Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Population Statistics Department

Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Lamačská cesta 3/C

840 05 Bratislava 45

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Data on causes of death (COD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.

COD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".

Causes of death are classified by the 86 causes of the "European shortlist" of causes of death. This shortlist is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).

CoD data are derived from death certificates. The information provided in the medical certificate of cause of death is mapped to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).

Data are broken down by sex, age, underlying cause of death, country/area code of residence of deceased person, country/area code of occurrence of death and by place of occurrence for external causes. Stillbirths and neonatal deaths are additionally broken down by age of mother and parity. Data are provided to ESTAT at the NUTS 2 level.

Eurostat's CoD statistics build on standards set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD). The regional breakdown is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS 2).

Public Health.

Demography Statistics (i. e. data on deaths and stillbirths collected, processed, published and provided by the Statistical Office of the SR).

There is no discrepancy between the definitions from the regulation and the definitions used by the Statistical Office of the SR for the statistics of deaths and causes of deaths.

According to the national definition, the usual residence means the permanent residence; it complies with the international definition of usual residence in that it is the place of legal or registered residence. Permanent residence is person´s permanent place of abode. It is municipality in which citizen of the Slovak Republic, or foreign citizen stays according to official registration, i.e. signing up for permanent residence (Act. No. 500/2004 Coll. and Act. No. 48/2002 Coll. in wording of later regulations).

National definition used for stillbirths

• A stillborn child means a child who did not show any signs of life at any time after being born. The signs of life at birth: breathing, beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or active movement of muscles (though the umbilical cord has not been cut or the placenta has not been born).

What are the characteristics that you collect (gestational age, weight, crown-heel)?

For stillbirths, data collection is limited to the following groups: 

• birth weight from 500 g to 999 g or when birth weight does not apply gestational age from 22 to 27 completed weeks, or when neither of the two applies crown-heel length from 25 to 34 cm; and
• birth weight of 1 000 g and more or when birth weight does not apply gestational age after 27 completed weeks or when neither of the two applies crown-heel length of 35 cm or more.

The statistical unit is the deceased person and the stillborns, respectively.

Neonates of non-resident mothers are not considered residents of the Slovak Republic.
Demography statistics (including death statistics and birth statistics), produced and published by the Statistical Office of the SR, cover only the population with a permanent residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic (i. e. SR citizens and EU citizens registered for permanent residence in the SR and third-country citizens who were granted permanent residence permit in the SR). However, data for non-residents who have died in the territory of the Slovak Republic are exhaustively collected too: they are available in the internal statistical database on deaths and the Statistical Office of the SR provides these data for the ´CoD´ questionnaire (but not for ´DEM´ questionnaires !).  

The source of data on deaths of SR citizens with permanent residence in the SR that took place abroad is the Special Civil Register (i. e. the register of birth, marriage and death of citizens of the Slovak Republic, which occurred outside the Slovak Republic). In the vast majority of cases, the cause of death is R99.

Neonates of non-resident mothers are not considered residents of the Slovak Republic. (They are considered by the place of residence of the mother).

Demography statistics (including death statistics) produced by the Statistical Office of the SR cover only the population with a permanent residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic (i.e. SR citizens and EU citizens registered on permanent residence in the SR and third country nationals who were granted permanent residence permit in the SR). However, data for non-residents who have died in the territory of the Slovak Republic are exhaustively collected too: they are available in the statistical databases, and the Statistical Office of the SR provides data for non-residents for the ´CoD´ questionnaire (but not for ´DEM´ questionnaires !). Data on deaths of residents as well as of non-residents are collected by means of statistical reports OBYV 3-12 (´Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death´) – i.e. statistical reports OBYV 3-12 are the source of statistical data on deaths of residents / non-residents. Data on stillbirths to resident mothers as well as to non-resident mothers are collected by means of statistical reports OBYV 2-12 (´Statistical Report on Birth´) – i.e. statistical reports OBYV 2-12 are the source of statistical data on stillbirths to resident mothers / non-resident mothers.

The residents of Slovak citizenship who have died abroad are included in the death statistics and the basic characteristics (e. g. sex, age, date of death, location of death, marital status, place of residence in the SR) are available. The reporting unit: Special Civil Register (i. e. the register of birth, marriage and death of citizens of the Slovak Republic, which occurred outside the SR). In the vast majority of cases, the cause of death is R99.

Slovak Republic.

Data on deaths refer to the national (NUTS 1) and regional (NUTS 2) territorial levels.

Data requested according to the Implementing Regulation No. 328/2011 are available since 2011.

National data on residents are available since 1919.

Not applicable.

The unit is number.

Data refer to the calendar year (i. e. all deaths occurring during the year).

Countries submitted data to Eurostat on the basis of a gentleman's agreement established in the framework Eurostat's Working Group on "Public Health Statistics" until data with reference year 2010. The first data submitted according to the Regulation (EU) No 328/2011 is data with reference year 2011.
A Regulation on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work (EC) No 1338/2008 was signed by the European Parliament and the Council on 16 December 2008. This Regulation is the framework of the data collection on the domain.
Within the context of this framework Regulation, a Regulation on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work, as regards statistics on causes of death (EU) No 328/2011 was signed by the European Parliament and the Council on 5 April 2011.

