation of the need for reporting.

The purpose of notifiable disease reporting is

to provide data that will aid in the control of communicable diseases. Some of these diseases have

become of minor significance as public health problems in this country. The importance of having

complete da’a is greatest for diseases such as POliomyelitis, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis, which

are still major public health problems amenable to

control procedures, or for potentially dangerous

epidemic diseases such as smallpox.

RECOMMENDATION. Efforts toward improvement of notifiable disease reporting

should be concentrated first on those (i@-

eases that are major health problems and

are amenable to control procedures.

The degree of completeness of marriage ~d

ZB~U~~*~t~~~,Leona, Wallace, Helen M., Landsberg, divorce registration is unknown. The NOVS has

Eva, and Pessin”, Vivian, , ,The Inadequacy of Routine

Reporting of Fetal Deaths.’ ‘ American Journal of

prepared p“bns to cooperate with the States in

Public Health, Vol. 39, No. 12, December 1949? checking the completeness with. which certificates

PD. 1549-1552. of marriage and divorce are actually filed. The
234 VfTAL STATISTICS-SPECIAL REPORTS

successful execution of these plans will constitute

an important step toward the establishment of a

sound base for national statistics on marriages

and divorces.

RECOMMENDATION The NOVS should cooperate with the States in the development

and application of tests on the completeness of

the reporting of marriages and divorces to

the central off ices.

Accuracy of data .—Accuracy of the information

on the records, and of the statistics based on it, is

of crucial importance. It is also difficult to messure. There is evidence of significant errors in the

reporting of certain items—cause of death, place

of residence, and age. For other items such as

race, nativity, and marital status of the deceased

(or of the parents in the case of births), there is

virtually no knowledge of the quality of reporting.

Several general methods of evaluating statements

on vital records may be used. One is to compare

the entries on the certificates with the corresponding information for the same persons on another

record, such as the population census schedule.

For example, a comparison of the occupation information on birth and death certificates with that

on the census schedule is now being done by the

Scripps Foundation for Research in Population

Problems. The correspondence of other items

should be measured. Another method is to reinterview the informant who gave the information on the

certificate, or to interview another person who may

be able to make a morti accurate report than the

first informant. This method was used with at least

partial success in the Census Post-Enumeration

Survey.

RECOMMENDATION: Studies designed to

measure the accuracy of the information on

the original records should be an essential

part of the regular NOVS program.

Uniformity of data. —It is essential that all

State certificates contain the items needed for natioml statistics and that these items be defined in

substantially the same form. In order to accomplish

uniformity in the report forms, the NOVS has issued

standard certificates of birth, death, and fetal death.

More recently, standard records of marriage and

of divorce or annulment have been recommended

by the NOVS and adopted by several of the States.

For national statistics, the information must also

be processed according to uniform classifications

with uniform rules for classifying the specific facts

given on each record.

The NOVS and the States are to be congratulated on the impressive degree of uniformity which

has been achieved for most of the items used in

national birth, death, and fetal death statistics. The

few exceptions occur mainly on the birth certificate,

where the legitimacy item is omitted by 14 States,

chiefly owing to prohibition by State laws, and birth

order and birth weight are omitted from the Massachusetts certificate

Because the standard records of marriage

and divorce have been available only recently, considerable diversity exists among the record forms

in use. Uniformity in coverage and definition of

items is essential for production of satisfactory

national statistics.

RECOMMENDATION The NOVS and the State

vital statistics offices should continue their

efforts to obtain compiete coverage of all

items on the standard certificates.

Uniformity of classification. —Uniform classification of the information on the birth, death, and

fetal death certificates has been achieved for the

entire country by having copies of all of these vital

records available in one central office and classified

according to a uniform set of instructions and procedures. This has meant that the data for all parts

of the country have been coded in the same way.

The classification procedures used by the

various States in compiling tables for consolidation in national statistics of marriages and divorces are not uniform. Greater uniformity could be

obtained if the NOVS and the participating States

develop and adopt uniform definitions and clae.sification procedures. However, it is much more

difficult to maintain uniform practices when the

operations are performed in many separate offices,

The value of national vital statistics depends

greatly upon uniformity and consistency in the

classification of the various items. This is parti.

cularly true for interstate comparisons of data.

RECOMMENDATION Uniformity of classification of the items is essential in the production of natioml vital statistics, and continuous efforts should be made to maintain

and increase the degree of uniformity. Special attention should be given to this problem in statistics of marriages and divorces.
Vol. 45, No, 11 NATIONAL VITAL

Scope and detail. —There are certain general

principles which, in the opinion of the Committee,

should be followed in determining the detail and

scope of tabulations. These are:

a. Vital statistics should be available for the

b.

c.

d.

United States, each State, each county, and

each city above a specified population size

(e. g., 10,000 or 25,000).

Statistics for the country as a whole should

be in the maximum detail, with less detail

for the individual States and large cities

and least detail for counties and small cities.

This gradation is justified by three considerations: National data are subject to the

most extensive use; the higher frequencies

at the national level than for the geographic

subdivisions allow more detailed classification for the former; and in intercensal

years annual population data, which are

necessary for computing vital statistics

rates, are available in detail only for the

country as a whole.

For all geographic areas, the most detailed

tabulations requiring a population base for

analysis should be made for the decennial

census year (or 2-or 3-year period centering on the census) when the maximum amount

of population data is available.

Certain statistics should be tabulated annually; for others the needs may be satisfied by less frequent tabulations (see Cyclical schedule of tabulations, p. 239). For

intercensal years, there is now some evidence that a 50 -percent sample of the births

may be adequate for most purposes. Where

less -than-annual tabulations are scheduled,

they should be given the same priori~ as

those scheduled annually, in order to avoid

eventual loss of information.

Xnaddition to these general principles applicable to all vital statistics, there are specific suggestions for much needed improvement in the scope

and detail of national marriage statistics. For cinstance, annual data on marriages showing the characterktics of brides related to corresponding characteristics of grooms should be made available.

‘This is especially important for information on age,

race, previous marital status, and number of times

previously married. In addition, data on occupation, attained years of schooling, and number of

children under 16 years of age from prior marriages should be available periodically. It is recogSTATISTICS NEEDS 235

nized that some of this information would not be

available from the Standard Record of Marriage.

Information on marriages by place of residence of bride and groom, as contrasted with place

of occurrence of the marriage, is also important,

especially if linked to the characteristics of the

persons who are married in States other than the

one of usual residence. The possibility of tabulating marriages by place of intended residence after”

marriage should be explored because of the obvious

value of such data to-numerous groups, including

market research organizations.

In the past, the NOVS has ‘relied on the following guides in making decisions regarding the

scope and detail of its tabulations and publications:

advice of professional leaders in the various subject fields, interests and needs of administrative

and research programs, specific requests for data

from importsnt organizations, and occasional mail

surveys of representative consumers of the statistics. There have also been instances where proposals for the discontinuation of a publication series

were submitted to the consumers on the mailing

lists for the publications, snd action taken on the

basis of the responses received.

RECOMMENDATION. The NOVS should keep

in closer touch with users of its data when

planning the scope and detail of its tabulations

and publications and making decisions on fundamental issues.

Timeliness .—The weekly and monthly publications of the NOVS giving current vital statistics

are being issued on a satisfactory schedule, and

present no special problems in regard to timeliness.

For some types of data, useful particularly for

research studies or in long time series, the e~s -

tence of an annual repetitive series is more important than the time at which the figures become

available. On the other hand, the effective application of data pertinent to public health snd administrative problems depends on the promptness with

which the figures reach the consumers.

If the records are received within the specified time from the States, the special reports and the

amuai volumes (Vital Statistics of the United States)

of the National Office of Vital Statistics can be released for printing from 12 to 18 months after the

end of the calendar year to which the data apply.

Starting with the data year 1949, however, increasing

delays occurred in the issuance of the annual publications. The 1949 annual volumes were released
236 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECIAL REPORTS

to the printer 25 months after the close of 1949,

whereas the usual schedule prior to that period was

about 18 months after the year. Thereafter, the

situation became worse. The poorest record was

set with the 1951 a.mmal volumes which were re -

leased for printing 32 months after the close of the

year. Three factors contributed to the delays in

the annual processing schedules, namely: unchanged

budget appropriations during a period of increasing

personnel and material costs, the diversion of personnel to conduct several special census-related

projects, and the increase in the number of records

to be processed.

After the data year 1952, a special effort was

made to catch up to the normal processing schedule.

The release for printing of death statistics in the

annual volume (Volume II) for 1953 was on normal

schedule (18 months) but the release of birth data

(Volume I) occurred 23 months after the end of the

data year. For 1954 and thereafter, it is expected

that the annual volume on mortality will be released

to the printer 15 months after the close of the data

year, and on births, 18 months. The projected

processing schedule, if maintained, will be as

PromPt as it has ever been. The principal problem now in maintaining operations on schedule

appears .to be in the procurement of data from the

State vital statistics offices according to the spec -

ified time schedule.

The contract schedule for delivery of transcripts of birth and death records from the State

vital statistics off ices to the NOVS calls for delivery of data for each month within 90 days after

the end of the month. For example, data for December are due on March 31 of the year following.

Several reporting areas usually fall behind in the

delivery schedule. The following table shows the

delays in delivery of transcripts as of December

1954:

On

e.chedule

Births:

Reporting axeas 40

Deaths:

Reporting areas 41

Fetal deaths:

Reporting areas 36

MONTHS EEHINO DELIVERY

SCHEDUIE

—

7

—

1

—

The schedule for obtaining statistical tables

giving 1954 data on marriages and divorces (including annulment@from the State office was as follows:

Table forms were mailed by the NOVS early in February 1955 with a requested return date of June 15;

and followup letters were sent to the States in July

with a suggested deadline of November 1. Actually,

the 1954 tables were received from some States as

early as April 1955 and as late as January 1956.

An effort will be made by the NOVS to obtain 1955

data for all participating States by October 1,1956.

If this goal is met, it should be possible to publish

consolidated reports early in 1957.

The delay in the issuance of NOVS publications

was the most frequent criticism of consumers re -

spending in the questionnaire survey. Most of the

consumers indicated considerable understanding

and appreciation of the difficulties faced by the NOVS

during the period of maximum delay. Nevertheless,

it was felt that the data would be more useful if

made available more currently.

RECOMMENDATION Immediate priority

should be given to the processing and procurement of data to achieve a schedule of

processing which permits the release for

printing of final data within 15 months after

the close of the data year; and this schedule

should be maintained or improved upon in the

future.

Explamtion of factors bearing on interpr etation of data .—Statistics may be relatively complete, accurate, comparable, detailed, and timely

but still fall short of their potential value, It is

also necessary to explain the various factors which

may affect the meaning of the figures so that the

statistics can be correctly used and interpreted,

Population coverage, definitions, classifications,

rules for allocating individual events to classes,

known biases in reporting, changes in reporting

practices or rules which may affect comparability,

and any other sources of error or misunderstanding need to be fully discussed.

In addition, there are many professional and

lay users of vital statistics who have limited knowledge of the ways in which statistics can be correctly used. For this large group, it is important

that the tables be accompanied by a clearly written

text describing the trends or difference indicated

by the statistics and, where possible, pointing out
Vol. 45, No, 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 237

their implications in terms of the relevant subject,

that is, health, population changes, social problems,

economic considerations, et cetera. Such explan -

ations should be provided regularly by the NOVS.

RECOMMENDATION The analytical functions of the NOVS should be strengthened to

make available more explanatory and inter -

pretive material useful to the consumer.

Statistical studies of tmblic health and

copulation characteristics

The annual repetitive series of publications

make available a considerable body of statistics.

However, not all of the data tabulated can be or

need to be published regularly. Also, there are

certain valuable items of information on the vital

records that have not been fully exploited for statistical purposes. Examples are” the occupation

items on the birth, death, and fetal death certificates; the hospital and medical items on the birth

and fetal death certificates; and the associated

cause information on the death certificate. Both

untabulated data and unpublished tabulations should

be exploited periodically, and the results made

available in the form of special studies.

Two kinds of studies maybe distinguished. The

first type of study is a program-oriented analysis

wherein data relating to a specific program are

brought together. The series of reports on cancer

mortality and on cardiovascular-renal disease mor -

tality, prepared in collaboration with the National

Cancer Institute and with the Division of Public

Health Methods, respectively, are emtmples of

program-oriented studies.

The second type relates to the presentation

and analysis of data with primary emphasis on

making available new information which may serve

a variety of interests, Examples are studies of

mortality by marital status and by occupation and

industry; neonatal mortality by cause, race, and

sex; the fertility of birth cohorts of women by age

and number of children borne; births according to

birth weight; and special studies based on matched

marriage and divorce or amulment snd other vital

records.

The development of a program of special studies should be an important goal of any vital statistics office. The vital statistics offices are in a

unique position to make impmtant contributions to

knowledge regarding health and population growth,

and to the furtherance of the various public health

programs. The program-oriented studies in particular represent valuable services to public health

activities. Such studies should also have important side effects in pointing to needed improvements

in the data, to new areas for study, and to regular

tabulations which should either be eliminated or

reshaped.

The National Office of Vital Statistics has conducted a number of such studies in the past but not

on a regular basis.

A program of more complete interpretation of

vital phenomena will require from time to time the

development of new data not obtainable from the

present records. The decennial revisions of the

standard certificates by the NOVS provide an opportunity to introduce new items on the vital rec -

orals, although this approach can be taken only on

a limited number of items that are needed for at

least a 10-year period. A more flexible method

is to follow back on a sample of vital records for

additional information. By use of this follow-back

procedure, it may be possible to obtain additional

medical information from hospital records andlor

from the physician. The supplemental data may

relate to illness history, verification of diagnoses,

and other facts about medical care and hospitalization. Certain other pertinent social facts, such

as economic status, medical costs, education, number of dependents, et cetera, may be secured from

the family. Although much will have to be learned

about the practical application of this approach, it

appears to us potentially very useful.

