Title | Linkages to improve mortality data for American Indians and Alaska Natives: a new model for death reporting? |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Anderson, RN, Copeland, G, Hayes, JM |
Journal | Am J Public HealthAm J Public Health |
Volume | 104 Suppl 3 |
Pagination | S258-62 |
Date Published | Jun |
ISBN Number | 1541-0048 (Electronic)<br/>0090-0036 (Linking) |
Accession Number | 24754614 |
Keywords | Alaska/epidemiology/ethnology, Cause of Death, Data Collection, Death Certificates, Humans, Indians, North American/ statistics & numerical data, Inuits/ statistics & numerical data, Mortality/ trends, Population Surveillance |
Abstract | Racial misclassification is a well-documented weakness of mortality data taken from death certificates. As a result, mortality statistics for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) present, at best, an inaccurate and misleading assessment of mortality in this population. Studies evaluating the quality of race/ethnicity reporting on death certificates have linked data from death certificates to other data sources collected when the decedent was still alive (e.g., Census, Current Population Survey). Such studies have shown substantial misclassification of AI/AN decedents. Despite limitations, linking mortality data from death certificates with data from other sources collected when decedents were living provides opportunities to evaluate and correct misclassification of populations such as AI/AN persons and facilitates the calculation and presentation of more accurate mortality statistics. |
Ethno Med: