The Canadian Birth Data Base: a new research tool to study reproductive outcomes.

A new tool for epidemiological, demographic, and genetic research--the Canadian Birth Data Base-is being developed at Statistics Canada. Over a million live birth and stillbirth records for the period 1987-89 received from all provincial and territorial offices of vital statistics are being processed in a form suitable for linkage with other files. Maternal, child health, occupational, and environmental concerns, as well as some of the consequences and possible risks involved in new reproductive technologies, could be investigated. Associations between socio-economic indicators (e.g., parental income, education, and occupation) and unfavourable birth outcomes could also be studied in the future. Approved statistical studies can be carried out within Statistics Canada on a cost-recovery basis. It is planned to update the data base annually.