Surveys of the general population protide

another source of new data. The National Office of

Vital Statistics has already utilized the Current

Population Survey for obtaining supplemental data

on child spacing as related to certain socioeconomic

factors, and on the various characteristics of newly married persons.

Surveys of the general population possess the

great advantage of providing the population base

at the same time that new data, which should be

related to this base, are being collected. On the

other hand, the sample size may not be adequate

for measurement of the characteristics under study

and there may be problems of underreporting. If

a population base is not needed, the use of a sample of existing vital records may provide a more

efficient means than a survey for collecting additional data.
238 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECWL REPORTS

Further research is needed in developing new

methods of analysis of data, including statistical

measur’es of mortality, fertility, and marriage and

divorce. For example, more intensive research is

needed in methods of projecting birth, death, and

marriage rates which are useful in planning health

and social programs and are essential to population

projections.

RECOMMENDATION: Statistical studies that

contribute to knowledge in public health, fer -

tility, mortality, marriage, and divorce should

be developed as part of the regular program

of the National Office of Vital Statistics. In

particular, attention should be given to the

influence of population characteristics, such

as sex, age, marital status, and occupation.

The program should include collection of new

data and development of new methods of analysis that are needed for program planning,

administrative and research purposes.

Coordination of the national vital

statistics system

Responsibilities of the NOVS.-The production

of national vital statistics in the United States by

the NOVS is dependent on the cooperation of the

States, since the collection of primary data by

means of registration is a State responsibility.

Neither the legislation enacted by the States nor

by tfie Federal Government defines the responsibility of the States to the Federal Government in vital

statistics matters since the provisions are permissive rather than mandatory.

Over the yezrs there has developed a fair degree of uniformity in the State laws on birth and

death registration with respect to authorizing the

State to furnish “copies of vital records to the Federal Government for national statistics. This uniformity stems from the fact that the States have

enacted into their laws the essential portions of

the various ‘‘ uniform” and “model” vital statis -

tics acts. The State laws usually specify that their

certificates of birth and death are to contain as a

minimum the items on the standard certificates

recommended by the Federal Government.

The subjects of marriage and divorce regis -

tration were not included in the “model” acts until

1942. Furthermore, no standard certificates for

these events were issued by the Federal Government

:mtil 1954. For these and other reasons, State laws

on marriage and divorce registration vary greatly.

In view of these considerations, the national

vital statistics system must be based on close

cooperation between the Federal Government and

the States through mutual understanding of the national and State interests and responsibilities for

vital statistics. Enlightened self -interest is necessary on all sides and agreements must be enforced by moral suasion.

The Committee stresses the essential importance of minimizing the intrinsic complexity of the

national vital statistics system and its o~ration

by developing a clearer understanding and appreciation by all concerned of the respective aims,

functions, and responsibilities of the NOVS and the

State vital statistics offices.

The production of national vital statistics requires an effective central office at the national

level. Therefore, it is essential that the necessary

authority and responsibility of that office in relation to the statistical services desired be clearly

defined. There is not now, in fact, an agreement

or uniform understanding concerning the responsibilities of the national office.

The following functions are recommended as

necessary duties (in addition to its usual operating

functions) of the national vital statistics office, if

reasonably adequate national statistics and related

services are to be regularly availablrx

1. Determination of the scope and content of

the mtional vital statistics tabulations and publications.

2. Recommendation and promotion of uniform

definitions of vital events and stsndard forms for

reporting these events.

3. Determination of the classifications and

classification rules used in preparing national vital statistics.

4. Assistance to the States in improving and

maintaining the quality and timeliness of the primary vital records.

5. Measurement of the degree of accuracy of

all of the procedures which enter into the production of national vital statistics; completeness of

reporting, accuracy of reported information) accuracy and consistency of classification of information, and accuracy of statistical compilation.

6. Maintenance of direct regular contacts with

national groups representing the major interests

in vital statistics.

7. Maintenance of control over the accuracy

of processing of records used in national vital statistics tabulations.
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATE3TICS NEEDS 239

These are basic responsibilities of the national

off ice, regardless of whether all of the specific operations involved are performed by the national

office personnel or whether some are done by State

off ice personnel. Certain operations have always

been and will continue to be done by the Statesthe securing of complete and accurate registration

of vital events, direction and instruction of local

registrars and other persons responsible for the

orighal reports, and transmission of data to the

national office.

There are many other operations which are

performed by State vital statistics offices to serve

State health department needs or to provide the

legal registration services for which they are responsible. fnsofar as these operations affect or

are r@.ated to the services necessary to produce

national vital statistics, their proper performance

is of direct interest to the national office.

Technical services to States-As mentioned

on page 229, the NOVS maintains programs of technical services to the States. The services that are

given and that might be given are discussed more

fully in Appendix D. In summary, such programs

are of great value to the national system of yital

statistics in two ways. The system benefits directly from improvements in the quality of data

collection and processing at State and local levels.

Of equal importance is the more effective utilization of these data by State and local agencies in the

planning of health programs or in special studies

which correlate vital statistics with other health,

social, or demographic data.

RECOMMENDATION. The NOVS should be

given sufficient fiscal resources to provide

the States upon request with more adequate

technical services in the following areas:

professional advisory and consultant service

on technical and management problems; expanded information and clearinghouse services on technical subjects and methodolo~

educational programs directed toward improvement of source data; national program

for recruiting and training professional vital

statistics personnel; and work with State

health depar~ment program divisions in promoting effective utilization of vital statistics

data.

Observations on economy’ and

efficiency of operations

Increasing efficiency of processing meth-

@. —Fullachievement of the preceding objectives,

within the usual limitations of available facilities,

requires that the NOVS have an active program

for the development of more efficient and flexible

statistical processing methods. Such a program

should include experimentation with the high speed

electronic computers, the new record-reading machines, methods and applications of sampling, methods of obtaining better information on the source

documents, and more efficient coordination of rec -

oral-collecting procedures at the local, State, and

national levels.

Cyclical schedule of tabulations. —f.nan annual

vital statistics tabulation and publication program,

consideration must be given to the various consumer needs and uses. Certain basic tabulations

are essential each year, whereas data of more

specialized interest can be made available periodically, perhaps every 3. to 5 years. There are

also data that change slowly over the years. It

would seem unnecessary to tabulate and publish

such data every year.

The usefulness of almost all vital statistics is

enhanced to a great degree by the existence of corresponding population data to permit the computation of rates. The usefulness of some items depen& entirely on the possibility of computing rates,

and for such items, tabulation is warranted only in

the years when population data are availabh ccan be estimated reliably.

There are certain statistics that are of value

on an annual basis, but are so expensive that they

can be prepared only at infrequent intervals.

These factors—the need for data, the availability of ppulation data, and the cost of produc -

tion-shouldbe basic considerations in determining

the frequency with which various statistics are produced. Ideally, a complete cyclical program of

collection of data and tabulation of them should be

planned so as to maintain a level budget operation.

In practice, this is difficult to achieve. New items

cannot be introduced and old ones deleted from the

original vital records at frequent intervals. Even

if this were possible, it would be very unlikely that

the vital records filed for any particular year would

be returned on the same form. Cyclical shifts in
240 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECIAL REPORTS

items to be collected and/or tabulated entail the

danger of forever losing the information on an item

once it is drqpped. Another limiting factor is that

long range planning is needed, with an annual review in order to assure that changing conditions

and demands are being met. This is not an insurmountable clifficulty although serious problems

may arise if there is loss of flexibility of operation

through decentralization of statistical processing.

Perhaps a more serious problem relates to the

fact that a long range program is difficult to execute because of the uncertainties of annual appro -

priations. Anticipated funds needed for a planned

project may not materialize at the appointed time.

This could throw certain phases of the cyclical

program out of line.

Despite the problems and difficulties of carrying out a cyclical program of tabulations, such

an approach to tabulation represents the most efficient use of resources consistent with meeting

the major consumer demands,

RECOMMENDATION. The concept of cycli -

cal tabulation of data should be firmly established as a part of the regular program of

the NOVS with adequate safeguards for the

continuity of the various tabulation cycles.

Methods of producing national vital statistics

As part of its study, the Committee investigated (a) various methods of producing national vital statistics from the standpoint of relative costs

and the scope and quality of the end product, and

(b) the question of duplication of effort between the

State vital statistics offices and the NOVS. The

findings are as follows (for details, see Appendix C):

1. Similarity and overlapping in State and Federal vital statistics procedures, tabulations, publications, and needs have not in the past and do not

now cause sufficient” duplication’ 1so thatthis merits consideration as a major or controlling factor

in pkuming the program of the NOVS.

2. The transcript m&hod for producing national vital statistics now in operation in the NOVS

meets the basic requirements for national vital

statistics specified on page 2310f this report. It is

efficient to administer, and, because of the large

volume of records processed, operates at a low unit

cost per record.

3. The NOVS needs a transcript of each individual vital record in order to maintain control

of the quality of national vital statistics tabulations

and to provide a source of data for research in

medicine, public health, and population growth.

4. The punched-card method for producing

birth statistics was initiated with the belief that

significant savings to the NOVS would result from

the elimination of an assumed duplication in processing between the States and the NOVS, Existing

duplication alone is not sufficient to make it a decisive factor in planning the program of the NOVS.

Precise statements of savings by the elimination

of such duplication are not available and existing

estimates vary widely. In the judgment of the Committee, any savings which are likely to occur will

be insufficient to counterbalance the following disadvantages of the punched-card method: (a) the

punched-card method undesirably restricts the

freedom of action both of the States and of the NOVS

in planning their programs; (b) the scope and detail of national vital statistics cannot be greater

than those of the participating State with the least

scope and detail; (c) the NOVS would gradually lose

its position of leadership in national and international vital statistics due to the loss of technical

skills and knowledge and no other agency would

gain a corresponding leadership; and (d) there is

no way of ensuring that a State may not suddenly

withdraw from the plan at a time when the NOVS

is unprepared to expand its work.

The Committee has been unable to discover

any advantages that cannot be realized by methods

that are free from the defects of the punched-card

method. It can foresee no way to obviate the dis -

advantages of the punched-card method in the procurement of mortality statistics. It recognizes that

it may be possible for the NOVS to work out a mutually advantageous punched-card program for birth

statistics with a few State or city vital statistics

off ices that will obviate most of the defects of the

method as originally proposed. It sees no possibility of extending this program to all, or even a

majority, of State and city vital statistics offices

without jeopardizing. the scope, quality, and usefulness of national vital statistics.
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 241

5. The pretabulation method of collecting national vital statistics has all of the disadvantages

mentioned above on the punched-card method. In

addition, the pretabulation method is inflexible. If

it were applied to births and deaths, the available

national data would shrink to a minimum and to a

rigid list of tabulations. With pretabulation, it would

become extremely difficult to make studies of im~

portance to the country’s health and welfare that

are based upon information which has been obtainable only from copies of the original birth and death

records. The pretabulation method would increase

costs of State operations without a compensatory

decrease in costs to the NOVS.

State pretabulated data have been used by the

NOVS to provide statistics on marriages and divorces. In the absence of resources necessary to

process copies of the individual records, use of

pretabulated data has been necessary. However,

use of this method over a 6-year period has demonstrated clearly its serious limitations. No data

presented in a uniform way for all States are available. Additional tabulations of the data to answer

requests or make special studies have not been

possible.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The NOVS should—

A.

B.

Reject any data procurement method that limits

or restricts the use of vital statistics records

for research or that prevents it from controlling the quality of national vital statistics tabulations. Specifically, the NOVS should procure

transcripts of the individual vital records for

processing.

Reject the proposal to produce national birth

and death statistics from data pretabulated by

the States because:

(1)

(2)

(3)

the available mtional data would shrink to

those obtainable from a minimum rigid list

of tabulations;

it would become very difficult to make national studies based upon information obtainable Only from transcripts to the individual records or from individual punched

cards;

it would add to the cost of State operations

without a compensatory decrease in the cost

to the NOVS.

c.

D.

E.

Reject the punched-card method of collecting

vital statistics data as a general method applicable to all States because:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

it restricts the freedom of action both of

the State offices of vital statistics and of

the NOVS, thus making vital statistics less

useful rather than more useful;

effective leadership in natioml and international vital statistics will be sacrificed

due to the loss of technical skills and knowledge in the NOVS;

the scope and detail of national vital statistics cannot be greater than those of the

participating State ranking lowest in these

respects;

the possible savings in cost are outweighed

by the disadvantages of the method;

the overlapping of State and Federal vital

statistics procedures, tabulations, and needs

is not great enough to mAke this method

possible without serious disadvantages to

both parties.

Abandon any further experimentation with the

punched-card method in the collection of mortality statistics and, if the use of this method

to collect birth statistics is continued at all,

limit it to the few States where it can be shown

to be mutually advantageous and where it will

not adversely affect the scope, quality, continuity, and usefulness of national vital statistics.

Continue to cooperate with the States in studies

of ways to improve the division of labor in the

mtional vital statistics system. Changes in the

system should be made only after full consideration ofi

(1)

(2)

(3)

6.

recommendations in its efforts to develop adethe basic requirements for national vital

statistics specified on page 231 of this report;

safeguards for the continuity of operation;

opportunities to improve the final product

and to render maximum service.

The NOVS should observe the preceding

quate national statistics of marriages and divorces,
242 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECIAL REPORTS

while recognizing that existing conditions may not

permit immediate adoption of all procedures that

are now feasible in the case of births and deaths.

Specifically:

Similar actions are needed in the field of national divorce statistics. However, specific recommendations are deferred until a thorough study

of this problem can be made.

A.

B.

c.

