1. Introduction
   1. Quick Guide to using VitalWeb Standard
   2. Multiple windows

2. Table settings
   1. Primary statistic, such as pregnancy rate
   2. Table axes (rows and columns)
   3. Statistic / axis conflicts

3. Data variables
   1. Categorical variables, such as race
   2. Range variables, such as age
   3. Other settings, such as confidence intervals

4. Graphic settings
   1. Pie chart settings
   2. Line chart settings
   3. Bar chart settings
   4. Map settings
   5. Map color palettes

5. Producing and using results
   1. Getting results
   2. Viewing results
   3. Printing results
   4. Saving results

6. Other Information
   1. Glossary
   2. County groupings
   3. 95% Poisson Confidence Limits
   4. Statistical Methods
   5. Confidence Intervals
   6. Data sources and limitations
   7. Links to related resources
   8. Department of State Health Services contacts
   9. Legal information

First, select settings from within the Main Window:

• Primary Statistic, for example pregnancy rate
• Rows and columns, for example year rows
• Values for data variables, for example race

Next, whenever you are ready:

• Click on "Make Table Now" or "Make Map" to submit your query.
• Results will appear in a separate "Results Window".
• Browse through your results.
• Print your results (if desired).
• Save your results (if desired).

After you have made output:

• Go back to the the Main Window.
• Modify settings as desired.
• Make another map or table.

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VitalWeb Standard uses multiple browser windows.

• It does not require full-screen windows.
• You can easily switch between browser windows.
• To switch to another window, simply click on it.
• When you exit the Main Window, the other windows go away.

Main Window:

• The Main Windows is the "command center".
• Has the majority of settings and action buttons.

Map Options Window:

• Customize map, including data ranges, coloring, labels, etc.

Other Settings Window:

• Click on "Other Settings" near bottom of the Main Window.
• A separate "Other Settings Window" pops up.
• Casual users can mostly ignore the other options.
• Advanced users will appreciate the extra power.

Help Window:

• You are currently viewing the "Help Window".

Results Window:

• A separate "Results Window" displays the results.
• Normally, each new result is appended to the Results Window.
• Review previous results by clicking on browser "Back" button.

Other Windows:

• Will appear as needed to carry out various other tasks.

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Primary Statistic - The basic numerical result in the output.

Primary Statistics include:

• Pregnancies
• Pregnancy Rate (per 1,000 total)
• Pregnancy Rate (per 1,000 women)

Sample Selector:   Pregnancies Pregnancy Rate (per 1,000 total) Pregnancy Rate (per 1,000 women)

Selecting - Click on desired setting, such as "Pregnancies".

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Year White Black Hispanic Other 1990 1,032 302 545 79 1991 1,134 317 555 88 1992 1,236 348 602 86 1993 1,166 335 590 92 Sample Table: Year Rows - Race Columns

• Rows - Are horizontal lines of data, such as the row for 1991.
• Row Sort - Rows can be sorted, low to high, or high to low.
• Columns - Go up and down, such as the column for "White" race.

Selecting - Click on desired setting, such as "Age" or "Race".

Sample Row or Column Selector: Geographic Area Mom's Age Race Sex Year

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If there is a conflict between statistic, rows, or columns:

• Vitalnet alerts you of the conflict.
• Vitalnet does not allow a table until the conflict is corrected.

Examples of conflicting settings (mismatches) include:

• Race rows, race columns.
• Year rows, year columns.

To correct a conflict, select a different primary statistic, row, or column setting.

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Data variables include - age of mom, race, county of residence, gestational age, year.

Example selector for data variable:

Age of Individual: All Ages Under 1 1 to 4 5 to 14 15 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 to 74 75 and older Change Groups

Practice for selecting data variable:

1. First, select one value - Click on "1 to 4".
2. Next, add one value - Shift-Click on "5 to 14".
3. Next, delete one value - Shift-Click on "1 to 4".
4. Next, select several - Hold down mouse, drag over several.
5. Next, add all values  - Click on "All Ages".
6. Finally, change groups - Click on "Change Groups" at bottom.

