The Danish Fertility Database.

BACKGROUND

The Fertility Database (FTDB) in Statistics Denmark is solely based on data from other registers, which comprise data on a different number of birth cohorts and different time spans. The FTDB was established during 1989-1992 in order to provide a better tool for socio-demographic research on the developments in fertility. The variables included also make the register a valuable tool in medical research regarding reproductive outcome and characterization of parents.

RESULTS

Based on the Register of Population Statistics, the FTDB comprises at present annual information on any woman and man in the fertile age in Denmark for the period 1980-1993, approximately 1.2 and 1.4 million persons, respectively. Their children are identified through various registers and for all children born 1973-1993 specific information on the birth was available from the Medical Register of Vital Statistics. The adult populations are described annually as regards education, occupation, income, social benefit and housing conditions.

CONCLUSION

The FTDB has been used in a number of research projects; in some cases data from the FTDB have been linked with data from other registers. The FTDB is a valuable tool in demographic as well as medical research.