The NOVS should work actively to establish a

Marriage Registration Area through implementation of the four criteria established for

admission to the area,3 and to extend it until

every State is included.

Methods of collecting marriage statistics should

be explored with a view to assuring complete

coverage of the United States, uniform data both

between and within States, comparability of time

series, and accuracy of information.

The NOVS should obtain copies of marriage rec -

orals from the States and local areas to be proc -

essed in the NOVS.

3Th~ Novs ~’~d the p“bli~ Health COnferen~e on

Records and Statistics have agreed that the Marriage Registration Area will be comprised of those

States meeting the following criteria:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Central record files for marriages in State

office containing items on Standard Record

of Marriage form.

Adoption of report form of marriage containing the items on the Standard Record of Marriage form.

Reporting by all local areas regularly to

the State office.

Agreement between State office and National

Office of Vital Statistics on joint testing

of reporting for completeness and accuracy.
APPENDIX A

Consumer Views on National Vital Statistics

A consumer survey was conducted on the uses

made of national vital statistics and on their ade -

quacy. Questionnaires were mailed to 369 individuals including (a) persons or agencies selected

from the membership lists of the American Statistical Association, the American Marketing Association, and the Population Association of America; (b) actuaries; (c) State registrars of vital statistics; and (d) various Federal agencies concerned

with health and demography.

Opinions were solicited on the following questions:

1. The frequency with which the principal types

of vital statistics data are used.

2. How well the published NOVSstatistics meet

the consumer requirements in terms of content,

timeliness, accuracy, and frequency of publication.

3. Suggestions for reducing the quantity of

material published by the National Office of Vital

statistics.

The number of responses from the various

groups were as follows:

QQ!L Sent Returned4

Act&raries --------------------- 12 9

Economists ------------------- 96 56

Federal agencies ------------- 42 42

American Statistical

Association ----------------- 104 64

Population Association -------- 55 35

State registrars -------------- 60

m 4

q~ncludes 30 questionnaires returned uncompleted; of theee, s indicated that the respondent

used vital statistics, and 22 that he “had made no

use of vital etatistice.

The persons or agencies to which questionnaires were sent were selected for their known

interest in order to secure informed opinion on the

sub ject. In general, the respondents appeared to

have given careful thought to the questions presented to them. Many of them seemed to have a

genuine appreciation of the problems involved in

the production of national vital statistics. Tabular

summaries of the responses to the various questionnaires are shown in tables A-1 through A-6 at

the end of this section.

Use of vital statistics

Mortality and mtality statistics (table A-1) are .

the data issued by the National Office of Vital Statistics which are used most frequently by the respondents. Next in order of frequency of use are

the statistics on marriages snd notifiable diseases.

The consumers surveyed showed the least interest

in fetal death statistics and divorce statistics. This

generally corresponds to the requests for data received by the NOVS. However, there are indications that if certain inadequacies could be corrected

in the data for notifiable diseases, marriages, divorces, and fetal deaths, more use would be made

of them.

An overwhelming majority of the consumers

surveyed indicated use of statistics for the country

as a whole and for States (table A-2). Also, the

majority of respondents appear to have need for

all of the other geographic data listed. A number

of respondents stated that they were interested in

data only for a specific county or city.

Question I(c) together with question I(d) (tables

A-3 and A-5) was designed to determine the extent

of use of sources other than the NOVS for vital statistics data. k? may be expected, the meet frequent

users of publications of State and local agencies

were the State registrars of vital statistics. They

constituted one -half of the “fre~ent’1 users of

State and local publications. A comparison of ta243
244 VITAL STATISTICS —SPECWL REPORTS

bles A-2 and A-3 with respect to all the people reporting the use of State data indicates that only

abcut one-quarter of them refer “frequently” to

State publications as the source, less than one-half

do so “occasionally, ~t and the remainder ‘‘prac -

tic ally never.” However, this may be due, in part,

to the composition of the list of persons and agencies surveyed.

Of the secondary references, the Statistical

Abstract —.—— of the United States, published by the -------- .-—

Bureau of the Census, is most frequently used (table A-5). This is followed by the United Nations

Demographic Yearbook and the World Almanac.

These yearbooks and the almanac are apparently

convenient references. Because of the nature

of yearbooks and almanacs, it is likely that ref -

erences to these secondary sources are more for

national figures than for State, city, and county data.

About one -half of the respondents stated that

they have requested unpublished data from the NOVS

(table A-4). A number of those that had not tried

to obtain unpublished data either were not aware of

the availability of unpublished data or stated that

they did not consider their needs important enough

to justify a special request.

Sco~e —— or detail of subject matter, timeliness,

. -——..

and accura~

Scope or detail of subject matter. —A large

proportion of respondents indicat=d–satisfaction

with the existing scope and detail of the published

data (table A-6). There were, however, a number

of unmet needs mentioned. Some of the more frequently mentioned ones are as follows:

IiUxME W (a) interval since marriage, (b) interval since last previous birth, (c) educational

attainment of one or both parents, (d) order of

birth by single years of mother’s age, and (e)

occupation of father.

Deaths by (a) occupation and (b) in more detail

, for local areas.

Fetal deaths by (a) late fetal deaths by cause

and (b) data on early fetal deaths.

Notifiable diseases by (a) age, sex, and other

personal characteristics; and (b) in greater

detail with respect to cause. There were a

number of suggestions that morbidity statistics

be extended to include disabling illnesses of

various kinds.

Marriages and divorces by characteristics

such as age, previous marital status, literacy

or level of education, occupation, et cetera.

The lack of complete geographic coverage was

mentioned frequently as a serious defect in

present statistics.

Timeliness .—The dissatisfaction expressed

most frequently and most strongly concerning the

NOVS publications related to the lack of timeliness

of their issuance (table A-6). The release of unpublished data to those requesting them appears

to have softened the reactions on the part of some

of the respondents. Considerable understanding and

appreciation of the problems faced by the NOVS in

the early publication of data were evident. However, the general opinion was that the data would

be much more useful if issued on a more timely

schedule. It seems unlikely that any reasonable

current schedule of the NOVS operations would meet

some of the needs indicated.

Accuracy .—Most of the respondents did not

express any opinion concerning accuracy except to

indicate general satisfaction with the quality of data

(table A-6). The defects mentioned were those that

have been already recognized by the NOVS, niamely,

errors in residence allocation of births and deaths,

and accuracy of notifiable disease statistics.

Reduction in quanti ty of material publ.khed by

the National Office of Vital Statistics

There were relatively few suggestions for reducing the quantity of data published. In most cases,

the respondents appeared satisfied with the data

now being published and questioned the desirability

of cutting out data. In instances, suggestions were

made to increase the volume of published data.

In a sense, the question on reducing the quantity of material now published by the NOVS was a

difficult one to answer. The respondent is more

readily able to see the value of data in his specific

area of interest, but appears to have less apprec iation of other data.
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITA1, STATISTICS NEEDS 245

Table A-1, Question I(a): DOIOU refer to ths publtcations of the Natloflal (l ff[ce of V( tat Stat tst tcs foF znformat ton on btrths,

deaths, fetul deaths, morbidl ty, morrioges, and dlucrces?

SOMMARYOF B2PL12S

(F. , Frequently; O. . Cccasionelly;P.N. , PI’scticdJ.Ynever; 1/.S.. Not stated)

—

GRcUP

TOTAL----------------------------------

Im’rican Stltiaticul.L;.ociatlon---.---------

,..,cia~ un~ ~,2Jic~l-------------------------

Other--------------------------------------

Population Aosoclation-----------------------

Ftid,ralng,.ncico-----------------------------

Wit.. m~fllutrnrs-----------------------------

Smiety uf Actuaries-------------------------

EKKwni!3t-.,-----------------------------------

GRoUP

TOTAL----------------------------------

American statistical Association-------------

SaCial and medical-------------------------

War--------------------------------------

Population k.ociation -----------------------

federal agencies-----------------------------

State registrars-----------------------------

ZacLety of Actuaries-------------------------

Ekonmists-----------------------------------

BIRTSS F2TAL D2A!CRS

7

F. O.

95 103

P.N.

19

N.S. P.N.

U

—

F.

38

8

7

1

6

3

19

2

P.N.

15

F.

1(26

24

16

8

20

16

34

4

a

F.

o.

89

N.s.

10

0. 1.s.

—

33 —

67 86

I

5

2

3

3

G

4

2

2

1

5

16

7 t

9 17

5

3

2

1

2

1

6

7

3

4

1

1

1

1

31

12

19

EL

14

13

1:

Ll

9

2

1.5

10

21

3

7

32

12

20

12

16

5

2

19

13

4

9

1

1

3

1

14

22 u

11 16

30 17

I —

MORBIDITY MABBIAG2S

N.S.

I

F. o. I

P.N. o.

99T

P.N. N.S.

65 12

6

2 2

6 4

6-

21 1.

7 3

1 1

8 1

F. 0.

f

P.N. N.S.

99 23

33 8

19 2

14 6

12-

22 1

9 4

3 1

20 9

I

48 78 I 70 28 48 29 73

I

26 17

15 4

u. 13

8 21

13

11

2

5

1:

1

3

8

2

6

1

5

1

13

9

1

8

12

5

10

2

10

2

2

10

4

10

2

1

21.

u.

10

12

3

25

1:

13 B

18 7

6

7 1;

Table A-2. Question I(b): lb uou use the following geographic categories of data: Nat tonal, State, countu, Citu, cities grouped

bg size of populat ion, and urban-rural?

SUMMARYOF BSPLIXS

(N.S. = Not stated)

I NATIONAL I STATE I COONTY I CITY

GROOP

Yes

meal -------------------------- 218

——

American .%atistf.calAs60ciati0n----- 61

EmcitiLend medical----------------- 30

other ----------------------------- 31

Population AsB0cL9tion--------------- 34

Federe.1agencies---------------------- 30

Stntc registrars--------------------- 4s

Satiety of Actuwice ---------------- 8

EcnnamintB--------------------------- 39E

10 N.S. Yes

2 4 192

1 54

1 : 29

1 25

.- 27

. 24

;14s

-- 7

1 34

—

70

—

20

=

6

1

5

6

4

1

3

—

.s. Yes No N.S. Yes

12 128 68 2C 147

4 19 l-l 42

2 2 7 5 23

2 14 12 6 19

1 20 12 2 26

2 15 12 3 15

1 33 12 3 35

1 2 4 2 3

3 24 9 7 26

—

fo 1.S.] YesINo ]N.S.i Yes/No ~.S.

=

54

14

10

11

4

6

9

3

9m26 8 - 30 4 -

4 16 9 5 21 5 4

4 29 17 2 31 ls 2

2 3 3 2 6 1 1

.3 20 u 9 23 98
246 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECIAL REPORTS

Table A-3. Question I(c): no uou refer to puol icat ions of State

und laeal a~etici~s as sourcw for uital statistics riata?

SOMWARYOF REPLIES

(F. . Frequently;O. . Occasionally;P.N. . Practicallynever;

N.S. . Not stated)

GROUP F. o. P.N. N.S.

TOTAL ----------------------- 50 95 76 3

AmericanStatisticalAesOciatiOn-- 16 26 21 1

Socialend medical--------------- 10 16 5 1

Other --------------------------- 6 10 16 -

PopulationAssociation------------ 5 17 12 -

Federal~encies------------------ 2 I.1 17 -

State registrars------------------ 25 18 ~ 1

Societyof Aclwnries-------------- 1 1 6 -

Economists------------------------ 3 22 14 1

Table A-4. Question I(e): ,%ZWyou ever tried to nhtgtn un,nublished data from the Nattonal Office of Vital Statistics?

SWY OF RsPL03S

GROUP Yes No NCIt

stated

NN!lm---------------------------

PmericanStatisticalAssociation------

.%cialend medicti------------------

other-------------------------------

Populationksociation----------------

Federala~ncies----------------------

State registrars----------------------

Sbcietyof Actusies------------------

Economists----------.-> --------------- II

1.13 109 2

29 34 1

18 14 -

M. 20 1

18 16 -

27 3-

29 18 1

4 4 .

6 34 -

Table A-5. Question I(d): Do you usv swondarg references (e. g., olmanacs, .uearbooks, encyclopedias) as soUrces for Uital Statistics data?

SUMM4RYOF REPLINS

(F. = Frequently;O. . Occasionally;P.N. . Practicallynever;N.S. . Not etated)

GROUP

TOTAL -----------------

AmericanStatisticalAesoc.-

Socinland medical--------

Gther---------------------

PopulationAssociation------

FederelAgencies------------

State re@strsrs------------

.%Cietyof Actuaries--------

Econmists------------------

STATISTICAL u

ANSTRACT

F. 0. P.N. N.S. F.

17 35 2 ,- 12

5 10 - - 3

2 4 - - 1

3 6 2

4 6 i : 6

3 4 - - 2

2 7 - - 1

2 - - -

3 6 - - -

ED NATIoNS

KwAlwIc WORID AIM4NAC C1’sER

GMRSOOK

I

O. IP.N

t

9-

2-

2-

--

4-

2-

1-

--

-- m

F. 0. P.N. N.S.

4 131-

15 :1 -

131-

z--

il ..-

2--

13--

l--

;l --m

l?. 0. P.M. N,S,

31 54 82 1

11 14 24 -

6711 -

5713-

459.

4312 -

4926-

23-

8 2181

NOI’ STATED

f

F. O.

2

--

--

i

1

--

--

--

:

?.N. N.S.

9s

13

13

-.

2.

21

32

1

:
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 247

Table A-6. QuestionIk Are the &ta published bg the National office of Vital Statistics adequate for bwur uses in scope ar detai z of subject matter, t imel tnMS, and acCuraCLl?

