Data are from certificates and reports filed with the Center for Health Statistics (CHS) in the Alabama Department of Public Health according to Alabama Vital Statistics Laws. The State Registrar of Vital Records enforces the laws and administers the system of vital statistics. Birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates and fetal death and induced termination of pregnancy reports provide most of the information reported or tabulated. The statewide data for Alabama are also sent to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for inclusion in national reports and tabulations.
Divorce certificates are prepared by the petitioner or his or her legal representative and presented to the clerk of a court where divorces are granted. The clerk of the court completes the information certifying the divorce and forwards the certificate to the CHS. While the law does require the divorce certificate to be filed before a divorce is granted, the filing of these records may not be as complete as other vital records since court procedures vary.
Sources and Completeness of:
Induced Terminations of Pregnancy