National vital statistics needs : a report ; 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.

  • United States. National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics.
Date:
1965
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: National vital statistics needs : a report ; 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. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/60 (page 238)
    Further research is needed in developing new methods of analysis of data, including statistical measures 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 socialprograms 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 ana- lysis 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 the Federal Government defines the responsibi- lity of the States to the Federal Government in vital statistics matters since the provisions are permis- sive rather than mandatory. Over the years there has developed a fair de- gree 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 Fed- eral Government for national statistics. This uni- formity 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 asa 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 until 1954. For these and othey 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 na- tional and State interests and responsibilities for vital statistics. Enlightened self-interest is nec- essary on all sides and agreements must be en- forced by moral suasion.. The Committee stresses the essential impor- tance of minimizing the intrinsic complexity of the national vital statistics system and its operation by developing a clearer understanding and appre- ciation 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 re- quires an effective central office at the national level. Therefore, it is essential that the necessary authority and responsibility of that office in rela- tion to the statistical services desired be clearly defined. There is not now, in fact, an agreement or uniform understanding concerning the responsi- bilities 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 available: 1. Determination of the scope and content of the national vital statistics tabulations and publi- cations. 2. Recommendation and promotion of uniform definitions of vital events and standard forms for reporting these events. 3. Determination of the classifications and classification rules used in preparing national vi- tal statistics. 4. Assistance to the States in improving and maintaining the quality and timeliness of the pri- mary vital records. , 5. Measurement of the degree of accuracy of all of the procedures which enter into the produc- tion of national vital statistics; completeness of reporting, accuracy of reported information, ac- curacy and consistency of classification of infor- mation, and accuracy of statistical compilation. 6. Maintenance ofdirect 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 sta- tistics tabulations.