Shift-Click definition: hold down shift key while clicking mouse.

Appearance of Data Selector for Geographic Areas:

Unselected Areas: All Areas Public Health Region 1 Public Health Region 3 Public Health Region 4 Armstrong Culberson Eastland Grayson Jackson Newton Rockland Temple

Selected Areas: Public Health Region 2 Fisher Mills Silver Spring

To select geographic areas (in actual interface only):

1. Highlight unselected area - Click on "Armstrong".
2. Move area to "selected" column - Click on green arrow.

To unselect geographic areas (in actual interface only):

1. Highlight selected area - Click on "Mills".
2. Move area to "unselected" column - Click on red arrow.

Notes on geographic selection:

• Use Shift-Click to select / deselect more than one area at a time.
  
• Vitalnet resolves duplications where one area includes another.
  

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Certain data variables allow different "groupings".
For example, 5-year or 10-year age groups.

To change the grouping:

• Click on "Change Groups" - Brings up popup similar to below.
• In popup, click on desired grouping - Selects grouping, removes popup.

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If you click on "Other Settings" in the Main Window, a separate "Other Settings Window" pops up. It lets you modify the following options:

• Cell Suppression - Hide results with low counts
• Confidence Level - Set confidence interval. Such as 95%
• Decimal Places - Set digits after decimal. Like two for 5.99
• Stacked Bar Chart - Set chart width. Or omit chart
• HTML Output Font - Set font for HTML output
• Table Percents - Display row or column percents
• Time Trend Format - Show detailed or summary analysis

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Pie charts show the parts of a whole.

Ways to customize Vitalnet pie charts:

• File Format - Graphics file format for pie chart
• First Slice - Clock position for first pie chart slice
• Label Mode - How to label pie chart slices
• Label Offset - [Label distance from center] / radius
• Line Width - Width of pie chart lines
• Percents - How to display pie chart percents
• Radius - Radius of pie chart (inches)
• Slice Colors - Colors to use for pie chart slices
• Text Size - Font size for chart text (points)

Note: Pie charts are made ONLY if following conditions met:

• Cumulative data (counts, some rates).
• One number set (one row or column).
• Between 2 and 9 pie slices.
• No suppressed results.

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Bar charts compare amounts of different things.

Ways to customize Vitalnet bar charts:

• Bar Colors - Colors to use for bars
• Bar Width - Width of each bar (inches)
• Chart Height - Bar chart height (inches)
• File Format - Graphics file format for bar chart
• Grid Lines - Dashed horizontal grid lines on bar chart
• Text Size - Font size for bar chart text (points)

Note: Black and white chart uses hatch and gray-scale patterns.

Note: Bar charts are made ONLY if following conditions met:

• 1 to 20 rows (groups of bars).
• 1 to 10 columns (bars per group).
• No suppressed results.

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Line charts show movement or change.

Ways to customize Vitalnet line charts:

• Chart Height - Line chart height (inches)
• File Format - Graphics file format for line chart
• Grid Lines - Dashed horizontal grid lines on line chart
• Line Colors - Colors to use for lines
• Point Symbols - Symbols at line chart data points
• Text Size - Font size for line chart text (points)

Note: Black and white lines are rendered as dot and dash patterns.

Note: Line charts are made ONLY if following conditions met:

• Range rows (such as age or year).
• Data are continuous (no gaps).
• Data are unsorted.
• No more than 10 lines (10 columns).
• No suppressed results.

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Maps display results geographically.

