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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 California’s birth and death vital statistics databases.  The selection process is broken down into the following levels:


 

Screen 1:   Introduction and Selection of Statistical Methodology


 

Data Definitions:

Birth Data

Death Data

Screen 2:   Geographic Selection>


 

Selection Criteria:

          Birth Selection Criteria

        Death Selection Criteria

Screen 3:   Database and Primary Criteria Selection


 

      Statistical Formulas:

   Birth Statistical Formulas

   Death Statistical Formulas
 

Screen 4:   Selection of Criteria to Tailor the Query to a Specific Result


 
Back to Vital Query System HomePage

Introduction [top of page]

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

Year of Event:
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Click on the radio button associated with the year for which you want to base your query.  Vital statistics for births and deaths are collected from each county and are compiled into the Statistical Master files on an annual basis.  The data provided in this application are a subset of those files described as public use data.  Additional years of data for both prior and future years will be provided based upon demand and availability.

Statistic:
Count Vital Statistics Rate Age-Adjusted Death Rate Infant Death Rate
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. 
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

AGE-ADJUSTMENT
(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.

 

Screen 2:  Geographic Selection

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".

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Screen 3:  Database and Primary Criteria Selection      [top of page]

Database Selection

Birth or Death:
Birth Death
Choose either the Vital Statistics Birth or Death database.
Place of Residence or Occurrence:
Residence Occurrence
Place of residence refers to the birth mother's or decedent's place of residence whereas the place of occurrence refers to the county in which the birth or death occurred.  The choice of the criteria "Place of Occurrence" is only available when the statistic "Count" is selected.  Vital Statistic Rate, Age-Adjusted Rate and Infant Death Rate are calculated only by "Place of Residence".
Primary Selection Criteria - Row Condition:
Age Race/Ethnicity Gender
Birthweight (Birth Only) Prenatal Care (Birth Only) Cause of Death (Death Only)
The primary selection criteria enables you to select a category and have its subgroups displayed as separate rows in the table.  For example the subgroups "All", "Male" and "Female" would be displayed as rows if you select gender.  The ability to select from the subgroup is provided on Screen 4.
The primary selection criteria available on this screen vary depending upon the statistical selection you made on the first screen.  The choices are:
Statistic Primary Selection Criteria - Row Condition
Count All criteria are available
Vital Statistics Rate Selections are restricted to place of residence and rates are not available for either Prenatal Care or Birthweight. Cause of Death is not available as a Primary Selection Criteria - Row Condition
Age-Adjusted Death Rate Selections are restricted to the death database and place of residence. Primary Selection Criteria includes Gender and Race/Ethnicity 
Infant Death Rate Selections are restricted to the place of residence and all causes of death among children under 1 year of age.


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.


Screen 4:  Selection of Criteria to Tailor the Query to a Specific Result

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Primary Selection Criteria - Row Condition (You may select multiple subgroups)
Select "All", or any of the subgroup criteria presented.  If "All" is chosen, each of the criteria will be displayed as a separate row along with a total.  If no selection is made the system will default to "All".  The display for the Primary Selection Criteria is dependent on your choice from Screen 3. Click here to view examples of Primary Selection Criteria.

Tailor the Query for a Specific Result - Column Condition (Select only one per category)
Select one criteria from each subgroup criteria presented. If no selection is made the system will default to "All" in each subgroup.  This set of criteria tailors the Primary or Row Condition to the specific result desired.  Each column within the table will be based upon that criteria chosen and that information is displayed within the title of the table.

The "Cause of Death" selection allows the user to "open up" the general categories by double clicking on the category and the subgroups will be displayed.  Malignant Neoplasms (Cancer), for example, will open up to display various cancer-specific causes of death, any of which can then be chosen as a criterion.

The causes of death are coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for 1994 through 1998 and the Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 1999 and later.  Caution is urged when comparing data from 1998 and earlier to data from 1999 and later.  Depending on the specific cause of death, the number of deaths and death rate are not comparable between ICD-9 and ICD-10.  The numbers at the end of each descriptive cause of death term are the range and/or individual ICD codes used to determine the number of events for that cause of death. 


