Center for Health Statistics
Vital Statistics Query System
The Vital Statistics Query System has been developed to provide an interactive Internet interface to obtain tabular summaries and statistical reports from Californias birth and death vital statistics databases. The selection process is broken down into the following levels:
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Screen 1: Introduction and Selection of Statistical Methodology |
Data Definitions: |
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Screen 2: Geographic Selection>
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Selection Criteria: |
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Screen 3: Database and Primary Criteria Selection |
Statistical Formulas: |
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Screen 4: Selection of Criteria to Tailor the Query to a Specific Result |
Introduction [top of page] |
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This Internet offering has been designed to provide data from Vital Statistics birth and death databases for California and its 58 counties. The system provides the number of events along with the ability to apply population based statistical methods to those events. An event refers to the number of incidences in a specific location (county) for a given year (2007) for either births or deaths that has been tailored to the specific criteria selected. |
SCREEN 1: Selection
of Year of Event and Statistical Methodology
These statistical methodologies present results that allow the comparison
between counties, causes of death, age groups, etc. Vital statistics rates
are sensitive to variations in the size of both the numerator (the number
of vital events that occurred), and the denominator (the estimated population
at risk). For example, in small counties, a variation of only a few cases
in the numerator can cause a relatively large shift in a rate, while in
a large county, it may cause no change at all. Likewise, a minor revision
in the estimate of the population in a small county may cause a relatively
major change in a vital rate in that county. The user is cautioned that
rates, ratios, or percents, based on fewer than 20 observations may be
unreliable and are usually subject to significant variability from one
year to the next.
Click on the "Next Screen" button to choose the geographic location that the query will be based on. The selection includes either California or an individual county. Click on the "Reset" button to clear current selections.
Following are the formulas with short descriptions regarding the statistics
you may use within this application.
| Statistical Term | Definition | Formula | |
| Count | Total number of events based on the criteria chosen | Percentages of the total are provided for comparison | |
| Vital Statistics Rate
Birth |
The count divided by the population of females based on those same criteria. These rates are only available for Age of Mother, Gender of Infant, and Race/Ethnicity of Mother. | live births
based on criteria female population for same criteria |
x 1,000 |
| Vital Statistics Rate
Death |
The count divided by the population based on those same criteria. These rates are only available for age, gender, and race/ethnicity of the decedent based on the selected cause of death. | deaths
based on criteria population for same criteria |
x 100,000 |
| Age-Adjusted Death Rate | Age-adjusted death rates are used to compare relative mortality risk across groups and over time. These rates show expected mortality if the age distribution of populations were the same. Age-adjusted rates are index numbers and cannot be compared to crude or other types of rates. | Click here to view
an example calculation of an age-adjusted death rate. Direct method and 2000 U.S. Standard Million population are used to calculate these rates. |
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| Infant Death Rate | The number of infant deaths (age under 1) for the criteria selected divided by the total number of births based on those same criteria. | infant deaths
based on criteria number of births |
x 1,000 |
Calculating Age-Adjusted Rates
(Direct Method)
Age-adjusted rates calculated in Center for Health Statistics reports follow the procedure used in setting the Year 2010 national objectives. The standard population used is the 2000 U.S. Standard Million. There are 11 age groups used in the direct method of age-adjustment as shown in the following example:
| Deaths Due To All Causes in Monterey County for 2005 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age