Ways to customize Vitalnet maps:

• Area Labels - Automatically apply labels to areas
• Color Count - Number of colors (ranges) for map
• Color Palette - Color combination for map
• Data Table - Include numerical data table below map
• Range Type - Divide ranges by equal widths or counts
• Time Trend - Make separate map for each year

Time trend maps require:

• At least 2 year ranges
• All year ranges same width - Not 1995-1996, 1997-1998, 1999

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Color mix palettes:

					Summer Colors
					Earth Tones

Gray scale palettes:

					Gray Scale #1
					Gray Scale #2

One-color scales:

					Purple Scale
					Brown Scale

Two-color scales:

					Red-Yellow Scale
					Red-Blue Scale
					Brown-Blue Scale
					Brown-Green Scale

Recommendations for selecting color palette:

• For black and white printer - Use a gray-scale palette.
• For best interpretation - Don't use a color mix palette.
• For red-green color blind - Don't use a color mix palette.

References and research used to help design Vitalnet palettes:

• LW Pickle, M Mungiole, GK Jones, AA White, "Atlas of United States Mortality", National Center for Health Statistics, 1997.
• CA Brewer, "Color Use Guidelines for Mapping and Visualization", in "Visualization in Modern Cartography", Elsevier, 1994.

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• Click on button - Click on "Make Map" or "Make Table".
• Program calculates - The program will send the query to the server.
• Wait a few seconds - Can be longer for certain analyses, such as many years of data.
• View Results Window - The results will be displayed in a separate "Results Window".

• Conflicts prevented - The program does not allow you to send an invalid request.
• Mismatch resolution - If a problem, such as row / column mismatch:
  • You will be reminded to correct it before submitting request.

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After you click "Make Map" or "Make Table", a separate "Results Window" appears.

• Scroll through the results - Use the scroll bar, PgUp, PgDn, etc.
• Print or Save results - Sends to printer or disk.
• Point to a map area - Displays the name of the area.
• Click on a map area - Jumps to the data for area (if data table).
• Click on footnote links - Displays or downloads charts and data files.

• Output queues - New output replaces old output in the Results Window.
• Reviewing previous - To review old output, click on Results Window "Back" button.
• Returning - To return to the Main Window to carry out another analysis:
  • Click on the Main Window, OR
  • Minimize the Results Windows.

If graphics do not display in the output, try refreshing the browser.

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To print results from your browser, do one of the following:

• Press CTL-P - Hold down Control key, and press 'P' key.
• Use Browser Icon - Click on Print Icon (if available).
• Use Browser Menu - Select "File / Print" (if menu available).

If too wide or long:

• Use fewer rows or columns. Will also make table easier to understand.
• Change font size. Typical command is: View / Text Size.

Spreadsheet or word processor printing:

• Click on link in output footnotes.
• Download and import file.
  • CSV for spreadsheet, such as Excel or StarOffice.
  • ASCII for word processor, such as Word or WordPerfect.
• Format and print from within spreadsheet or word processor.

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To save results displayed in a browser, do one of the following:

• Press CTL-S - Hold down Control key, and press 'S' key.
• Use Browser Menu - Select "File / Save" (or equivalent).

To save alternate data format, click on footnote links:

• ASCII text - For importing into word processing software.
• CSV format - For importing into spreadsheet software.
• dBASE III - For database, GIS, mapping, statistical software.

To save a map as an image file, minus surrounding text:

• Position the cursor over the map, using mouse.
• Press the right mouse button to bring up a popup menu.
• Select the "Save" option from the popup menu.
• Specify the directory (folder) to save the file.

Suggestions on naming files:

• Memorable - Select a name that will remind you of the content.
• Organized - Organize files into project directories (folders).
• Linkable - Use the unique ID for data files, such as "112jdhkm.dbf".

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Area set - One or more areas combined.

ASCII file - A text file, with only alphabetical, numerical, and punctuation characters, like you would see in normal text. Vitalnet can produce output in ASCII format.

Bar graphs - A section of a Vitalnet table. Gives a useful graphical representation of the data. May be omitted from the output table.

CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US federal health agency.

