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Objectives-This report presents information on autopsy data in 2003 and compares data for 1993 and 2003. Methods-Death certificates are completed by funeral directors, attending physicians, medical examiners, and coroners. The original records are filed in the state registration offices. Statistical information is compiled into a national database through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. This report focuses on the autopsy item on the death certificate and presents descriptive tabulations. Results-In 2003, autopsies were performed for 7.7 percent of deaths occurring in 47 states and the District of Columbia. This was less than in 1994, when the data was last available in this database. Decedents with particular characteristics were more likely to be autopsied than others. For example, almost one-third of infant deaths, more than one-half of decedents aged 15-24 years, and almost none of the decedents aged 85 years and over were autopsied., (All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.)

Objectives: This report presents fetal mortality data by medical and life-style risk factors of the mother and the fetus., Methods: Deaths and fetal mortality rates are presented in this descriptive report. Data sources used are vital statistics data for fetal deaths and live births., Results: The data that became available with the revision of the U.S. Standard Report of Fetal Death in 1989 expanded the medical and health data available on mothers and fetuses. Reporting of medical conditions is probably incomplete for fetal deaths as well as for live births. Therefore, caution should be exercised in using this data. Reported occurrences of medical and life-style risk factors of mother and fetus for fetal deaths and live births and fetal mortality rates are presented. Maternal medical conditions most often associated with having a fetal death were problems with amniotic fluid levels and blood disorders. Fetal mortality was 35 percent greater when tobacco was used during pregnancy and 77 percent higher when alcohol was consumed during pregnancy. The complication of labor most often associated with fetal mortality was abruptio placenta. Although a very small proportion of all deliveries have specific congenital anomalies reported, fetal mortality was close to 50 percent for anencephalus, about 25 percent for renal agenesis, and slightly more than 20 percent for hydrocephalus.

In 1991 a total of 35,926 perinatal deaths occurred in the United States; this includes fetal deaths occurring at 28 weeks of gestation or later and infant deaths occurring under 7 days of age. The perinatal mortality rate was at a record low of 8.7 perinatal deaths per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, 19 percent lower than the rate in 1985. Perinatal mortality rates differ by race. In 1991 the rates for the white and black populations were 7.4 and 15.7 perinatal deaths per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, respectively. The rate for the Hispanic population was 7.9 compared with a rate of 7.1 for the non-Hispanic white population of an area comprised of 36 States and the District of Columbia. This area includes those States that reported Hispanic origin and whose reporting completeness was considered adequate for analysis., (All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.)

Effective with vital statistics data for 1989, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) made the following change in most of its tabulations of race for live births and fetal death; race for live births and fetal deaths are shown by race of mother rather than by race of child. As a result of the change in the tabulation by race of live births and fetal deaths, infant, fetal, perinatal, and maternal mortality rates by race in NCHS tabulations for 1989 are not comparable with those of previous years. To facilitate comparison with previous years' data and analysis of current patterns, key tabulations and text analysis in reports from NCHS for 1989 and 1990 data (l-3) show infant, fetal, perinatal, and maternal mortality data computed on the basis of live births and fetal deaths tabulated by both race of mother and race of child. This makes it possible to distinguish the effects of this change in tabulation from real changes in the data. Beginning with data for 1991, NCHS publications show most tabulations by race of mother only., (All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.)