Improving the completeness and accuracy of the vital registration and vital statistics system in the United States

Abstract

In this paper, I will discuss efforts that have been made to improve both the vital registration system and the vital statistics product derived therefrom, both in terms of completeness and quality. I will limit most of my discussion to efforts directed at improving birth and death registration since those have been the two data systems of most interest and where most of the efforts have been directed. I will discuss some of the early methods used, some things that are currently being done, and some things we hope to accomplish in the future. The one concept that I most want to convey is that efforts to improve the vital registration/vital statistics system can never stop. While the techniques may change, we can never stop the process of evaluating the product and promoting improvements.