Cell - A space for a single numerical result in a table, at a row-column intersection.

Cell suppression - An asterisk "*" is placed in cells with fewer deaths than a limit set by the user. Row / column totals with exactly one suppressed cell in the row / column are also suppressed. If more than one cell in the row / column is suppressed, the row / column total is displayed.

Columns - Vertical groupings of data in a Vitalnet table, such as a column for each race group.

Confidence interval (confidence limits) - A range of values within which the true value of a variable is thought to lie, with a specified level of confidence. For a result of 23.5, a confidence interval might be (23.1-23.9). The smaller the interval, the more reliable the result. If the 95% confidence intervals do not overlap, there is a statistically significant difference. Vitalnet uses several methods to calculate confidence intervals. The output table documents which method was used.

Confidence level - The likelihood that the true value of a variable is within a confidence interval. For example, for confidence intervals at the 95% level, we are statistically 95% certain that the actual value of the variable is within the interval.

Councils of Government (COG's) - Groupings of Texas counties. There are 24 COG's.

CSV format - Also called comma-separated-value format. A type of computer output that is readily imported into other software, especially spreadsheet software. Each output item is separated by a comma from surrounding items, and each output text item is surrounded by "double quotes". Vitalnet produces CSV output. A comma-separated-value file has "csv" extension.

Data mining - Finding unexpected relationships in a data set. Similar to exploratory data analysis. Vitalnet is excellent at data mining. Of course, keep in mind that the more you look, the more unusual events you will find, just by chance.

Data warehouse - Software system, such as Vitalnet, making large complex databases readily available for querying and analysis.

dBASE III format - A widely used file format derived from the database software of the same name. Files in this format may be readily imported into almost any data analysis, graphing, mapping, or other presentation software. Has dbf extension. Suppressed cells are represented as the number "-1". Vitalnet produces dBASE III output.

Denominator - The number on the bottom of a fraction. Population data are often referred to as "denominator data", as they are used as denominators to calculate population-based rates.

Export - Produce output that can be read into other computer programs. Vitalnet produces ASCII text, comma-separated-value (csv extension), HTML (htm extension), and dBASE III (dbf extension) files for export.

Fetal death - A fetus showing no evidence of life after a complete birth.

Fetus - Term applied to the unborn offspring from the date of conception until the completion of pregnancy.

Filter variable - A variable solely used to filter which records are included in the output. For example, for a single table with race rows and sex columns, age is a filter variable.

Footer - Last part of a Vitalnet table. Lists other details of the analysis, such as the date and time produced, and the data sources. Each table is assigned a unique ID, listed in the footer, to assist you in keeping track of and organizing analyses.

Gestational age - Number of completed weeks elapsed between the first day of the last normal menstrual period and the pregnancy outcome. Gestational age is expressed in completed weeks.

Header - First part of a Vitalnet table. Lists basic parameters you selected to define the table, such as years analyzed.

Import - Read information into a computer program. ASCII text, CSV files, HTML, and dBASE III files from Vitalnet are easily imported into word processing, spreadsheet, data analysis, mapping, graphing, and other presentation software programs.

Least-squares - A standard method for fitting the best straight line to a set of points. Produces a Y-intercept and a slope defining the least-squares line.

Multiple age groups - One age group for each row or column of a table. Example: Birth-19, 20-39, 40-59, 60-99+.

NCHS - National Center for Health Statistics. US health statistics agency. Part of the CDC.

PHR - Public Health Region. Groupings of Texas counties. There are 11 PHRs.

Population - The number of people living in an area.

Pregnancy outcome - A birth, fetal death, or abortion.

Pregnancy rate - The number of pregnancies per 1,000 total or female population.

Primary Statistic - The basic type of numerical result displayed in a table, chart, or map. For example, pregnancy rate.

Public Health Regions (PHR) - Groupings of Texas counties. There are 11 Public Health Regions.