GROUP

--------------------- ------

Anwicm StatisticalA6s0ciat10n------

socia.1 and medicd ------------------

other-------------------------------

populationAssociation----------------

Federal agencies----------------------

state r&*tr~L+ ---------------------

societyof Actuaries-----------------

Economists----------------------------

.--------------------------

AmericanStatlstic@J.Association------

~CI~ ~d medic~------------------

Other-------------------------------

PopulationAssociation----------------

Feder~ ~n~iee ----------------------

State registrars----------------------

Society of Actumies ------------------

Econcmrhta----------------------------

... ...------------------- ---

AmericanStatiatlcalAssociation------

go~i~ ~ ~~cd------.--------.-.

Other-------------------------------

FmpUhtion Aseoclation ----------------

Federal 4@C@e ----------------------

fJtata regtatrus ----------------------

Society of Actuaries --- ---------------

ECon&~t*---------------------------

SWMARY OF NsPIms

(N.S. . Not eta+-ed)

BIRTSS DEAIHS FETAL DBAmS MoRSIOITY MAsslAGEs DIVORCES

(es No NOS. Yee No N.S. Yes No N.S. Yee NO N-s.

SCOPEOR INmAIL OF SUBJECTw-m

T

162 30 32

40 6 M

2327

17411

2293

2262

426-

6-2

3037

—

,09

=

32

11

15

15

21

15

5

a

—T_ 70 45

16 16

9s

7 10

13 6

45

30 3

12

6 13

I

.47 10

38 1

21-

17 1

21 1

22 1

40 2

6-

20 5

T

150 3s

40 8

20 5

20 3

23 6

1s u

39 9

62

24 2

L02

=

30

13

17

14

20

13

7

1s

I

S7 143

25 38

3,2. 22

14 16

12 20

7 20

6 40

27

15 1s

3s

=

16

7

9

5

1

14

U6 14 94 99 40 S5 IJ.9 32

1 I I

27 3 34 22 15 27 32 4

20 3 9 12 12 s 17 2

7 - 25 10 3 19 15 2

17 1 16 12 4 $ 13 y

17 2 .u 17 s s

37 8 3 33 9 6 35 5

5 - 3 5 1 2 1

13 - 27 10 3 27 2:1 3

II I I I I I

mmwss

II73 49 79

M 16 21.

13 s 15

5 10 6

IL91O

7315

32 3 1s

15

i 17 10

IIU 70 94

3 23 24

10 18

3 13 6

14 12

4 Sll

2634

14

2 20 9

II36 109 S9

10 33 25

9 8 16

1“ 25 9

4 20 9

1 14 M

20 10 24

35

1 29 ST

30 105

II 2s

97

2 21

2 23

39

12 1.2

3

230

ACCUF.4CY m

12 IJ.8 66 26 112

3 37191. I.34

2 121.2S12

1 257322

3 199322

3 16 15 3 12

2 12 X4. 4 13

4521

;307330

F

73 104 25 95

2S 272=

13 17 1 14

15 10

9 14

15 10

s=

2

1 21

10 10

4 16

5 9

II i-ii

11 15 3

%+

95 40 S9 m

3072724

1? 3 12 16

13415s

10 IL 13 10

II Z1712

19 1161 i31 19

6-25

19 4 17 12

3

22

—

T_ 37 105

733

3 13

4 20

10 14

1 17

1s 13

3

3 25

T!r 103 16 103 92

2s 234=

16 - 1S 15

12 2 1s 10

12 6 16 12

8 319s

34-1433

5-34

16 5 19 .10

13

=

1

1

s

3

3

—

—

119

3s

17

21

16

19

1.5

4

27

-
APPENDIX B

Consumer Views on National Marriage Statistics

A survey was conducted of persons who might

be expected to use marriage statistics in their work.

The major purpose was to obtain information on

uses and needs for marriage statistics. The survey was directed to persons in four major areas of

activity: business, colleges or universities, private

research, and government. Information was obtained from individuals representing widely divergent groups and interests.

Major findings of survey

The major findings of the survey on marriage

statistics are:

1. More than four-fifths of all respondents

(84 percent) reported that they had used marriage

statistics in their work within the last year.

2. Respondents fell into 2 major groups emphasizing 2 distinct types of needs. Respondents

in business organizations stressed the need for

complete coverage of marriage and for data by age.

Respondents in research fields stressed needs for

data on characteristics of brides and grooms.

3. More than two-thirds of all users reported

that they used marriage statistics for estimating

the number of households; more than one-half, in

analyzing social trends; and two-fifths, in estimating future markets for products.

4. Additonal marriage data for the United

States requested most frequently by users were:

(a) previous marital status of brides and grooms,

(b) age at marriage, and (c) various cross-classifications of characteristics of brides and grooms.

5. Comments on the national program fell into

broad categories the most important of which were:

(a) expressions of need for more data, (b) requests

for expanded coverage, and (c) statements of usefulness of present data.

248

Description of survey

Mailing lists.. -Mailing lists totaling 539 names

were, for the most part, provided by members of

the Subcommittee on Utilization of Marriage Statistics. A few names were suggested by private

individuals who had received questionnaires. About

one -half of the persons on the mailing lists were

individuals in business organizations, mostly heads

of research departments or officers of the company. In general, the survey mailing list of business users was limited to those in national organizations. The important group of users of local

data in the business field were not included.

Questionnaire style. —The questionnaire was

designed insofar as possible to provide for a check

type of response.

Questionnaire tally .—The numbers of questionnaires mailed, returned, and not returned are as

follows:

Questionn~res mailed -----------’539

Questionnaires returned --------- 262

Ql]estionnaires tabulated-------- 256

Reporting use----------------- 214

Reporting nonuse ------------- 42

Questionnaires not tabulated --- 6

Questionnaires not returned -----277

Tabulated questiomaires represented 47.5 percent

of the total mailed, 51.4 percent were not returned,

and 1.1 percent were received too late to be inc luded in the final tables. It is possible that a higher response rate could have been achieved but no

followup was made of the nonrespondents. Furthermore, no information was obtained to indicate reasons for failure to respond.
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATfONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 249

Analysis of questionnaire returns

Of the 256 questionnaires tabulated, 84 percent

were from persons who had used marriage statistics during the preceding year and 16 percent were

from nonusers. Summaries of the responses to

the questionnaires are shown in tables B-1 through

B-10 at the end of this section.

Types of users of marriage statistics. —Table

B-1 shows the users and nonusers of marriage statistics classified by type and size of organization

and title of the person answering the questionnaire.

Close to one-half of the 256 responses were from

persons in business organizations; one-third from

persons in colleges or.universities; a tenth, in government; an eighth, in private research; and 1 in

50 failed to indicate the type of organization.

Most of the respondents indicated they used

marriage statistics. This was true of 9 out of 10

respcmdente working in colleges, universities, and

in government; 8 out of 10 persons in business organizations; and 7 out of 10 in private research.

Two -thirds of the respondents in business organizations and in private research were connected

with organizations employing 100 persons or more,

and 19 respondents were in organizations with fewer

than 100 employees.

The largest single group of responses (71) were

from “directors or managers of research departments” of whom 4 out of 5 reported that they used

marriage statistics in their work. The next largest

group (54) represented professors in educational

institutions of whom 96 percent were users. Nearly

all economists were users, as were most statisticians, and a majority of the persons classified as

‘‘officer of compariy.t’

Of the 42 respondents who were nonusers of

marriage statistics, 15 were “directors or managers of research departments.” The remaining

27 nonusers were scattered among the other categories listed under “position of respondent” in

table B-1,

Specific uses of marri&ge statistics. —These

cover a wide range as indicated in table B-2. Many

of the 214 users indicated more than one use of the

data. Estimating the number of households was the

use repmted by the largest number of users; and

this was followed by use of marriage statistics in

analyzing social trends. Third, and including twofifths of the users, was the use of marriage statistics to estimate future markets for products.

One-fourth of the users utilized the data for teaching materials, lectures, sociological research, and

miscellaneous purpaes. Other specific uses of

marriage statistics include: estimating future

school needs, determining needs for public utilities,

actuarial studies. and analvzing insurance costs. , .

Potential uses of marriage statistics. -Users

of marriage statistics were asked what uses they

would make of statistics on marriages, assuming

that all data needed were available. Uses listed by

the 214 respondents are given in table B-3 classified by type of use and by type of organization

with which the respondent was affiliated.

The two largest groups of users indicated two

widely divergent groups of uses. Of the individuals

in business organizations, 38 indicated that the data

would be used in making housing estimates, and 35,

in market analysis which includes estimating for

merchandising of household appliances and home

furnishings, and sales promotional plans. Of the

individuals working in colleges or universities,

31 listed uses of the data for materials for teaching and lectures, 29 mentioned sociological research, and 21, demographic research. Possible

uses were also listed by persons in government

and in private research.

Degree of usefulness of published tables of

marriage statistics. —Respondents were asked to

check 1 of 3 degrees of usefulness (very useful,

moderately useful, not useful) for each of the principal tables on marriages published in the reperts

ofthe National Office of Vital Statistics (tables B-4

and B-5). A large number of respondents answered

this question in part, indicating the degree of usefulness of some tables and leaving others blank.

These omissions were classified as “not stated:’

All of the tables listed in this question were

checked as very useful by some of the respondents.

Four out of 5 persons checked as very useful annual totals of marriages in the United States; and

3 out of 5 placed in this category data available for

some States on marriages by age, race, and sex,

and on marriages by previous marital status and

sex. About one -half indicated as very useful tables

published annually on marriages by State; mar-
250 VITAL STATISTICS—SPECIAL REPORTS

riages by number of previous marriages, age, and

sex; and marriages cross -tabulated by age of bride

and groom. Also indicated as very useful were

monthly data on marriages for the United States

by 3 out of 5 respondents and cm marriages or marriage licenses by State and marriage licenses in

major city areas by 1 out of 3 respondents. All of

the published tables were found moderately useful

by some users. Monthly data on marriages or marriage licenses by State were reported moderately

useful by close to one-half of those who checked

this table. The remaining tables listed were found

moderately useful by one-fifth to two-fifths of the

persons who checked the degree of usefulness. A

negligible number (less than 1 percent) checked the

annual total of marriages in the United States as

not useful. Annual data on marriages by county and

monthly data on marriage licenses in major city

areas were found not useful by about one-third of the

persons who checked these tables. The remaining

tables were checked as not useful by one-fifth of

the respondents or less.

Type of national data on marriages requested

by respondents. —In response to the question of

what useful information on characteristics of brides

and grooms should be collected for the United States,

many suggestions were received. Table B-6 shows

these suggestions by type of user making them.

The data most frequently requested by all types of

users —business, private research, college or university, government-were cross -tabulations of

various characteristics of brides and grooms, as

follows :

(1) Age by previous marital status.

(2) Race of bride by race of groom.

(3) Age of bride by age of groom.

(4) Previous marital status by age and race.

(5) Previous marital status of bride by previous marital status of groom.

Other requests for cross -tabulated data include

religion, occupation, and education tabulated with

various factors such as age, race, previous marital

status, and residence. The most frequently requested single items of data for’ the United States

were for mtional data on marital status and age

at marriage. A large number of requests were

also received for data on occupation or industry

of brides and grooms, their education, and mreligiousdenomination.

The categories listed under “single items”

also include a few requests for related data. These

categories and related data are:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Income: savings at marriage and financial

status of couple.

Marital status: year of last marriage,

length of time since dissolution of last

marriage, and number of times widowed

or divorced.

Nationality: nativity, national cultural

group, place of birth, and ethnic origin.

Religious denomination type of ceremony

and degree of agreement on religion.

Residence: urban, rural-farm, and ruralnonfarm residence, census tracts, and

size of place.

Frequency of publication. -Respondents were

asked to indicate their preferences for frequency

of publication of data on number of marriages. Annual publication was the first preference of the

largest number of respondents (table B-7). Monthly

publication was the second choice of close to onehalf of the respondents, and weekly publication, the

third choice. Quarterly and semiannual publications were preferred by a few persons, either as

first or as second choice.

Geographic categories. —Respondents were

askeu to number, in order of importance, their

needs for data on marriages by various ‘geographic

categories. Table B-8 shows for each of the areas

the choices of the respondents and the medians of

these choices. Data for the entire United States

was the first choice of three-fourths of all persons

who indicated a geographic preference. Data by

State was the second choice of slightly less than

one -half of the respondents. Other data by order cd

choice were data by region, county, standard metropolitan area, and major city areas.

Advance release of monthly data. —Respondent’.

were asked to state whether it was importmt for

them to receive monthly data on marriages 2 weeks

prior to their publication in the Monthly Vital

Statistics Report. More than four-fifths of the
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 251

respondents to this question (172 out of 202) indicated that they did not need an advance release.

Table B-9 shows both the distribution by @e of

organization of the 30 respmdents who indicated

that an advance releas~ was important to them, and

the distribution of those who indicated no need for

an advance release.

Comments on the national program of marriage

statistics ,-Respondents were asked to make comments or observations on the national program of

marriage statistics. Table B-10 shows these comments classified under broad categories and by

type of organization with which the respondent is

affiliated. They emphasize three points: (a) present available statistics are useful, (b) complete geographic coverage is needed, and (c) more detailed

information on characteristics is needed.

Table B-1, RESPONDENTS REPORTING USE OR NON ISE OF MARRIAGE STATISTICS, BY TYPE

AND SIZE OF ORGANIZATION, AND 3 SITION OF RESPONDENT

TYPN AND SIZE OF ORGANIZATION

AND POSITION OF RESPONDENT

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

Total respondents----------------------------

Rwinem ---------------------- ---------------------

College or university----------------------------

Governtuent---------------------------------------

Private research---------------------------------

Not stated---------------------------------------

SIZE OF ORGANIZATION=

Total respondents----------------------------

Less than 5 employees----------------------------

5-99 employees-----------------------------------

100 employees or more----------------------------

Notistated---------------------------------------

POSITION OF Respondent!

