Minor civil
division (MCD) data contained in vital statistics data files, and reports
developed from the files, are based upon the information supplied to the
department in the course of registering vital events. Special studies of
MCD data quality revealed that there are inaccuracies in these
data. The degree of inaccuracy encountered is as high as 25
percent. Any use of these data, especially for comparisons across
MCD's, may be affected by inaccurate reporting. The most common
mis-allocation error occurs with smaller cities or villages, surrounded
by township. People providing information for the vital record
stipulate that the subject of the vital record or the descendent lives
in a city, rather than in a township which was their actual
residence. This is usually because the subjects post office
address is the city. When rates are calculated from these data
differ substantially from state or county rates, the analyst
should determine if events were allocated to the proper MCD. The analyst
should contact DVR/HSU for assistance in this task.
Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, MDCH |