Groups |
2005
Deaths (A) |
2005 Population (B) |
Rates
Per 100,000 (C) |
2000 U.S.
Standard Proportions (D) |
Weighted
Rate Factors (E) |
| Total | 2,313 | 422,506 | 547.4 | ||
| <1 | 39 | 7,385 | 528.1 | 0.013818 | 7.2972858 |
| 1-4 | 7 | 29,524 | 23.7 | 0.055317 | 1.3110129 |
| 5-14 | 7 | 65,397 | 10.7 | 0.145565 | 1.5575455 |
| 15-24 | 38 | 64,976 | 58.5 | 0.138646 | 8.1107910 |
| 25-34 | 53 | 61,801 | 85.8 | 0.135573 | 11.6321634 |
| 35-44 | 85 | 57,865 | 146.9 | 0.162613 | 23.8878497 |
| 45-54 | 171 | 53,505 | 319.6 | 0.134834 | 43.0929464 |
| 55-64 | 207 | 38,204 | 541.8 | 0.087247 | 47.2704246 |
| 65-74 | 340 | 21,741 | 1,563.9 | 0.066037 | 103.2752643 |
| 75-84 | 664 | 15,951 | 4,162.7 | 0.044842 | 186.6637934 |
| 85+ | 702 | 6,157 | 11,401.7 | 0.015508 | 176.8175636 |
| Age-Adjusted
Rate |
610.9 | ||||
| Step 1: | Array the number of deaths and population for the 11 age groups. (Columns A & B) | ||||
| Step 2: | Calculate age-specific rates by dividing the number of deaths by the population and multiply the result by 100,000. (Column C) | ||||
| Step 3: | Multiply each age-specific rate by the corresponding standard age proportion (Column D) and enter the result in Column E. | ||||
| Step 4: | Sum the rates in Column E to obtain the County Age-Adjusted Death Rate per 100,000 population. | ||||
For
further information on age-adjusted death rates, see:
Klein RJ, Schoenborn CA. Age Adjustment using the 2000 Projected U.S.
Population. Healthy People 2010 Statistical Notes, No. 20.
National Center for Health Statistics. Hyattsville, Maryland.
January 2001.
The selection of county can be achieved by clicking on either the location on the map of California or the name of the county at the left margin. The entire state can be selected only by clicking on the name "California".
Database Selection
Click on the "Next Screen" button to bring up a screen that will allow further criteria selections to refine your query. Click on the "Reset" button to clear selections made on this screen.
Birth Selection Criteria
[top of page] 1995
1996
1997 1998 1999 Alameda
through
Yuba
Alameda
through
Yuba
Female
Asian/Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic White/Other and Unknown
2001
2002
2003 2004 2005
2006
2007 Alameda
through
Yuba
Alameda
through
Yuba
Female
Asian Black
Hispanic Pacific Islander White/Other and Unknown Two or More Races Birth Database Query
Year - The year in which the birth occurred.
Mother's Place of Residence - The place where the mother
usually resides. For this project, Alameda County through Yuba County will
be utilized to generate birth tabulations by mother's place of residence.
Place of Occurrence - The place where the child was born. Like mother's place of residence, Alameda County through Yuba County will
be utilized to generate birth tabulations by place of occurrence.
Age of Mother - The mother's age on the day the child
was born.
Sex of Child - The sex of the child at birth. For this
query system, records coded "unknown" will be enumerated with the records coded
"male" when generating tabulations by sex of child. Race/Ethnicity of Mother - The mother's self-reported
race/ethnicity. For 1994 through 1999, race/ethnicity will be defined as the following
five groups: Hispanic, American Indian (Non-Hispanic), Asian/Pacific Islander
(Non-Hispanic), Black (Non-Hispanic), and White/Other/Unknown (Non-Hispanic).
For 2000 and later, race will be defined as the following seven groups: Hispanic,
American Indian (Non-Hispanic), Asian (Non-Hispanic), Black (Non-Hispanic),
Pacific Islander (Non-Hispanic), White/Other/Unknown (Non-Hispanic),
and Two or More Races (Non-Hispanic). Spanish/Hispanic Origin of Mother - The mother's self-reported
Spanish/Hispanic Origin. When creating tabulations by the various race/ethnic groups
the mothers who are of Spanish/Hispanic Origin are enumerated
and grouped prior to the other race/ethnic groups.
Birthweight - The weight (in grams) of the child at birth.
For this project, records coded "not weighed" will be enumerated with the
records coded "not stated" when generating tabulations by birthweight. In addition, low birthweight is under 2,500 grams, and very low birthweight
is under 1,500 grams.
Month Prenatal Care Began - The month in which the mother
first visited a physician or other health care provider for medical supervision
of her pregnancy. For data analyses, month prenatal care began is usually
grouped by trimester. First trimester is months 1-3, second trimester is
months 4-6, and third trimester is months 7-9.
Death Database Query
Year - The year in which the death occurred.
Decedent's Place of Residence - The place where the decedent
usually resided. This application is restricted to California and its 58
counties (Alameda County through Yuba County) for decedent's place of residence.
Decedent's that resided out of state or out of country are not available.
Place of Occurrence - The place where the decedent died.
Like decedent's place of residence, only California or Alameda County through
Yuba County will be utilized to generate death tabulations by place of
occurrence.