Total.respondents---------------------------

Officer of’company-------------------------------

Professor (educatione3institution)---------------

Director or msnager of research department-------

Statisticisn-------------------------------------

Economist----------------------------------------

Other-------------------------- ------------------

Not stated--------------------------------------

%winess and private research only.

mtal.

256

121

84

26

20

5

141

3

16

92

30

256

20

54

71

X5

30

48

18

Use

214

100

76

23

14

1

114

3

14

83

14

214

13

52

56

I-3

28

39

1.3

Nonuse

42

21

8

3

6

4

27

-

2

9

16

42

7

G

2

2

9

5

PERCENT DISJ?RIBU!FION

Total

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

83.6

82.6

90.5

88.5

70.0

20.0

80.9

100.0

87.5

90.2

46.7

83.6

S3.o

96.3

7%.9

86.7

93.3

81.3

72.2

Nonuse

16.4

17.4

9.5

I.1.s

30.0

80.0

19.1

0

12.5

9.s

53.3

16.4

35.0

3.7

21.1

13.3

6.7

18.7

27.8
252 WTAL

Table B-2. SPECIFIC USES OF

STATISTICS-SPECIAL

MARRIAGE STATISTICS AS IJSTED BY 214 RESPONDENTS

TYPE OF USE

Estimating number of households-------------------------------------------------

Analysis of social trends--------------------------------------------------------

Estimating future markets for products------------------------------------------

Estimating f’utureschool needs--------------------------------------------------

De%emining needs for public utilities------------------------------------------

Other---------------------------------------------------------------------------

University teaching and lect~~es----------------------------------------------

Sociologicalresearch and tisce~-eous ---------------------------------------

All other---------------------------------------------------------------------

Number

of

users

149

IJ.6

87

30

18

59

18

26

15

Fercent

of

respondents

69.6

54.2

40.7

14.0

8,4

27.6

8.4

12.1

7.0

TableB-3. POTENTIAL USES OF MARRIAGE STATISTICS AS LISTED BY 214 RESPONDENTS, BY

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

TYPE OF USE

Housing estimates-------------------------------------

Market analysis---------------------------------------

Demographicresearch----------------------------------

Lectures and teaching Materials-----------------------

Articles and textbooks--------------------------------

Sociologicalresearch---------------------------------

Other-------------------------------------------------

Communityneeds-------------------------------------

Public utilities------------------------------------

Credit and insurance--------------------------------

Special studies-------------------------------------

All other-------------------------------------------

Total

48

41

49

33

21

41

41

7

10

5

8

n

Business

38

35

13

1

3

22

3

9

5

2

3

?ollege

m ud.-

versiti

5

3

21

31

17

29

7

1

2

4

Government

3

1

12

1

5

8

3

.

1

4

Private

research

2

2

3

2

2

4

4

1

3
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 253

Table B-4. DEGREE OF USEFULNESS OF MARRIAGE STATISTICS PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF VITAL STATISTICS AS REPORTED BY RESPONDENTS, BY TYPE OF DATA

m OF DA!m

Annual.data for the UnitedStates:

Totalumrrieges------------------------------------------

Marriageeby State---------------------------------------

Mwriages by county--------------------------------------

Annualdatafor reportingStates:

FY.r6tmartiagesand remafiegesby age, race,end sex----

Mard.egesby age,previousmaritalstatus,and sex-------

Mwrlages by age,numberof previousmarriages,and sex--

AM. marriagesby age of brideby age of groom------------

llrstuwzlages by age of brideby age of groom----------

Montlilydt+z:

Totalmawieges in tie UnitedStates---------------------

Mwriages Q. rtiegelicensesby State------------------

Mu-riagelicensesin w~or ci~ areas--------------------

Total

209

209

208

209

209

209

209

209

209

209

209

Very

useful

154

77

41

80

83

66

70

69

101

51

42

!$3deratel.y

Meful

37

55

49

33

40

41

51

44

60

68

57

Not

MefUl

1

13

47

26

21

31

24

23

14

29

46

No%

stated

I-7

64

7’2

70

65

71

64

73

34

61

64

Table B-5, PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF DEGREE OF USEFULNESS OF MARRIAGE STATISTICS

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF VITAL STATISTICS, AS REPORTED BY RE -

SPONDENTS

(Percentsbasedon data shownin tableBA, omitting“notstated”)

TYPEOF DATA

Annualdatafor the UnitedStates:

Totalwrtiages-----------------------------------------------

Fiwriagesby Stwte--------------------------------------------

Mwriages by county-------------------------------------------

Annualdata for reportingStates:

Firstmarriagesand remarriagesby age,race,and sex---------

Msrriagesby age,previousmaritalstatus,and sex------------

Msrrlagesby age,numberof previousmwriages, and sex-------

AIL marriagesby age of brideby age of groom-----------------

‘It&atmarriagesby age of brideby age of groom---------------

Monthlydata:

Totalmarriagesin the UnitedStates--------------------------

Marrlageaorumwiage licensesby State-----------------------

Murl.agelicensesin maJorci+jyareas-------------------------

Total

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Very

useful.

80.2

53.1

29.9

57.6

57.6

47.8

48.3

50.7

37.7

34.5

29.0

Moderately

useful

19.3

37.9

35.8

23.7

27.8

29.7

35.2

32.4

34.3

45.9

39.3

Not

useful

0.5

9.0

34.3

18.7

14.6

22.5

16.6

16.9

8.0

19.6

31.7
254 VITAL STATISTICS-SPECIAL REPORTS

Table B-6. TYPE OF NATIONAL DATA ON MARRIAGES REQUESTED BY 214 RESPONDENTS, BY

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

TYPE OF DATA

Cross-tabulationsof vm’iouscharacteristics ----------

Singleitems:

&e-------------------------------------------------

Coloror race---------------------------------------

Education-------------------------------------------

Income----------------------------------------------

mrital status--------------------------------------

Militarystatus-------------------------------------

Natiotii~-=---------------------------------------

Occupationor industry------------------------------

Religiousdenomination------------------------------

Residence-------------------------------------------

Othersocioeconomicdata----------------------------

All other-------------------------------------------

Total

173

39

17

30

16

42

10

14

32

27

22

17

41

=+=

College

J3asinessoruoiversity

22 98

13

1

7

8

9

5

3

1

1

12

9

17

12

17

7

20

2

11

20

22

15

4

24

Zovern -

ment

35

4

1

4

1

6

3

1

6

5

1

2

PrLV2rte

research

18

5

3

2

7

-

2

3

4

1

6

TableB-7. RECOMMENDED FREQUENCYOF PUBLICATIONOF MARRIAGE STATISTICS BY

ORDEROF RESPONDENTS’ PREFERENCE

FREQUENCYOFPUBLICATION Total First Second Tllira Not

choice choice choice stated

ti*---------------------------------------------- 164 123 26 6

~n~-----------------------------------------------

9

135 68 55

Weekly

5

------------------------ ------------------------ 61 1 2 5:

@rterQ ---------------------------------------------

3

n 3 5

&timuay ------------------------------------------

S

2 1 L

TableB-8. RECOMMENDED GEOGRAPHIC CATEGORIES FOR PUBLICATION OF MARRIAGE STATISTICS BY ORDER OF RESPONDENTS’ PREFERENCE

GEOGRAPHICCATEGORY

National-----------------------

Regional-----------------------

State--------------------------

county-------------------------

Majorcityarea----------------

Standardmetropolitanarea-----T

Total First

choice

187 108

112 1

161 27

113 7

108 5

124 u

I 1

Second Third Fourth

choice choice choice

13

29

50

14

13

13

6

20

25

26

21

24

—

5

8

16

25

12

30

I I I

FW?th sixth Not Median

choice choice stated choice

,

6

15

5

13

30

9

8

22

2

17

Il.

14

41

17

36

IL

16

23

1.0

3.4

2.2

3.7

4.1

3.6
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS

Table B-9. RESPONDENTS UWING NEED FOR ADVANCE

NEEDS 255

RELEASE OF MONTHLY DATA ON

MARRIAGES BY TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

TM------------------------------------------------------------

~winesB-----------------------------------------------------------------

Collegeor tiversi*----------------------------------------------------

Mvement ---------------------------------------------------------------

Privatemsearti---------------------------------------------------------

tier ------------------------- ------------------------ --------------------

=-II==!=

172

-

97

71

20

X5

1

Table B-IO. COMMENTS OF RESIWNDENTSON NATIONAL PROGRAM OF

TICS, BY TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

I II

I

Total,

ToTAL. . . . . . . . . . . ------------- -------------------- I 108

Expandedgeographiccoverage--_----F------------------

r

22

Mme bti---------------------------------------------34

Improveddata------------------------------------------6

Presentstatisticswe~----------------------------- 24

AU other.-------------------------------------- --- 22

Business

43

U_12 85

8 63

6 14

4 9

1

STATISCollege

or wi- IIGovern- Private

versity ment reseereh

43 I 13 I 9
APPENDIX C

Survey of Methods of Producing National Vital Statistics

Methods of producing national vital statistics

Three such methods were considered by the

Committefx

1. Transcript method. This involves the complete processing by the NOVS of data on copies of

individual records received from State vital statistics offices. Recently the use of microfilm has

superseded handwritten individual transcripts in

all but 5 States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

In this report, the term t?transcript method” applies to both the use of handwritten transcripts and

microfilm copies. The transcript method has been

in use in the United States for more than 50 years.

2. Punched-card method. The coding of data

and card punching is done in the State vital statistics offices; copies of punched cards are sent to

the NOVS for verification and tabulation. Verification is effected by comparison with transcripts or

microfilm copies of the original vital records which

also are sent to the NOVS by the States, This procedure was introduced experimentally in 1951. In

1955, 18 State and independent registration areas

participated in the State-produced birth punchedcard program, and two States in the State-produced

death punched-card program.

3. Pretabulation method. Experience with

the application of this method in the processing of

birth and death records is not available, since no

State has yet submitted pretabulated data. The

NOVS has been receiving pretabulated statistics of

marriages and divorces for years and comments

on this experience are presented later,

The pretabulation method would involve stnl

further decentralization of the production of national birth and death statistics. The State vital

statistics offices would furnish the NOVS with pre256

tabulated data and/or summary punched cards.

From these, the NOVS would prepare natioml tabulations. If the States were to furnish pretabulated

data in tabular form, the NOVS would prepare

punched cards from them in order to make national

tabulations and tables for publication most efficiently. By this method, the NOVS would not have

available either copies of the individual records or

the detailed punched cards from which the pretabulated data were prepared,

These three methods of producing national vital statistics will be evaluated primarily, but not

exclusively, with reference to the preparation of

national birth statistics, since no comprehensive

experience in the use of the punched-card method

for the compilation of national mortality statistics

is available, The problems in processing death

statistics are more complex than those of birth

statistics; hence, any negative conclusions concerning the birth punched-card program will apply

at least equally to a punched-card program for

deaths. There is no experience in the use of Stateprepared punched-cards for production of national

statistics of marriages or divorces. However, the

processing problems are comparable in complexity

to those for births.

The proposals for the alternative methods of

producing national birth and death statistics arose

from the view that considerable duplication of effort in processing and tabulating data existed between the NOVSand the State vital statistics offices.

It was further believed that the total national expenditure for the production of vital statistics could

be reduced materially if the processing that the

States do for their own purposes could be modified

so as to simultaneously produce the data required

for the natioml vital statistics program.
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS

The problem of duplication

The problem of duplication is often oversimplified. Careful examination is needed to ascertain

whether the duplication is apparent or real, and

also whether any existent duplication is unnecessary or undesirable. While some’ aspects of State

and Federal needs overlap, the complete elimination of all duplication which may now exist may

actually increase the total cost and even result in

a loss in efficiency if both State and Federal needs

are to be met satisfactorily.

Studies of duplication .—Two comparative studies have been made of the birth and death statistics

in State publications. The purpose of the first study

was to determine the number of States which published each of 14 selected basic tables for births

and deaths. The study was conducted in 1947 by a

committee of the Conference on Vital Records and

Vital Statistics under the chairmanship of Dr. Joseph

V. De Porte, Director of Statistical Services and

Research, New York State Department of Health,

and was based primarily on State reports for the

years 1940 to 1945.

The Committee headed by Dr. DePorte conCIuded, inter alia, “We feel, in general, that national statistics should be compiled by the NOVS for

the whole United States. Secondly, we feel that the

NOVS should compile and publish tables of basic

figures for States for comparative purposes. There

are certain deviations in every State and we cannot

compare figures compiled by one State with those

of another. Thirdly, we feel that States should compile and publish their own local statistics . . . . ‘‘

The second study, made by the NOVS in 1954,

analyzed in detail the birth and death statistics

published by 42 State offices and the District of

Columbia. Most of the reports considered related

to years from 1950 to 1952. The results of this

study, presented in tables C-1 and C-2 at the end

of this section, are not directly comparable with

those of the first study; however, the general picture is similar.

Of 18 basic birth topics in table C-1, no State

publication contained more thsn one-half and only

14 States published data on as many as one-third.

For mortality, 2 States published statistics on 11

of the 16 topics in table C-2 but the published reports of only 9 States contained more than one-half

of these topics. .

257

The most common birth classification, sewas found in the reports of 29 of the 42 States; data

on month of birth, and city and county of birth were

published by 25. Statistics about other basic topics

were published by still fewer States, that is, age of

mother by only 12 and birth order by only 6. Corresponding variations existed for the specific mortality topics. Only 35 States published statistics

for cause of death for counties and cities and only

28 States published tix?m by age. ‘13velve States

published the number of deaths by month.

The two comparisons show that most of the

statistics published by NOVS are not duplicated by

those published by the States.

