Chapter 1
                                 Introduction

This CD-ROM documentation was prepared in the Division of Vital Statistics.
Manju Sharma of the Systems and Programming Branch was responsible for
developing the natality documentation and for providing all of the computer
programming services necessary to keep it up-to-date.  T.J. Mathews of the
Natality, Marriage, and Divorce Statistics Branch prepared the Technical
Appendix.  The Registration Methods Branch and the Technical Services
Branch provided consultation to State Vital Statistics offices regarding
collection of birth certificate data.

Questions on the documentation or general questions concerning the
natality file should be directed to the Systems and Programming Branch,
Division of vital Statistics, NCHS, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 840, Hyattsville, 
Md. 20782  (301-436-8900).

Quesions concerning the Technical Appendix or substantive questions
concerning the natality data should be directed to the Natality, Marriage,
and Divorce Statistics Branch, Division of Vital Statistics, NCHS, 6525
Belcrest Road, Room 840, Hyattsville, Md. 20782 (301-436-8954).































                              intro.doc - Page 1