Age of Decedent - The decedent's age on the day he/she
died.
Sex of Decedent - The sex of the decedent at death.
Race/Ethnicity of Decedent - The decedent's reported race/ethnicity. For
1994 through 1999, race/ethnicity will be defined as the following
five groups: Hispanic, American Indian (Non-Hispanic), Asian/Pacific Islander
(Non-Hispanic), Black (Non-Hispanic), and White/Other/Unknown (Non-Hispanic).
For 2000 and later, race will be defined as the following seven groups: Hispanic,
American Indian (Non-Hispanic), Asian (Non-Hispanic), Black (Non-Hispanic),
Pacific Islander (Non-Hispanic), White/Other/Unknown (Non-Hispanic), and Two or
More Races (Non-Hispanic). Spanish/Hispanic Origin of Decedent -
The decedent's reported Spanish/Hispanic Origin. When creating tabulations by the
various race/ethnic groups
the decedents who are of Spanish/Hispanic Origin are enumerated
and grouped prior to the other race/ethnic groups. Underlying Cause of Death - The underlying cause of death
is the disease or injury that initiated the chain of events leading directly
to death. For 1994 through 1998 the underlying causes of death were coded using the International
Classification of Diseases - Ninth Revision (ICD-9). For 2000 and
later the underlying causes of death were coded using the International
Classification of Diseases - Tenth Revision (ICD-10).
Last Updated March 13, 2009
Death Data for 1994
Through 1999
Year
County of
ResidenceCounty of
OccurrenceGender
Age of Decedent
Race/Ethnicity
of Decedent
ICD-9 Codes (1994-1998)
ICD-10 Codes (1999)
1994
California
California
Male
Under 1
1 4
5 14
15 24
25 34
35 44
45 54
55 64
65 74
75 84
85+American Indian
001-999
A00-Y89
Death Data for
2000
and Later
Year
County of
ResidenceCounty of
OccurrenceGender
Age of Decedent
Race/Ethnicity
of Decedent
ICD-10 Codes
2000
California
California
Male
Under 1
1 4
5 14
15 24
25 34
35 44
45 54
55 64
65 74
75 84
85+American Indian
A00-Y89
Birth Statistics
Statistical Term
Definition
Formula
Number of Births
Total number of live births based on the criteria chosen.
Population
Total population based upon the specific criteria selected
such as the population in a specific sex, race and age group. Population
figures are based upon Department of Finance estimates or projections.
Percent of Total Births
Only available when the statistic "Count" is selected.
Row Condition
Row Totalx 100
Crude Birth Rate
Number of live births divided by the estimated or projected
total population.
number of live births
total populationx 1,000
Age-Specific Birth Rate
The number of births for the specific age group divided by the
estimated or projected population in that age group.
live births to women in specific age group
female population in that age groupx 1,000
Sex-Specific Birth Rate
The number of births in a specific gender divided by the estimated
or projected population in that gender.
live births in a specific sex group
population in that sex groupx 1,000
Race-Specific Birth Rate
The number of births in a specific race group divided by the estimated
or projected population in that race group.
live births in a specific race group
population in that race groupx 1,000
General Fertility Rate
The number of all births divided by the estimated or projected female
population ages 15 to 44.
number of live births
female population 15 - 44 years oldx 1,000
Death Statistics
Statistical Term
Definition
Formula
Number of Deaths
Total number of deaths based on the criteria chosen.
Population
Total population based upon the specific criteria selected
such as the population in a specific sex, race and age group. Population
figures are based on Department of Finance estimates or projections.
Crude Death Rate
Number of deaths divided by the estimated or projected total
population.
number of deaths
total populationx 100,000
Age-Specific Death Rate
The number of deaths in a specific age group divided by the estimated
or projected population in that age group.
number of deaths within a specific age group
population in that age groupx 100,000
Sex-Specific Death Rate
The number of deaths in a specific gender divided by the estimated or
projected population in that gender.
deaths in a specific sex group
population in that sex groupx 100,000
Race-Specific Death Rate
The number of deaths in a specific race group divided by the estimated
or projected population in that race group.
deaths in a specific race group
population in that race groupx 100,000
Cause-Specific Death Rate
The number of deaths due to a specific cause of death divided by the
estimated or projected population.
deaths from a specific cause
total populationx 100,000
Definitions
Definitions
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Organization
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VSQ Customer Service Information
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