Qualifications to these studies. —Both studies

were focused on the extent of similarity of the topics covered in State publications. Although no study

was made of the similarity between the tabulations

prepared by the States and those of the NOVS, the

detail and scope of the latter undoubtedly exceed

by far those of any State.

The summary data presented in tables C-1 and

C-2 exaggerate any apparent duplication. For example, table C-2 indicates that 35 States published

data by cause of death for cities and counties. However, the number of causes given by the States for

this tabulation ranged from 6 to 185. Similarly,

any of the items shown in tables C-1 and C-2 may

be presented in a varieiy of classifications based

on different editing or coding procedures. In particular, there are rather wide differences in common items such as the geographic code and classification, and the causeof-death classification.

In general, tables C-1 and C-2 lead to the conclusion that the needs of individual States for published data vary over a wide range and that widespread systematic duplication behveen the tables

published by the States and those published by the

NOVS does not exist.

Processing practices. —Another source of possible duplication may be found in some of the preliminary steps, for example, coding and punching.

A thorough survey of the latter would entaila study

of the editing, coding, and punching procedures of

each State. Although such a survey has not been

made, some evidence is provided in the responses

to a letter from the NOVS to the States concerning

uniform codes and procedures. For each inquired

item regarding births, a number of States differed

from the NOVS in their codes or coding rules to
258 VITAL STATISTICS-SPECIAL REPORTS

such an extent thatfurther discussion was required

for reconciliation. The items for the 31 States that

protided detailed information are:

No. of

Subject States Comment

differing

Geographic code --- 15

sex ---------------- 5

Month of birth ----- 6

Race --------------- 10

Age of father ------- 3

Age of mother ----- 3

Nativity of mother - 12

Number of children 12

Attendant ---------- 7

Length of pregnancy 3

Birth weight ------- 8

Legitimacy -------- 12

Plural births ------ 8

Other States also had

differences but indicated thatthese could

be reconciled by

adoption of proposed

uniform procedures.

This includes 1 State

without this item.

This includes 7 States

without this item.

None of these States

had the item in the

same form as NOVS.

.

This includes 1 State

without this item.

This includes 3 States

without this item.

None of these States

had &is item in same

form as NOVS.

The foregoing evidence, though not conclusive, indicates wide differences in State and Federal practices.

On the other hand, the 18areas participating in

the experimental punched-card program for births

in 1955 have brought their procedures into essential

conformity with those of the NOVS. If the existing

variation among the remaining States reflects valid

differences based upon individual needs, then it is

not desirable for States to change their procedures

so that they will conform with those of the NOVS.

h fact, a few States already have decided not to

make the chsnges required for the punched-card

program. The Committee did not conduct any inquiry among the remaining States with regard to

the desirability of conformity.

Conclusion regarding duplication. —At the present time, overlapping in State and Federal vital

statistics procedures and tabulations is not great

enough to m&e such apparent “duplication” a major or controlling factor in planning the program

of the NOVS.

The transcript method

For more than 50 years, the compilation of national statistics has been based on copies of each

@ividual vital record sent to the NOVS (or its

predecessor, the Division of Vital Statistics in the

Bureau of the Census) by the separate States or

registration cities. This method may be evaluated

from the viewpoint of the basic requirements for

national vital statistics (specified on page 231 of this

report), efficiency of administration, and cost.

Meeting the basic requirements for national

vital statistics. —By central processing of transcripts or microfilm copies of individual records,

national tabulations can be prepared more easily

according to uniform classifications and rules than

by either the punched-card or the pretabulation

method. Central processing also makes it possible

to measure inexpensively the degrees of completeness and accuracy achieved in producing the statistical end-results. The knowledge thus acquired

provides the background for the NOVS to explain

and interpret the statistics it publishes. Such explanations and interpretations should be incorpo -

rated in the publication of national vital statistics.

The availability of copies of the basic records enables the NOVS to cross-classify its tabulations in

sufficient detail to meet not only administrative

requirements, but also the interests of research.

Central processing has the further advantage of

flegibility and adaptability to meet unanticipated

needs.

Efficiency of administration. —Compared to

the punched-card and pretabulation methods, the

use of transcripts places the minimum burden upon

the 56 State and city vital statistics offices for the

production of national vital statistics. With the

transcript method, the timetable for compiling national vital statistics depends mainly upm the re -
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 259

sponsible national agency, provided that the transcripts are received when due. It is subject in a

lesser degree to the varying timetables of 56 State

and city off ices, to their varying degrees of ef -

ficiency and accuracy, and to their administrative

vicissitudes. In particular, except when changes

are required on the original record, it is not necessary to enter into, extensive negotiation with tie

56 vital statistics offices preliminary to making

changes in the national vital statistics program in

order to meet new needs. By fixing at a singie

point the res~nsibility for producing adequate and

timely national vital statistics, the possibility of a

serious interruption or breakdown of the system is

mintmized,

C-. —Considered as a data processing procedure, the transcript method is inexpensive and

efficient. At present, the rate of payment to the

States for individual copies of vital events is 3 cents

per record. This is somewhat more than the unit

cost of making a microfiim transcript. The unit

cost for processing the record, which includes coding, punching, verification, correction, ad supervision (all stages up to tabulation) is about 3 cents.

Thus, the total cost of getting the birth record ready

for tabulation is a fraction under 6 cents per record.

The low costs are made possible by the large volume of records (about 4,000,000 annuaily) processed

in a continuous and efficient operation. The volume

is sufficient to require the fuil-time attention of

specialized clerks, continuous and expert supervision, and the development of exact production

records and controls.

The punched-card method

The experimental plan initiated in 1951 for

births involved not only the preparation of punched

cards by the State vital statistics offices for the

use of the NOVS, but also the shipment to the NOVS

of microfilm copies of ail records from which the

cards were punched. By this arrangement, the

NOVS was able to verify the results of the State

operations of coding, punching, and reproducing the

cards, and also to make any necessary corrections.

C&-Cost estimates of the punched-card

method should not be related to the total cost to the

States for the preparation of the punched cards but

only to the extra cost to the States preparing punched

cards as required by the NOVS. This includes the

cost of coding and punching items required by the

NOVS which a State does not need for its own use

as well as the cost of reproducing the punched cards

for the NOVS. Counterbalancing these extra costs

to the States, are the savings to the NOVS in coding

the data and punching the cards, together with supervising these actual operations.

As yet, the NOVS has not reimbursed all of

the States that have submitted punched cards. Estimates of the extra cost vary widely. The Subcommittee on Compensation to States for Copies

of Vital Statistics Data of the Association of State

and Territorial Health Officers recommended that

States be reimbursed for punched cards at the rate

of $7.5o per 1,000 cards. To this must be added

the cost of the card stock, shipping charges, verification, correction of errors, and the field znd administrative work necessary to maintain the system. The best estimate available to this Subcommittee on these extra costs is about $17.00 per

1,000. The estimated total cost to the NOVS for

punched cards prepared by the States would be

about $24.50 per 1,000 compared to about $31.00

per 1,000 punched cards prepared by the NOVS.

In 1954 the punched cards furnished the NOVS by

the States represented slightly less than one-fourth

of the total birth records filed in the United States.

Assuming that the number of State -prepared punched

cards couid be increased to 1,000,000, the estimated annual savings to the NOVS would be about

$6,500 during the years when all births are tabulated. The estimated annual savings would be cut

approximately one -half for the years when the 50-

percent sample of births is tabuiated.

Advantages .—The decentralized punched-card

method may raise the general level of quality of

statistics produced by the State vital statistics offices. Each State preparing to enter the punchedcard program necessarily must make a careful,

detailed review of procedures in order to determine if they conform to the requirements of the

NOVS. At present, many States do not have written

detaiied procedures. Participation in the program

may result, as some States have already found, iR

more efficient processing procedures. However,

this increase in efficiency is a by-product that can

be secured in other ways. Another advantage is

the improved consistency and comparability resulting from the continuous process of verification

of the State punched cards by the NOW.
260 VITAL STATISTICS-SPECIAL REPORTS

Disadvantages to the States. —The national requirements for data place the individual State vital

statistics offices in a “strait - jacket” in terms of

the classifications used and, in certain instances,

in terms of the scope of what a State can do in its

own program. Indeed, some States have declined to

enter the plan for this reason. It is already clear

that the uniform geographic code developed under

the “minimum core” program has increased the

cost of coding and tabulation to both the NOVS and

the States. In order to accommodate the needs of

both, a 7-digit geographic code is required. This

is one digit more than is needed by the NOVS for

its national tabulations; and 3 or 4 digits more than

is usuaily needed by the States for their own purposes. Moreover, the national system of allocation

of geographic residence requires each State to

classify nonresident events according to the detailed geographic subdivisions of other States with

which it is not familiar and in which it has no interest. Another example of the rigidity of the system arises when a State is using its punched card

to full capacity for its own program. Such a State

has the alternative of not accommodating fully its

own program needs or of preparing a second punched

card. A second punched card may be advantageous

but the total cost obviously is not reduced.

Disadvantages to the production of national

vital statistics .—The punched-card method has the

following defects insofar as the production of high

quality national vital statistics is concerned.

a. It is relatively inflexible. At no time has

the NOVS ever completely tabuiated all of

the information entered on the original birth

and death records or even all of the coded

information on punched cards. The maximum utilization of the available data can

be obtained most efficiently by a cyclical

tabulation plan whereby certain items are

coded and tabulated annually while other

items are coded and tabuiated at periodic

intervals. In addition, demands for previously uncoded or untabulated data arise

as new health programs are developed, and

more socioeconomic problems require

study. To introduce changes in coding specifications, especially those requiring modification of or additional columns on the

punched card, would be regarded as impracticable by many States. Changes in

coding specifications often would require

the training of coders in all States. In view

b.

c.

of the difficulties in making a change, it is

almost inevitable that the list of items coded

as well as the details of the codes would

shrink to the minimum level acceptable to

all States cooperating in the program. For

example, it is inconceivable that the current study of occupational and social class

mortality now being made by the NOVS could

have been undertaken if it had been necessary to depend upon the States to code and

punch the data.

TheYe is no way of ensuring that a State

may not suddenly withdraw from the plan.

A State may find it impossible or undesirable from its point of view to continue the

preparation of punched cards for national

tabulations. Since the staffing and training

of the processing unit of the NOVS are tied

to a budget prepared more than a year in

advamce, the withdrawal of a State would

impose an additional workload for which

the NOVS would be unprepared either with

respect to budget or, more serious, wtth

respect to trained personnel.

Loss of leadership. The continued high

standing of the national vital statistics sys -

tern in the United States depends on the

quality of leadership and technical skills

provided by the NOVS. A complete conversion to the State-produced punched-card

system would result in a loss of direct contact with the original data and the loss of

coding knowledge and skills. The NOVS

wouid have less control over the scope of

the national program for it could not introduce any changes beyond those acceptable

to all cooperating States, many of which

might have no interest in the information

desired.

Modifications of punched-card methods. —Jn

reviewing costs, the Advisory Committee on Vital

Statistics Methods5 noted that so long as the NOVS

purchased microfilm copies of all records for verification purposes, iittle or no savings would result

from the punched-card method. A significant reduction in total cost would be possible only if the

5This committee, composed of State office representatives, was appointed by the NOVS in 1951 to

assist in the study of methods by which the States

and the NOVS might cooperate more efficiently in

the production of national vital statistics.
Vol. 45, No, 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 261

verification of State punched cards were on a sample basis. Two methods of sample verification

have been proposed, one based on certificates for

a fixed 3-month period and the other on a 10-percent random sample of certificates.

A substantial reduction in cost undoubtedly

would result from verification on a sample basis.

However, this proposal provides only for measurement of error. Sample measurement of error

without specific provision for replacement of incorrect cards in the rejected lots is not quality control, Provision for such replacement then becomes

a matter of negotiation with the States. Therefore,

any sampling scheme of verification, such as the

proposed 3-month sample or 10-percent random

sample, cannot yield a product of comparable quality

to that derived by the centralized microfilm proc -

essing method or by a decentralized punched-card

method with access to all the individual records.

Copies of the original vital records are important to the NOVS for many purposes. Among

these are special investigations of relatively rare

diseases. An example is furnished by the uses

being made and to be made of. death certificates by

the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and

Blindness to help estimate the prevalence of the

many disabling neurolo~ical and sensory disorders

such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral

sclerosis, and cerebral palsy; it is expected that

natality information will be used in a proposed study

of mental retardation that may develop during pregnancy or at birth. The National Cater Institute is

using copies of original death certificates in a study

currently in progress with the Railroad Retirement

Board and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen

to trace cancer mortality among groups of workers

in covered industries. The copies of the original

death certificates in the NOVS are being used in

another study by the National Cancer Institute based

upon a suggestion that Mexican women may have

higher death rates from cancer of the lung than

other white women. The basic records in the NOVS

have provided, in addition, detailed information for

studies of selected types of accidents, poisonings,

and deaths from new drugs; the last is of considerable interest to the Food and Drug Administration.

The original records have also been used for a

special study of the cause-of-death classification

system and will be used for a study of multiple

causes of death. The National Heart Institute is

interested in the latter in connection with its studies of cardiovascular disease.

From these examples, it is evident that the

central collection of copies of individual vital rec -

orals can significantly assist medical and public

health investigations. The cost of maintaining such

a file in the NOVS is small compared with the. health

needs served and the. investment in those needs.

Opportunity for wide variety of detailed studies from

individual punched cards and copies of original rec -

o rds has given the NOVS a knowledge of coding and

tabulation problems to which is largely due its

present influence in promoting improved vital statistics, both nationally and internationally.

