[Progress and improvement in the vital statistics of Brazil]. / Aproveitamento e melhoria das estatisticas vitais no Brasil.

PIP: Data from a field survey carried out in the Brazilian municipio of Bocaiuva are used to examine the relative value of vital statistics from three different sources, namely, civil registration, hospital records, and local informants. The proportion of births occurring in hospitals and the proportion of births registered according to the National Household Survey of 1973 are considered. The authors propose that a system of vital statistics based on the collection of birth data directly from hospitals in major urban areas be developed and surveys be undertaken every five years to estimate the level of vital statistics coverage achieved.^ieng