Statistical Services

Overview

Statistical Services was created to inform public health policy and guide disease prevention through the analysis of vital record and health survey data. Annual reports and special topic statistical briefs are published on topics related to vital statistics, chronic disease, health behavior, fatal drug overdoses, behavioral risk, tobacco, and injury statistics. There are three main units within Statistical Services, which are explained below.

​Data Management Unit

The Data Management Unit includes a team of programmer analysts who help maintain data collected via the HSC's two main surveillance systems.  The Vital Statistics System (VSS) is the name of the surveillance system the HSC uses for all vital event data. The two most commonly used VSS data sources are birth certificates and death certificates. The BRFSS surveillance system is described below.  More information on the VSS and the HSC's annual Vital Statistics reports are available here.

Division of Behavioral Surveillance

The Division of Behavioral Surveillance is responsible for running the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Program.  The BRFSS is an annual statewide telephone surveillance system designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BRFSS monitors risk behaviors and other factors contributing to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. More than 6,000 West Virginia non-institutionalized adults are interviewed annually. More information on the survey and the HSC's annual BRFSS reports are available here.

Epidemiology Division

The HSC has a team of epidemiologists who analyze the VSS and BRFSS datasets and produce state and county level health statistics and help improve the health of West Virginia communities through the analysis of health-related data. This research and analysis of health-related factors in West Virginia, and the resulting health statistics, help public health professionals allocate resources and design prevention and intervention programs to improve the health of the State.​