These vital statistics are provided through State-operated registration systems. While the registration of these events is a State function, NCHS compiles, analyzes, and publishes national data on births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces. The NCHS Linked Files of Live Birth and Infant Death Records are research files for exploring the complex relationships between infant death and risk factors present at birth. The linked files include information from the birth certificate, such as birth weight, mother's age, and prenatal care, linked to information from the death certificate for the same infant, such as cause of death and age at death. Information from this survey expands information on the death certificate to help researchers identify how lifestyles affect health and the extent of the burden of illness in the last year of life.
Information is obtained from informants named on the death certificate.
The NDI is a central computerized index of death record information provided by State vital statistics offices. Working with these State offices, NCHS established the NDI as a resource to aid epidemiologists and other health and medical investigators with their mortality ascertainment activities. All participants are reimbursed by the National Center for Health Statistics through an Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement with their academic institutions. The stipend for the Fellow will be commensurate with current faculty salary plus moving expenses and a travel allowance for the period of the fellowship. Positions are for 12 months and may be extended one additional year under special circumstances.