Integridad del registro de nacimientos 1/

Abstract

Using information from the registration of live births made in the years after the birth, we evaluated the integrity of the register at a national and regional level and by health services, in the period 1976 - 1982. We conclude that the estimated integrity of the last three years in the series, 1980- 1982, could be validly applied to the years after that date. The need to correct the births was illustrated when comparative studies of fertility, and maternal, infant and fetal mortality were performed, by comparing the infant mortality rates in different health services. If no correction is made, the infant mortality is over-estimated to a lesser or greater degree according to the integrity of the register in the respective geographical area; this leads to changes in the relative position of the health services in relation to this demographic variable.