DATA FILE CHARACTERISTICS

Each record on the annual data file contains two multiple cause-of-death 
fields which have been coded using ICD-9.  In addition, underlying cause, 
demographic, and geographic detail data accompany the multiple cause-of-death
data.  The data file contains the complete level of detail coded by NCHS 
except where precluded by confidentiality restrictions or lack of data 
reliability.

Specifications for the 1995 data file are as follows:

Record count:               2,315,251
Record Length:              359
Data Counts:                a. By occurrence:            2,315,251
                            b. By residence:             2,312,132
                            c. To foreign residents:         3,119




PUERTO RICO, VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND GUAM DATA SET:

  1. Record count:                                          31,483


PUERTO RICO:

  2. Data counts:           a. By occurrence:               30,198
                            b. By residence:                30,032
                                            

VIRGIN ISLANDS

  2. Data counts:           a. By occurrence:                  661
                            b. By residence:                   664


GUAM:

  2. Data counts:           a. By occurrence:                  624
                            b. By residence:                   592














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