VITAL STATISTICS

STATISTICS
The science that deals with the collection,
classification and use of numerical facts or data bearing
on a subject or matter; the numerical facts or data
themselves.

VITAL STATISTICS / BIOSTATISTICS

Statistical data which relate the total number of FERTILITY/BIRTH RATES
various kinds of biologic or vital events (like births, Include the crude birth rate (CBR), general fertility
marriages, illnesses and deaths) to the size and rate (GFR), and the age-specific fertility rate (ASFR)
characteristics of the affected population.
1. Crude Birth Rate (CBR)
RATE Roughmeasureoffertilityinthepopulation
A figure that describes the probability of occurrence Makes use of the mid-year population (including the
of some events. number of men and women incapable of child-bearing)
Formula for Rate: as its denominator
(a ) F Advantages:
a+b O The data composing both numerator and
denominator are easy to obtain.
WHERE: O The rate can be used in determining population
a = frequency with which an event has occurred during growth from subtracting the crude death rate from it.
some specified place and period of time.
a + b = the number of persons exposed to the risk of the 2. General Fertility Rate (GFR)
event during the same place and period of time. A MORE specific measure than the crude birth rate
F = a figure ( called a factor in the text such as 100, because the denominator makes use of the number of
1000, 10,000, or 100,000) to which the quotient is women of child bearing age
multiplied, the purpose is to avoid results involving very Child-bearing age may vary from one country to
small numbers or decimal points. country. Some use 15 - 44 yrs while others use 15 – 49
yrs.
e.g.
600 deaths = .012 deaths
50,000 pop’n

600 deaths x 1000 = 12 deaths/1000 pop’n

50,000 pop’n

VITAL RATE
A rate relating to vital events

RATIO
3. Age-Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR)
A figure which indicates the relative size of two
One of the MOST accurate
numbers
Permits a more in-depth study of the differences in
fertility at specific ages throughout the reproductive
POPULATION
period and the impact of birth control measures on
An aggregate or group of people under study
fertility
MID-YEAR POPULATION
MORTALITY/DEATH RATES
The population of the area under study as of July 1
Include the crude death rate (CDR), the age, sex or
(mid-year) of a calendar year
cause-specific death rates, the proportional mortality
rates (PMR), the case fatality rate (CFR), the infant
POPULATION AT RISK
mortality rate (IMR), the fetal death rate (FDR),
The population capable of acquiring a disease
maternal mortality rate (MMR) and perinatal mortality
rate (PMR)
VITAL STATISTICS
Generally expressed as vital rates, which may be
grouped under three categories:

1. Fertility or Birth rates

2. Morbidity or Sickness rates
3. Mortality rates or Death rates

These rates serve as indices of the health of a

population based on the birth, illness and death
patterns obtained in a community.
 1. Crude Death Rate Swaroop’s Index
Roughmeasurementofdeath Another proportional mortality indicator
A measure of the force of mortality or the probability Gives the percentage of all deaths which occur in
of dying in a population persons 50 years and above

2. Age-specific Death Rate

6. Case Fatality Rate ( CFR)
Gives a better picture of the force of mortality in a
Measures the killing power of a disease or injury as
given population than the crude death rate since the
expressed in terms of percentage
age factor is held constant
Example: rabies and meningitis are known to have a
Merely the crude death rate calculated for each age
HIGH CFR while measles or mumps are known to have a
group.
LOW CFR
Both numerator and denominator pertain to a
May be used to determine how well the treatment for
specific age group.
a certain disease has succeeded or is succeeding.
The factor (F) is not specified. This means that any
factor may be used (100, 1000 or 100,000) as long as it
gives a whole

3. Age and Sex-specific Death Rate (ASSDR)

This rate is similar to the age specific death rate but
specifies the sex as well.

7. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Considered one of the MOST sensitive indices of the
health conditions obtaining in a population
Unlike the crude death rate, which includes deaths
from old age, degenerative diseases, and other causes
not readily preventable by public measures, the IMR is
closely linked with preventable or environmental
4. Cause-specific Death Rate factors
Specifies the cause rather than the age and sex Infant deaths are associated with acute communicable
diseases and such factors as poor environmental
sanitation and personal hygiene, in general, inadequate
health services.

5. Proportional Mortality Rate

Denotes the percentage of all deaths
attributed to a certain disease
Used in ranking the cause of death by magnitude of
frequency
. The ten leading causes of mortality is a popular Because of the generally high mortality rate that occurs
means of showing the common health problems for a in the first year of life, further division of the IMR may
given geographic area, age and sex. be made:
Always expressed in percentage since the factor used a. neonatal (first month or 28 days of life)
is 100 b. post-neonatal (after the first month to one year of
age)
 8. Fetal Death Rate (FDR)
Includes abortions and stillbirths
According to WHO, FETAL DEATH refers to the death
PRIOR to complete expulsion or extraction from the
mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the
duration of pregnancy
The death is indicated by the fact that after such
separation, the fetus does not breathe nor show any
evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation
of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary
muscles

Attack Rate (AR)

A refinement of the incidence rate
Used only for a limited population group and time
period, usually during an outbreak or epidemic

9. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)

Measures the risk of dying from causes
associated with childbirth.
Defined as the death of a mother directly due to Prevalence Rate (PR)
pregnancy, labor, and puerperium within 90 days of More commonly used measure in chronic
delivery. disease
A measure of the status of a particular disease within
a given point or interval of time
Answers the question, “what proportion of the
population are actually ill with a particular disease or
are infected with a particular agent?”
A valuable tool for administrative purposes

10. Perinatal Mortality Rate (PMR)

Perinatal deaths refer to the deaths of the fetus or
neonate occurring AROUND the time of birth.

MORBIDITY/SICKNESS RATES

1. Incidence Rate
Measures the frequency of occurrence of
NEW cases
Answers the question, “ how frequently does a
disease occur within a given period of time?”
Used in the study of acute diseases, in outbreaks or
epidemics and secular trends
Can be made specific for age, sex, etc. In the same
manner as age specific mortality rates