Conclusions regarding the punched-card meth0>. —Although the punched-card method was started

in 1951, the Committee has been unable to obtain

reliable figures, based upon broad experience, from

which it could determine whether or not a significant decrease in the cost of preparing national birth

statistics has resulted. Based upon the rate of

reimbursement recommended by the Subcommittee

of the Association of State and Territorial Health

Officers, the estimated annual savings might be

$6,500 as the program is now operated. This sum

would be considerably larger if verification were

limited to a 10-percent sample and no provision

were made for the correction of errors. This potential saving would be false economy since the

value and efficiency of national vital statistics would

be impaired if the NOVS did not receive a copy of

the original vital record and if complete quality

control were abandoned.

H cost is to be the decisive factor in determining the method of preparing national vital statistics,

then consideration should be given to the centralization in the NOVS of the editing, coding, punching,

and tabulation of all vital records for both State

and Federal uses. The utilization of modern, highspeed electronic equipment made economical by a

centralized operation in combination with the advantages of mass production almost certainly would

yield more extensive and detailed statistics for

both the States and the NOVS at a substantially

smaller total cost than the decentralized production

of punched cards by the States.

Although cost is important, the differences in

the amounts of money involved by the adoption of

alternative methods are not large enough to be decisive. The decisive factor is the effect of alternative methods upon the scope, qwW~ cont~uity~

and usefulness of mtional and State vital statistics. The Committee has noted a number of serious disadvantages of the punched-card “method when
262 VITAL STATISTICS-SPECIAL REPORTS

judged by this criteriow disadvantages that far outweigh monetary considerations. It has been unable

to discover any advantages that cannot be realized

by methods that are free from the defects ofthe

punched-card program,

The Committee can foresee no way to obviate

the defects of the punched-card method in the procurement of mortality statistics. The decision is

not so clear cut with respect to birth statistics.

The preparation of birth punched cards is largely

a keypunch code operation. The advantages of a

cyclical program of processing are not so great.

The Committee recognizes that it may be possible

for the NOVS ta work out a mutually advantageous

punched-card program with a fewState or city vital

statistics offices. If undertaken, this should be

done on aw individual basis anti only after appropriate safeguards against the disadvantages noted

above. The Committee sees no possibility of extending this program to include all State and city

vital statistics offices without jeopardizing the

scope, quality, and usefulness of national vital statistics.

There has been no experience with the use of

prepunched cards for marriages and divorces.

However, the statistical processing problems for

these subjects are similar to those for births.

The pretskndation method

In addition to the essentials ofthe pretabulated

method, as described earlier, there is the requirement that each State, conforming to nationwide uniform specifications,, edit snd code the individual

vital records and punch a card with standard items.

The experience of every developed country of the

world indicates that national vital statistics have

been prepared effectively only when the responsible

central office, or the branch offices under its direct

administrative control, work from an individual

record for each event.

Where the subnational offices are not administratively dependent upon the national office, and

the national office is dependent on pretabulated

data, the available national statistics are highly

deficient, and characterized by a paucity of crossclassifications, irregularity of publication, and a

rigidity of types of information available.

The pretabulation method will be considered

from the point of view of the basic requirements

for national vital statistics specified on page 231 of

this report, efficiency of administration, and cost.

Meeting the basic requirements for national

vital statistics. —The adventages and disadvantages

of the punched-card method previously mentioned

are equally applicable to the pretabulation method,

Only the additional disadvantages of the latter method will be mentiQned here.

a,

b,

c.

The pretabulation method is even more inflexible than thepunched-card system. Since

the tabulations would be pre~red for national purposes, they would not meet the direct operating needs of the States and hence

would represent extra, unproductive work.

The tendency to reduce the tabulations to a

minimum rigid list would be difficult to

overcome.

The NOVS would lose control of the quality

of national vital statistics. Without access

either to original records or to individual

punched cards, the NOVS would have no

means of ascertaining andl controlling the

accuracy of the pretabulated data, Moreover, since the States could not directly

use much of the data for their own needs

there would be little incentive for them to

spend much time and effort in maintaining

a system of quality control,

National vital statistics would become less

useful rather than more useful. It is impossible to foresee all of the useful purposes which national vital statistics may

serve and to devise a tabulation program

to provide the desired information. Consequently, the NOVS continually uses the

individual punched cards to answer requests

for information not provided by the regular annual tabulations from other Federal

agencies, the Congress, and other public

and private organizations and individuals,

The retabulation of mortality punched cards

for 1949-51 now under way is an example of

this use. The last Congress authorized the

Public Health Service to undertake studies

of the health hazards of air pollution. As

one part of this program, the individual

punched cards for 1949-51 are being retabulated in order to obtain mortality data for

residents of the central part of large metropolitan areas, for residents of the adjacent densely populated areas, and for residents of nonmetropolitan areas. The tabulation is also being done in a manner to
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 263

permit the analysis of geographic variations of mortality and of variations between

various economic regions of the United

States. Studies of this nature could not be

done if the NOVS did not have individual

punched cards available. This is only one

of many special studies requiring the use

of individual punched cards that have been

carried out. Requests for such studies will

continue to be received with the expansion

of research into health problems.

d. Some of the defects of the pretabulation

method are exemplified by the u~e of this

method to collect statistics of marriage and

divorce. The method was adopted by the

NOVS in order to start the development of

national data concerning marriage and divorce. So far, however, no consistent body

of data is available either for a specified

group of States or for the United States as a

whole. There is no uniformity of definitions,

of classification of items tabulated, nor of

amount of detail tabulated; and the number

of States for which data can be published

varies from item to item, Although the data

made available by the pretabulation method

are better than no data at all, this is not an

appropriate standard for judging the national

vital statistics of the United States. With

respect to marriage and divorce statistics,

the United States ranks among the less developed nations of the world.

Efficiency of administration. -The pretabulation method is administratively cumbersome.

The timeliness of the national tabulations would

depend entirely upon the timetable of the slowest State. If, for any reason, a State should wish to

wtthdraw, the NOVS could not easily reinstate the

prior system since it would have lost its budget,

personnel, and administrative machinery. When

modification in the pretabulation method is necessitated by new needs, the NOVS would be required

to enter into time-consuming negotiations with 56

vital statistics off ices.

~. —The individual States would incur a

very large increase in cost since none edits, codes,

punches, and tabulates for its own needs in the detail required for national purposes. Each State

would be required to make tabulations or to prepare

summary punched cards not only for all vital events

within the State, butit also would be required to repeat this procedure for the vital events among nonresidents, preparing summary cards for each State

of residence separately, This additional detailwould

be needed by the NOVS since its publications present State data on the basis of place of residence..

At present, the allocation of vital events to place of

residence is made by the NOVS.

Since pretabulation for national vital statistics

would entail a large increase in cost to the individual States over their own requirements, they un -

doubtedly wou?d expect to be reimbursed by the

NOVS. On the other hsnd, the NOVS would bear the

cost of consolidating the tabulations or summary

punched cards of the 56 vital statistics offices. If

any of these offices should send its data in tabulated

form, then the NOVS would almost certainly prepare

summary punched cards from them. Thus, if there

were savings in cost to the NOVS by pretabulation,

they would be offset by the reimbursement it would

have to make to the States.

Conclusions concerning pretabulation. —The

.—

pretabulation method has disadvantages of its own

as well as those inherent in the punched-card method.

Although precise cost data are not available, it is

clear that pretabulation would add to th~ costs of

State operations without a compensatory decrease

in the costs to the NOVS. National studies based on

information obtainable only from copies of the individual records or from individual punched cards

would be impossible. The available national vital

statistics would shrink to those provided by a minimum rigid list of tabulations. This method should

not be considered further by the NOVS.
Table C-1. BIRTR STATISTICS PUBLISHED IN STATE REPORTS 42 STATES, SPECIFIED YEARS

I

—

#

*

;

z ! — —

29

9 x

9 x

9 x

. —

9 x

8 x

8 x

8 x

8 x

7 x

7 x

6 x

6 x

6 x

6 x

5 x

5 x

5 x

5

5 x

5 x

4 x

4 x

=

j

2

2!

—

6

.

x—

x—

x

—

—

.

x

—

x

—

—

—

—

x

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

COON

c

Awl

r

A!ITEllmm Al! iIJMITIMAT2 ?E2uc

;Esw

d

:

2

BI

.

31RTs —

ii

—

6

—

STATS Year

F!

—

T-------------------------------

Connecticut----------------------------

New York-------------------------------

Washington-----------------------------

Wisconsin------------------------------

Nebraska-------------------------------

North Carolina-------------------------

south Ca?ml.ina-------------------------

Vemwnt --------------------------------

Michigan-------------------------------

Vimda -------------------------------

Ma fionti-------------------------------

New mti~--------------------------

Oregon---------------------------------

West Virginia --------------------------

Imisicula------------------------------

Mississippi ----------------------------

Newda --------------------------------

New Mtico-------------—--------------

Oklahoma-------------------------------

Pen?lBylmulia---------------------------

FlOrlaa-------------------------------

Idaho—-----------------------—-------

8 17

—

16

.

x

x—

x

15

x

x

x

12

.

x—

x—

x

x

12

—

—

8 — —6 — 3

1950

1949

1952

1951

1952

4J- X

—x

—x

—

—

— — —x

i=

x x

x x

. x

—

—

— x

.

x

—

c—

. —

x

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

.

—

—

—

—

—

-P- X.

—x

— x — —

E

x x

x

x x

x x

—x

x

x

x

x

— x x

x—

1951

1951

x

x

x—

x

— —

— x x — —

1952

1951

1951

x

x

x

x

—x

—

— x .

—x

— — —

x

x x

x

x x

x

x

x

x x

x

x x

x

x x

x

— x

— —x x x .

x

— —

194s

1951

— —x x — x

x x

—

—x

—

— x

—

x.

—

—

—

x

x

— — —

950-51 x — —

1950

1952

x — — —

x x x—

—

—

1952

949-50

— x — — —

x—

.

x

x

—

— —

x

.

— — —

1950

+

1952

951-52

x x—

x—

— —

— x —

—

— —

— x —

--l L951

1952

— — x

x

—

x

— — — — —

x — . — — — —
Table C-1. BIRTH STATISTICS PUBIJSHED IN STATE RE~RTS 42 STATES, SPECIFIED YEARS-Continued

Year

—

i!

s

2

F! —

—

x

.

—x

.

—

.

—

.

.

—

—

:Omm m

CITY

k!rmmm AT

IuRm

mm

icixm —

3

8

OF

Oli —

ii

%

i

a

— — —

~

ii

x

x

.

x—

x

—

—

—

sTA!m

—

—x

—

—

—x

x—

—

x

—

x—

—x

—

—

x

—

x

.

—.

—

—

$

x

x

x

Iowa---------------— -----------------

-8---— ---------------------------

KentucW—-----------------------------

M9ssachuaetts--------------------—----

Minnesota ------------------------------

l!ememee ------------------------------

(korgia-------— -----------------------

Indiena --------------------------------

Maine-------—----------— -------------

New Jersey -----------------------------

Ohio---------------------—-----------

south Dakota--------------— ----------

Alabama-------------------------------

A1-lzona-------------------------------

Arkansas -----------------------— -------

mfornia -----------------------------

Delaware -------------------------------

!lexm ----------------------------------

Illinois -------------------------------

Maryland-------------—----------------

%mlsioml data.

1952 4 x

x

— —

19531

1951

4

4

x

x

x x

— —

1951

1952

4 —

4 x

. —

x

x

— —

1951 4 x x — — .

1951

1952

1951

3

3

3 x

x

— x x—

x

—x

—

1949

1950

3—

3

*

x x

—

. —,

+

1952 x

19521

1952

—3

2—

2

— x

—x

x—

— x

.

— —

1949 2 x — — —

1950

L949-50

1949

2—

2

—

2

x

x

— —

x — I

—— x

x

— —

1952 —1

19531 1 x

— — —
Table C-2. DEATH STATISTICS PUBLISHED IN STATE REPORTS 43 STATES, SPECIFIED YEARS N

INF’4h’l D2Am7s

Year

TwJ!ALD2Ams

t I t I

$

~ ;

~ g

33

2 x

— .

3 x

2 x

2

— —

2 P

2 F

.2

2 F

1 F

1 P

3 P

1

2 P

3 x

1 x

— —

2 F

2 .@

3 x

2 x

1

1

‘! g $

;

8 $

1.3

Il. x

II

10

9 x

9 x

9 x

8

8

8 x

7 x

7

7

7 x

-1

7

7 x

7 x

7

7 x

7

6

CaUnty I C8ue.e of death Ledtng c1

of deal

~

3

j ‘!

$ ~ $

2 8 8 ii

10 20 5 6

x x x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x .

x

x

x

x

x x

;es I

STAm

--------------

Connect icut-------------

New York----------------

New Jersey-— -----------

California--------------

North carOlina----------

Virginia----------------

14msachusetts-----------

Oklahoma----------------

south carOlixla----------

3

19 19

x x

x x

x x

x x

26

—

x

x?

— 16

1950

1949 — x x

1949 x x

x

—

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x #

x x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

I

1950

1951

x x

d- — X x

1951

1951

+

x

x

x

x

x

x

x—

x

—

— x

1952

1951

1949

x x x

x x x x

x x

x x x

x x x

x= x x

x x x

x

x x x

x x

x x x

x x x

x x x

x x x x

— x x

—

Arke.!lsas ---------------- x x

Plorma-----------------

Kentucky----------------

Louisiana---------------

Louisiana--------------Michigan----------------

Minnesota---------------

Mississippi-------------

14isclouri----------------

Nw sampEMre ----------

Ohio--------------------

Wimmldn---------------

Ihlne-—--— -----------

1951

1951

— x

— x

1952

1951

1952

x

=

x x

x x

x

x x

x x —

1952

1948

—

— x x=

5=x

x x

x

x

x

—

x

x

1951 —x

1950 —

—

x +

1951 — x x x

1951

I

‘Sex ad age. ‘Cause of death by age and race. ‘County - city date by race. 4Pace and age. 5Sme, sex, end age.
Table C-2. DEATH STATWITCS PUBLISHED IN STATE REPORT& 43 STATES,SPECIFIED YEARS-Coatinued e

o

5

Iwmn! DxA!cm

.%

Yea

‘ml!ALIEA!cF5

:

j g

.)-+

$

!!