Rows - Horizontal lines in a Vitalnet table, such as a row for each race group.

Row sort settings - Vitalnet rows may be sorted in ascending or descending order.

Set - A combination of one or more things. For example, several areas may be combined into an area set.

Single age group - Only one age group (30-49, for example) is selected. A single age group is used for tables that do not have age columns or age rows.

Statistic - See "Primary Statistic".

Table - A set of results produced by Vitalnet. A table has several parts:

1. Header - lists basic analysis settings
2. Data section - numerical results
3. Horizontal bar graphs - graphical representation of the data
4. Footer - lists other analysis settings

UNIX - A widely used computer operating system. Vitalnet can run on UNIX, either remotely, locally, or by client-server.

Unknown Values - Unknowns are automatically inserted into a Vitalnet table. For example, a separate row (or column) for unknown race. The rate is assigned as zero for an unknown category, since there is no population denominator to use. Some fields, such as sex for certain data sets, are never unknown, so unknowns are left off the table. When, such as for age-adjusted rates, the unknown variable (age) is different from the rows or columns, the number of unknowns for age is shown below the table.

Windows - A widely used set of PC operating systems, including Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT, 2000, and XP. Vitalnet will run under any version of Windows.

World Wide Web (WWW) - A widely used part of the internet that may be easily accessed with a web browser. Vitalnet runs on the WWW.

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• Public Health Region 1: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, King, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Yoakum

• Public Health Region 2: Archer, Baylor, Brown, Callahan, Clay, Coleman, Comanche, Cottle, Eastland, Fisher, Foard, Hardeman, Haskell, Jack, Jones, Kent, Knox, Mitchell, Montague, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Young

• Public Health Region 3: Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise

• Public Health Region 4: Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood

• Public Health Region 5: Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler

• Public Health Region 6: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, Wharton

• Public Health Region 7: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Coryell, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hays, Hill, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Llano, McLennan, Madison, Milam, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Travis, Washington, Williamson

• Public Health Region 8: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Calhoun, Comal, DeWitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Jackson, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Wilson, Zavala

• Public Health Region 9: Andrews, Borden, Coke, Concho, Crane, Crockett, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Kimble, Loving, McCulloch, Martin, Mason, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Ward, Winkler

• Public Health Region 10: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio

• Public Health Region 11: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Duval, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata

• COG 1: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Wheeler

• COG 2: Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Terry, Yoakum

• COG 3: Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger, Young

• COG 4: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise

• COG 5: Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River, Titus

• COG 6: Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood

• COG 7: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Kent, Knox, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor, Throckmorton

• COG 8: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio

• COG 9: Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler

• COG 10: Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, McCulloch, Mason, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Tom Green

• COG 11: Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, McLennan

• COG 12: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis, Williamson

• COG 13: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, Washington

• COG 14: Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler

• COG 15: Hardin, Jefferson, Orange

• COG 16: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, Wharton

• COG 17: Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Victoria

• COG 18: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Wilson

• COG 19: Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, Zapata

• COG 20: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio

• COG 21: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy

• COG 22: Cooke, Fannin, Grayson

• COG 23: Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills, San Saba

• COG 24: Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Zavala

• 32 La Paz Border Counties: Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kinney, La Salle, McMullen, Maverick, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, Zavala (This is the federal designation of the La Paz border region consisting of 32 counties either touching the US - Mexico border or touching a county on the border)

• 15 Immediate Border Counties: Brewster, Cameron, El Paso, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Starr, Terrell, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata (These are the 14 counties touching the border, plus Willacy)

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The "Primary Statistic" (numerical outcome) is the basic type of number in a Vitalnet table. It is best understood by looking at the examples below.

Pregnancies - The number of reported pregnancy outcomes (live births, fetal deaths, and abortions).

Pregnancy Rate per 1,000 Total - Pregnancies per 1,000 total population.

