DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

All Mentioned Causes of Death	All causes of death mentioned on the death certificate, whether underlying or associated.  All mentioned causes are also referred to as “multiple causes of death.”

Apgar Score				A summary indicator for evaluating the health of a newborn infant, the score ranges from 0 (very 
poor) to 10 (excellent).  It is assigned by the delivery room personnel one minute and five minutes after birth.

Associated Cause of Death		Condition other than the underlying cause of death which may have contributed to the death.

Birth Order				Number of live births to the mother of the newborn, including this birth.

Birthweight				Weight of fetus or infant at time of delivery (normally measured in grams).

Fetal Death				Death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception; 
the fetus shows no signs of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.  Fetal deaths of at least 20 weeks of gestation must be reported on the “Fetal Death Report”.  Fetal deaths of less than 20 weeks gestation are reported on the “Monthly Miscarriage Report Register” or individual “Report of Miscarriage”.

Gestation				Unless otherwise noted, clinical assessment of the number of weeks since conception.

Hospital				A licensed acute care health facility with permanent inpatient beds offering facilities and services 
for the diagnosis and treatment of illness, injury and deformity for a continuing period of time.  A hospital has an organized medical staff and offers continuous 24 hour professional nursing care and emergency treatment.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS (Continued)

Induced Abortion			Induced abortion means the intentional interruption of a pregnancy by the application of external 
agents, whether chemical or physical, or the ingestion of chemical agents with an intention other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus.  All induced abortions are required to be reported on the “Report of Induced Abortion,” regardless of the length of gestation.

Infant Death				Death occurring to a live born infant less than one year of age.

Intermediate Care Facility		A licensed nursing home that provides permanent facilities, including inpatient beds and nursing 
care to residents who do not require hospital care but are dependent on others for fulfilling the requirements of daily living.  Permanent facilities include three or more inpatient beds, health related services, and licensed nursing supervision (8 hours per day).

Live Birth				A live birth is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, 
irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.

Maternal Deaths			Those deaths of women wherein the physician has designated a maternal condition as the 
underlying cause of death.

Minor Civil Division			In Maine, minor civil divisions are generally areas defined as cities, towns, plantations, and 
unorganized townships.

Multiple Causes of Death		All causes of death mentioned on the death certificate, whether underlying or associated.  
Multiple causes are also referred to as “all mentioned causes”.

Neonatal Death			Death occurring to a live born infant before completing 27 days of life.

Occurrence				Refers to data tabulated by place the event occurred.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS (Continued)

Out-of-Wedlock Birth			Births in which the mother was not married either at the time of conception or at the time of 
delivery.

Perinatal Death			Fetal deaths of at least 20 weeks gestation and all neonatal deaths.

Postneonatal Death			Death occurring to a live born infant between the ages of 28 days and 364 days, inclusive.

Race					Race of mother, father, or decedent is as stated on certificate.

Residence				Refers to data tabulated by usual place of residence of the person to whom the event occurred.  
For births, fetal deaths, and abortions, residence is defined as the mother’s place of residence.
	
Site of Birth				Hospital or type of non-hospital site (e.g. home, on way to hospital, out-patient facility) where 
birth occurred.

Site of Death				Hospital or type of non-hospital site (e.g. home, on way to hospital, nursing home) where death 
occurred.

Skilled Nursing Facility		A licensed nursing home that provides permanent facilities, including inpatient beds and nursing 
care to residents who do not require hospital care but are dependent on others for fulfilling the requirements of daily living.  Permanent facilities include three or more inpatient beds, medical services, continuous skilled nursing services and health-related services, diagnosis and treatment.

Spontaneous Abortion			A termination of pregnancy, at less than 20 weeks gestation, through natural causes and without 
the aid of mechanical or medicinal agents.

Underlying Cause of Death		That condition giving rise to the chain of morbid events leading to death, or the circumstances of 
the accident or violence that produced the fatal injury.  For this report, underlying causes are selected through processing of death certificate data by the ACME and TRANSAX computer programs (see Technical Notes).

DEFINITIONS OF RATES*

Age-Specific		=	         Resident Deaths in Specific Age Group        X	   100,000
  Death Rate			Total Resident Population in Specific Age Group

Birth Rate		=	    Resident Live Births     			        X	    1,000
            						Total Resident Population

Cause-Specific	=	         Resident Deaths from Specific Cause           X	   100,000
  Death Rate			                  Total Resident Population

Death Rate		=	       Resident Deaths        			        X	    1,000
            						Total Resident Population

Divorce Rate		=	           Divorces                			        X	    1,000
            						Total Resident Population

Fetal Death 		=	                  Resident Fetal Deaths          	        X	    1,000
     Rate			Total Resident Live Births and Resident
					                        Fetal Deaths

Infant Death 		=	      Resident Infant Deaths   			        X	    1,000
      Rate			    Total Resident Live Births

Marriage 		=	        Marriages Performed      		        X	    1,000
    Rate				    Total Resident Population

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*Event denominators for rates are registered totals for the calendar year.
  Population denominators are mid-calendar year estimates.

DEFINITIONS OF RATES* (Continued)

Maternal Death 	=	      Resident Maternal Deaths   		        X	   10,000
      Rate			     Total Resident Live Births

Neonatal Death 	=	      Resident Neonatal Deaths   		        X	     1,000
      Rate			     Total Resident Live Births

Perinatal Death 	=	Resident Fetal Deaths and Neonatal Deaths	         X     1,000
       Rate			Total Resident Fetal Deaths and Live Births

Postneonatal 		=	      Resident Postneonatal Deaths   		        X	     1,000
 Death Rate			         Total Resident Live Births

Sex-Specific 		=	        Resident Deaths of Indicated Sex       	         X   100,000
 Death Rate			Total Resident Population of Indicated Sex

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*Event denominators for rates are registered totals for the calendar year.
  Population denominators are mid-calendar year estimates.