8 $’

6

6

6 x

5

5

5 x

5

5

5

4

—

4 x

4

4

4

4

3

3

2

2

2

2

,

1

county Cause or daatb

—

$’

—

—i!

—

;

—r!

—x

fj

5! —

x—

—

Nebrask&---------------

&uth DakOti----------

Teonemee-—-----------

Delaware---------------

Idaho-------------------

Nevada--------—-------

0re60n-------—-----

WMrin@On ------------

West Virginia----------

Arizona----------------

In&iana----------------

Iowa--------------------

Hew lkxlm -------------

mXaa----------—----

Vemcmt -----------------

GcOrgla-----------------

Pennsylvania------------

)d,nbma-----------------

IUinOis----------------”

Canaan------------------

IJm’yle.na---------------

Districtof Columbia----

1952

1952

1951

1250

i252

949-50

x—

x—

x—

—x

x

— — —

x

—

x—

x

—

x—

x—

x x—

x

— —

x —x

—

x—

x

—

x

—

x

—

x — — x

—

—

— x

x—

—

x—

x

—

x

—

—

X351 x x x x

x

—

1952 Xe—

x x—

—

x

—

—

x

—

1950 — x x x —x —

1952 x

1952

1952

1950

1949

x—

x

— —

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

x— —

x

x

x— — x x

x—

—

x — — x — — x

x x x

—

x

—

x

— —

—

—

—

—

1.252 x

—

x— — — x

1.651 x x x —

—

—

— x

—

—

— —

x

—

1952 x

x

— x

x

—

19526

1952

x — — —

— — — — x

—x

x—

—

1953S

19536

1950

— x

—

—

—

—

—

— — —

x —

—

x

— — —

%unty ad citydata by r8Cr3. ‘Race, sex, and age. %.mtisiom.l data.
APPENDIx D

Technical Services to States

The primary authorized function of the National

Office of Vital Statistics is the collection of copies

of vital records from the States and the production

from these records of national vital statistics meeting national requirements. In consequence, first

priority in the NOVS program for providing technical assistance to the States should be given to activities related to this function. More specifically,

emphasis should be laid on projects which

1. Improve the quality of original data both in

completeness and in content.

2. Keep the basic information collected in

line with that required in the national interest.

3. Decrease the time lag between the event

and the publication of reports.

4. Increhse the utility of national vital statistics,

In carrying out these, technical assis~nce

should concentrate heavily on the problems of data

improvement and analysis. At the same time, the

assistance program could very well touch only

lightly on the operations aspects of records management as they relate to legal amendments and

other aspects of the registration office that are

largely custodial in nature.

In recent years, the subject-matter specialists

in the NOVShave been used extensively for consultative aid to States. This is largely because general consultants have been in short supply, budgets

have been small, and needs have changed. This

should not be interpreted as implying that NOVS

should no longer use general consultants. Some

States have indicated that they feel routine visits

by general consultants wouldbe helpful. An important advantage to the NOVS of a routine visiting

plan would be a better understanding of the limi268

tations of the basic data which would make possible

a more informative analysis of national statistics.

Types of services

The meaiis which may be used for providing

technical assistance include professional advisory

and consultant service on technical and management problems; personnel development through inservice training institutes; expanded information

and clearinghouse service on technical subjects

and methodology; national educational programs

directed toward improvement of source data; and

a national program for recruiting and training professional vital statistics personnel. The primary

source of this technical assistance should be the

National Office of Vital Statistics, which, however,

should utilize and make available to State and local

offices trained personnel from other Federal agencies and from universities and foundations.

To provide more adequate technical assistance,

the National Office of Vital Statistics should be given sufficient fiscal reswrces to make a specific

budget allocation for the purpose.

Consultative service on technical problems .-

Many vital statistics offices have indicated their

desire for help in dealing with the increased statistical demands upon them. In particular, several would like assistance in special studies utilizing sampling methods. Others feel they could

profit from consultation on the planning of procedures and reports. Interest has been expressed in

getting aid to set up the registration system and

office procedures for a new function such as marriage and divorce statistics. The State registrars

are usually fully occupied in keeping abreast of

their current work and find it very difficult to si-
Vol. 45, No. 11 NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS NEEDS 269

multaneously develop a new program, even when

they are fully conversant with the techniques and

facilities required for the new program. It has been

suggested that in addition to consultative service

from the NOVS personnel, provision be made for

the exchange of technicians between States, under

arrangements similar to the international assistante programs.

In-service training institutes. —Since 1949,

the National Office of Vital Statistics has conducted

several 1-week institutes for training cause-ofdeath coders in different States. These institutes

have been very successful and particularly well received, Similar institutes on other technical problems would undoubtedly be of great aid to the State

and local vital statistics offices and confer bene -

fits on the national vital statistics. Aid from the

program divisions of the Public Health Service

might be arranged on special topics, such as ac -

cident statistics, cancer statistics, fetal mortality,

natality statistics, et cetera. Population estimation

presents a difficult problem for most State and local areas, and could very well be the subject of institutes conduct ed in cooperation with the Bureau

of the Census.

Clearinghouse and information service.—In

the past, the National Office of Vital Statistics has

collected a large amount of technical information and

disseminated it to vital statisticians. Rapid technological change and fast moving developments in

public health have increased the difficulty of keeping up to date. But the NOVS is handicapped in developing a better organized information service by

a shortage of personnel. To some extent TRegistrar and Vital Statistics—Special Reports

meet this need for technical information. However,

the concensus of registrars is that these are not

sufficient, and the solution would be to develop a

series of technical bulletins similar to those used

by large industrial and business concerns to keep

their widely spread organizational units informed

on technical matters.

Leadership of national programs for improving

statistics and their utilization. —The States and 10-

cal areas have great difficulty in doing much with

the medical profession, medical examiners, and

coroners, toward improving cause -of -death cer -

tification. Few, if any, of the States have experts

to draw upon for this purpose. Even the medical

personnel of the health department are, for the most

part, not well informed on cause-of-death classification. This is a national and international

problem which merits the full-time attention of at

least one statistician with medical training in the

national vital statistics agency.

Work in morbidity statistics—hospital, clinic,

survey, and notifiable disease —is so closely related to mortality statistics that better coordination should be brought about. This represents an

area where the States and local areas need help,

but which requires personnel at present unavailable in the NOVS. More leadership and aid to States

on demographic problems is desirable., Much could

be done by working out a closer relationship between the vital statisticians in State and local areas

and demographers. The recent regional studies of

rural-urban migration, undertaken under the aus -

pices of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, ran

into difficulty because of the deficiencies in State

vital statistics data in all but a few areas. The

States are interested in such matters, but are ill

equipped to deal with them.

Advisory assistance on management problems, —Several States have drawn upon the NOVS

for aid in studying the organization, ‘management,

and administration of their vital and health statistics services. Independent help in drawing up

proposals for improved statistical services can

be an invaluable aid to the State or local departments.

Technical assistance in the national vital statistics system should be directed toward helping

State and local vital statistics offices maintain and

improve the production and utilization of vital statistics. National vital statistics benefit not only

from direct success in data improvement but also

from effective utilization of vital statistics at State

and local levels. In particular special studies which

correlate vital statistics with other health and social data are assuming ever increasing importance

and are in strong demand. Ways should be sought

of furthering the more effective use of vital statistics data in relationto program planning ofState

and local agencies. This calls for study of the fundamental problem of the utilization of vital statistics data in health department policy making and

administration. For the most part, State and local

offices lack the resources to do much more than

to carry on the present vital statistics job, which

in many areas is rather perfunctory. Technical

assistance of high quality should be made available

to the States to improve the personnel, skills, production, operations, quality of original data, and

data utilization.
THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS

Lowell J. Reed, Ph. D., Chairman,

President, The Johns Hopkins University,

Baltimore, Md.

Philip M. Hauser, Ph. D.,

Professor and Chairman,

Department of Sociology,

University of Chicago,

Chicago, Ill.

Vice Chairman,

I. M. Moriyama, Ph. D., Secretary,

Chief, Mortality Analysis Section,

National Office of Vital Statistics,

Public Health Service

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,

Washington, D. C.

Edwin L. Crosby, M. D.,

Director, American Hospital Assmiation,

Chicago, Ill.

Edwin F. Daily, M. D.,

Deputy Medical Director,

Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York,

New York, N. Y.

Paul M. Densen, D. Sc.,

Director, Research and Statistics,

Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York,

New York, N. Y.

Harold F. Dorn, Ph. D.,

Chief, Biometrics Branch,

National Institutes of Health,

Public Health Service,

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,

Bethesda, Md.

Halbert L. Dunn, M. D.,

Chief, National Office of Vital Statistics,

Public Health Service,

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,

Washington, D. C.

Eugene L. Hamilton,

Ch;ef, Medical Statistics Division,

Office of the Surgeon General,

Department of the Army,

Washington, D. C.

John P. Hubbard, M. D.,

Professor of Preventive Medicine,

University of “Pennsylvania School of Medicine,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Robert H. Hutcheson, M. D.,

Commissioner of Public Health,

Tennessee Department of Public Health,

Nashville. Term.

O. K. Sagen, Ph. D.,

Chief, Bureau of Statistics,

Illinois Department of Public Health,

Springfield, Ill.

P. K. Whelpton,

Director, Scripps Foundation for Research in

Population Problems,

Miami University,

Oxford, Ohio

270
The Subcommittee on National Vital Statistics Needs

William G. Cochran, Chairman,

Professor of Biostatistics,

School of Hygiene and Public Health,

The Johns Hopkins University,

Baltimore, Md.

Harold F. Dorn, Ph. D.,

Chief, Biometrics Branch,

National Institutes of Health,

Public Health Service,

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,

Bethesda, Md.

Forrest E. Linder, Ph. D.,

Chief, Demographic and Social Statistics Branch,

Statistical Office,

United Nations, New York, N. Y.

O. K. Sagen, Ph. D.,

Chief, Bureau of Statistics,

Illinois Department of Public Health,

Springfield, Ill.

Mortimer Spiegelman,

Associate Statistician,

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,

New York, N. Y.

Robert F. Lenhart, P. K. Whelpton,

Secretary, Director, Scripps Foundation for Research in

Committee for Economic Development, Population Problems,

Washington, D. C. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

The Subcommittee on Utilization of Marriage Statistics

Conrad Taeuber, Ph. D., Chairman, Charles B. Reeder, Ph. D.,

Assistant Director, Bureau of the Census, Associate Economist,

Department of Commerce, E. I. Dupont de Nemours and Company,

Washington, D. C. Wilmington, Del.

Ann Dillon,

Director of Statistical Service,

Tennessee Department of Public Health.

Nashville, Term.

Clifford Kirkpatrick, Ph.

Professor of Sociology,

University of Indiana,

Bloomington, Ind.

Myron S. Silbert,

Vice President, Federated Department Stores, Inc.,

New York, N. Y.

Louis Weiner,

Chief, National Income, Money Flows, and

D., Labor Section,

Division of Research and Statistics,

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,

Washington, D. C.

271

* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRIMT!NG OFFICE : 19650-783-884
OUTLINE OF REPORT SERIES FOR VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS

Public Health Service Publication No. 1000

SeYies 1.

Series 2.

Series 3.

Series 4.

Series 10.

SeYies 11.

Series 12.

Series 20.

Series 21.

Series 22.

Programs amt collection procedures. —Reports which describe the general programs of the National

Center for Health Statistics and its offices and divisions, data collection methods used, definitions, and

other material necessary for understanding the data.

Reports number 1-4

Qata evaluation and methods veseavch. —Studies of new statistical methodology including: experimental

tests of new survey methods, studies of vital statistics collection methods, new analytical techniques,

objective evaluations of reliability of collected data, contributions to statistical theory.

Reports number 1-10

Analytical studies. —Reports presenting analytical or interpretive studies based on vital and health statistics, carrying the analysis further than the expository types of reports in the other series.

Reports number 1-4

Documents and committee veports.— Final reports of major committees concerned with vital and h@th

statistics, and documents such as recommended model vital registration laws and revised birth and

death certificates.

Reports number 1 and 2

Data Fvom the Health Interview Su?wey. —Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use of

hospital, medical, dental, and other services, and other health-related topics. based on data collected in

a continuing national household interview survey.

Reports number 1-22

Data From the Health Examination

measurement of national samples of

cific diseases, and distributions of

measurements.

Reports number 1-10

Survey .—Statistics based on the direct examination, testing, and

the population, including the medically defined prevalence of spethe population with respect to various physical and physiological

Data From the Health Records Su~vey. —Statistics from records of hospital discharges and statistics

relating to the health characteristics of persons in institutions, and on hospital, medical, nursing, and

personal care received, based on national samples of establishments providing these services and

samples of the residents or patients.

Reports number 1 and 2

Data an movtality. —Various statistics on mortality other than as included in annual or monthly reports—

special analyses by cause of death, age, and other demographic variables, also geographic and time

series analyses.

No reports to date

Data on natality, marriage, and divorce. —Various statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce other

than as included in annual or monthly reports —special analyses by demographic variables, also geographic and time series analyses, studies of fertility.

Reports number 1-6

Data Fvom the National Natality and Mortality Surveys. —Statistics on characteristics of births and

deaths not available from the vital records, based on sample surveys stemming from these records,

including such topics as mortality by socioeconomic class, medical experience in the last year of life,

characteristics of pregnancy, etc.

Reports number 1

For a list of titles of reports published in these series, write to: National Center for Health

U.S. Public Health Service

Statistics

Washington, D.C. 20201