Pregnancy Rate per 1,000 Women - Pregnancies per 1,000 female population.

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Definition - A "confidence interval" is a range of values within which the true value of a variable is thought to lie, with a certain degree of confidence (80%, 90%, 95%, etc). A "confidence level" is the degree of confidence, such as 95%.

Selection - A larger percentage (such as 99%) is more stringent than a smaller percentage (such as 80%). Use 95% if you are unsure.

Interpretation - The smaller the interval, the more reliable the result. Two results that overlap at the 95% level are less likely to be significantly different than results which don't overlap.

Methods - The method Vitalnet uses to calculate confidence intervals depends on the context. The method is listed in the footnotes to the table.

Z * Rate / Sqrt (Events) - This method is recommended by the NCHS. Technical Appendix of the Vital Statistics of the United States, Vol II, Mortality, Part A

Poisson distribution - This method is valid if events are relatively rare, which usually applies to health events. Scientific Tables, Diem and Lentner (ed), Giegy, 1970, page 189.

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Events	Lo Factor	Hi Factor	Events	Lo Factor	Hi Factor	Events	Lo Factor	Hi Factor
1	0.025318	5.571647	70	0.779549	1.263440	4,000	0.969250	1.031230
2	0.121104	3.612346	80	0.792938	1.244587	5,000	0.972473	1.027911
3	0.206224	2.922426	90	0.804118	1.229170	6,000	0.974857	1.025464
4	0.272466	2.560398	100	0.813640	1.216268	7,000	0.976711	1.023564
5	0.324697	2.333667	200	0.866209	1.143395	8,000	0.978207	1.022034
6	0.366982	2.176580	300	0.890041	1.116362	9,000	0.979446	1.020767
7	0.402052	2.060382	400	0.904401	1.100401	10,000	0.980496	1.019696
8	0.431729	1.970399	500	0.914267	1.089575	20,000	0.986189	1.013907
9	0.457263	1.898312	600	0.921584	1.081617	30,000	0.988716	1.011348
10	0.479539	1.839036	700	0.927291	1.075453	40,000	0.990224	1.009824
20	0.610826	1.544419	800	0.931904	1.070497	50,000	0.991254	1.008785
30	0.674696	1.427562	900	0.935734	1.066400	60,000	0.992014	1.008018
40	0.714415	1.361716	1,000	0.938980	1.062941	70,000	0.992606	1.007422
50	0.742219	1.318376	2,000	0.956653	1.044307	80,000	0.993082	1.006942
60	0.763105	1.287198	3,000	0.964536	1.036105	90,000	0.993477	1.006544

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VitalWeb Standard uses data from authoritative sources.

Pregnancy data - All Texas birth, fetal death, and abortion data were provided by the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health.

Population data - Pre-1990 population data are from the Center for Health Statistics, Texas Department of Health. Population data for 1990 and subsequent years are from the State Population Center at Texas A&M.

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• Bureau of Vital Statistics - Texas Department of State Health Services
• Center for Health Statistics - Texas Department of State Health Services

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For additional assistance with analyzing and interpreting the data, contact:

• Population data - Center for Health Statistics - 512-458-7261
• Pregnancy data - Bureau of Vital Statistics - 512-458-7692
• Pregnancy data - Center for Health Statistics - 512-458-7261

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Trademarks - "Discover the future of health data", "We care about your health data", Birtha, Epidemic, Epigram, Medtrend, Multicod, Oncogram, Poptrend, Pregdata, Vitalnet, VitalPro, VitalPro for Unix/Windows, VitalPro for Windows, VitalWeb, VitalWeb Standard, and VitalWeb Wizard are trademarks of Expert Health Data Programming, Inc. (EHDP). Vitalnet^® and VitalWeb^® are registered trademarks.

Other copyright owners - Vitalnet uses the GD graphics library, and the Ploticus data display engine, under the terms of the copyright owners. GD and Ploticus source code are freely available.

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