 

Click on the "Submit" button after you have completed your selections or utilize the "Reset" to clear the choices on this screen. The "Submit" selection will access our database and return with a table displaying the results of your query. The tabular result will be accompanied by footnotes that can be printed or saved. Click on your browser's back button to reach the previous screens in order to perform other queries.

Examples of Primary Selection Criteria - Row Condition
Age of Mother:
All  Under 15 15 - 17 18 - 19 20 - 24
25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45+ Unknown
Age of Decedent:
All  Under 1 1 - 4 5 - 14 15 - 24 25 - 34
35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65 - 75 75 - 84 85+
Gender:
All  Male  Female 
Race / Ethnicity: 1994-1999  
All American Indian Asian/Pacific Islander
Black Hispanic White/Other & Unknown
         
Race / Ethnicity: 2000 and Later  
All American Indian Asian Black
Hispanic Pacific Islander White Two or More Races
         
Birthweight:
All  Very Low  Low  <500  500 - 1499
1500 - 2499 2500 - 4499 4500 - 6499 6500 +  Unknown 
Prenatal Care:
All  1st Trimester 2nd Trimester 3rd Trimester No Care  Unknown 
 

Birth Selection Criteria

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Birth Data for 1994 Through 1999
Year County of
Residence		 County of
Occurrence		 Gender Age of Mother Birthweight
(in grams)		 Race/Ethnicity 
of Mother		 Month Prenatal
Care Began
1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 

 

 

 

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 Male

Female

 Under 15

15 – 17

18 – 19

20 – 24

25 – 29

30 – 34

35 – 39

40 – 44

45+

 < 500

500 - 1499

1500 – 2499

2500 - 4499

4500 – 6499

6500+

Unknown

 American Indian

Asian/Pacific Islander

Black

Hispanic

White/Other and Unknown

1st Trimester
(Months 1 – 3)
 

2nd Trimester
(Months 4 – 6)
 

3rd Trimester
(Months 7 – 9)
 

No Care, Unknown

 

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Birth Data for 2000 and Later
Year County of
Residence		 County of
Occurrence		 Gender Age of Mother Birthweight
(in grams)		 Race/Ethnicity 
of Mother		 Month Prenatal
Care Began
2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 

 

 

 

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 Male

Female

 Under 15

15 – 17

18 – 19

20 – 24

25 – 29

30 – 34

35 – 39

40 – 44

45+

 < 500

500 - 1499

1500 – 2499

2500 - 4499

4500 – 6499

6500+

Unknown

 American Indian

Asian

Black

Hispanic

Pacific Islander

White/Other and Unknown

Two or More Races

 1st Trimester
(Months 1 – 3)
 

2nd Trimester
(Months 4 – 6)
 

3rd Trimester
(Months 7 – 9)
 

No Care, Unknown


Death Selection Criteria

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Death Data for 1994 Through 1999
Year County of
Residence		 County of
Occurrence		 Gender Age of Decedent Race/Ethnicity
of Decedent		 ICD-9 Codes (1994-1998) ICD-10 Codes (1999)
1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 Male

Female
 

 Under 1
1 – 4
5 – 14
15 – 24
25 – 34
35 – 44
45 – 54
55 – 64
65 – 74
75 – 84
85+		 American Indian

Asian/Pacific Islander

Black

Hispanic

White/Other and Unknown

 

 001-999

 

 A00-Y89
 


Death Data for 2000 and Later
Year County of
Residence		 County of
Occurrence		 Gender Age of Decedent Race/Ethnicity
of Decedent		 ICD-10 Codes
2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 

 California

Alameda

through

Yuba
 

 Male

Female
 

 Under 1
1 – 4
5 – 14
15 – 24
25 – 34
35 – 44
45 – 54
55 – 64
65 – 74
75 – 84
85+		 American Indian

Asian

Black

Hispanic

Pacific Islander

White/Other and Unknown

Two or More Races

 

 A00-Y89

 


Statistical Formulas

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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 Total		 x 100
Crude Birth Rate Number of live births divided by the estimated or projected total population.  number of live births
 total population		 x 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 group		 x 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 group		 x 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 group		 x 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 old		 x 1,000

Statistical Formulas

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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 population		 x 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 group		 x 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 group		 x 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 group		 x 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 population		 x 100,000

 

 

Birth Database Query
Definitions

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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
Definitions

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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

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