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.
Reports of fetal death are required to be sent to the CHS if the fetus has advanced to or beyond the twentieth week of uterogestation. If the fetal death occurs in an institution, the person in charge of the institution or his or her representative is responsible for filing the report. If the fetal death occurs outside of an institution, the physician in attendance is responsible for filing the report. Since not all fetal deaths are medically attended, it is likely that there is some under reporting of these events. Evidence indicates that reporting may be better in metropolitan counties.
Sources and Completeness of:
Induced Terminations of Pregnancy Data