new mexico vital records and health statistics data kimberley peters november 17, 2004

New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics Data

Kimberley Peters

November 17, 2004

History of Vital Records 16th century - Bills of Mortality issued in

London. John Graunt first to analyze.

1880-Massachusetts and New Jersey first states to enter the U.S. Vital Statistics System.

1919- NM began registering births and deaths as part of the newly-created Health Department.

1928-NM joined U.S. Vital Statistics system.

Benefits of Vital Statistics Data

Due to legal (and financial) aspects of vital certificates, we have data for virtually all births and deaths.

High Quality.

State, National, and International Comparability.

Data Timelines Birth file is closed ~ 6 months after the

end of the calendar year.

Death file is closed ~ 7-8 months after the end of the calendar year.

Preliminary data files are ready about ~ 10 months after end of the year.

Current Birth Registration Process

Hospital enters information into electronic birth certificate software (EBC) using worksheets and medical records.

If midwife or non-EBC hospital, paper birth certificate is completed and key-entered by VRHS staff.

Electronic data is coded and run through internal program and edits.

Data file is prepared and sent to data users.

Statistics are calculated and published.

Current (Paper) Death Registration Process

Funeral industry or OMI initiates death certificate process.

Physician completes Cause of Death Section and Injury section (OMI).

Funeral industry completes demographic section and assures certificate has physician signature.

Funeral industry brings certificate to one of 26 local registrar offices.

Registrar verifies that certificate is complete and correct.

Current (Paper) Death Registration Process

Continued…. State vital records office hand numbers

and codes items on the death certificate, including demographic and cause of death.

Certificate is key entered. Data file goes through cause-of-death

software package. Data file is prepared and sent to data

users. Statistics are calculated and published.

Birth Data: 27,799 (2003) MAJOR DATA ELEMENTSMom BabyAge and Marital Status Race/EthnicitySpacing Between Births SexMultiple Births Birth WeightMethods of DeliveryAbnormal Conditions Cesarean/Vaginal BirthsPrenatal CareRace/EthnicityEducationCounty (with justification)

Death Data: 14,493 (2003)MAJOR DATA ELEMENTS

Age Sex Cause & Manner of DeathRace/EthnicityEducation Injury at WorkOccupation/IndustryMarital StatusCounty (with justification)

Data Products & Services

Publications Aggregate level data requests Interactive Web System – NewMICA Data Files

Vital Records and

Health Statistics Publications

County Profiles…

Vital Fact/Vital Quiz

Vital Statistics Data Release Practices

Data Release Protocol.

Identified Types of Data:

- Aggregate Data

- Special Request Data Files.

Aggregate Level Data Release

Data requestors complete a simple data request form for summary data.

Send an email to:

vrhsdata@health.state.nm.us

Special Data File Requirements

Completion of BVRHS Protocol; Research proposal, if available; IRB approval, if available; Justification of confidential/identifiable information;

Files may not be copied or shared; Review of publication/presentation statistics are requested.

Considerations for Data Release

Balancing the protection of confidential birth and death records while still providing necessary data for public health research.

NM is a “Closed Record State.”Birth Records are confidential for 100 years after birth, unless individual is alive; Death Records are confidential for 50 years after death.

Data release is based on VRHS protocol and

team decision.

Contact Information

DOH Website:

http://www.health.state.nm.us/

Vital Records Data Request:

vrhsdata@health.state.nm.us

kimberley.peters@doh.state.nm.us

Thank

you!