ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses three topics in the analysis of vital statistics which are especially pertinent to perinatal epidemiology: rates based on small numbers, birth weight standardization, and the assessment of the effects of prenatal care. Vital statistics provide a valuable resource for studies in perinatal epidemiology. The birth and death certificates include a variety of variables which are potentially useful in perinatal epidemiology. Registration completeness refers to the extent to which births, deaths and fetal deaths which occur in the United States (US) are actually registered. Despite potential problems with data quality and the limited number of variables available, vital statistics are unique in that they provide reasonably comparable data for all births and deaths occurring in the US A frequent use of vital statistics in perinatal epidemiology is the analysis of the relationship between prenatal care and pregnancy outcome.