The Statistical Office of the SR (´SO SR´) collects, processes and disseminates statistical outputs in accordance with the Act on State Statistics (Act No. 540/2001 Coll., as amended; full version published by Act No. 298/2010 Coll.), which:

• Establishes that statistical survey is directed by the Programme of State Statistical Surveys compiled by the SO SR in coordination with the ministries and state institutions for a three-year period;
• Determines that SO SR, ministries and state organizations are independent and impartial in obtaining, processing and evaluating statistical information;
• Obliges the SO SR to regularly inform the public about the socio-economic and demographic development, to provide statistical information and publish statistical publications;
• Defines the obligation of secrecy and confidential data protection. Confidential data may not be disclosed or communicated to anyone or used for other than statistical purposes without the consent of the legal or natural persons who provided them and to which they relate.

In general, the Statistical Office provides information and information services in accordance with the Act of NC SR No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics, as amended. According to the Act (§ 31 Provision of Statistical Information):

• The Statistical Office shall provide statistical information free of charge to:
  • the President of the Slovak Republic;
  • the National Council of the Slovak Republic;
  • the Slovak Government;
  • the ministries, other central state administration authorities, the National Bank of Slovakia, legal entities established by law as public institutions, the Slovak Intelligence Service, local state administration bodies, local self-governing bodies, central bodies of trade unions and employer’s unions and associations; and
  • Eurostat,

within the agreed scope, deadlines and frequency.

• Other international bodies and organisations shall be provided with statistical information free of charge, in the event of the reciprocal exchange of data or if so stipulated in an international treaty binding for the Slovak Republic. Otherwise, when providing statistical information abroad, the procedure pursuant to paragraph 4 shall apply.
• Except for the cases listed in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Office shall be entitled to provide statistical information acquired through statistical surveys to anybody upon request for the price agreed in compliance with the price regulations.
• The ministries and State agencies shall provide international bodies and organisations with the statistical information disclosed by the Office. If a ministry or State agency provides other statistical information, they shall inform the Office thereof.
• The bodies compiling State statistics may exchange statistical information acquired on the basis of the Programme of State Statistical Surveys free of charge.

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§ 30 (4) of the Act on State Statistics:

The bodies compiling State statistics may provide confidential statistical data for research purposes to legal entities or researchers whose basic mission is to carry out scientific research and if the legal entity to which such data are provided ensures conditions for their protection. The data shall be provided in a form that does not enable the direct identification of the legal entity or natural person to whom the provided data refer.

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The Programme of State Statistical Surveys is a generally binding legal act compiled by the Statistical Office of the SR in cooperation with ministries, other government authorities and state organizations. It contains the list of statistical surveys which are organized and executed by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, ministries, other government authorities and state organizations. The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic issues the Programme of State Statistical Surveys in the form of a decree published in the Collection of Legal Acts of the Slovak Republic.

The results of statistical surveys provide information for the purposes of state administration and public administration, regional planning, to ensure the needs of the information system of the Statistical Office of the SR, the requirements of the European Statistical System and international organizations.

All data released at the Internet portal of the Statistical Office of the SR (SO SR) including the databases DATAcube and STATdat are free of charge. Data processed by individual requirements of customers (tailored to needs) and retrievals from non-public databases of the Office are available for payment. Requests for the statistical information can be sent to the Information service of the SO SR (info@statistics.sk)

Handling statistical data must comply with the legislation on the protection of personal and confidential data.

Research institutions, especially

1. Universities and other higher education organizations;
2. Organizations or research institutions.

may have granted access to the confidential statistical data for scientific purposes. PhD students as well as researchers should request for the data via the research institution whose employees they are. Statistical Office of the SR shall provide access to the confidential statistical data either by sending data to research institutions or allowing access to Safe centre of the SO SR.

The Statistical Office of the SR provides statistical data and outputs in the form that details on persons cannot be directly or indirectly identified.

Links:

• National Statistical System;
• Policy on Dissemination of Statistical Information of the SO SR;
• Principles of Release and Provision of Statistical Information.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Regulation (EU) 2015/759 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 on European statistics:

• National legislation:
  • Law Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics, as amended, defines the obligation of secrecy and confidential data protection. Confidential data may not be disclosed or communicated to anyone or used for other than statistical purposes without the consent of the legal or natural persons who provided them and to which they relate. Part five ´Dissemination of statistical information´ / ´Obligation to Maintain Confidentiality and Confidential Statistical Data Protection´ — § 29, § 30;
  • Law Act No. 18/2018 Coll. on personal data protection and on the amendment of certain other acts, as amended;
  • Law No. 373/2021 Coll., supplementing Act No. 18/2018 Coll.
• Internal legislation of the Statistical Office of the SR:
  • Directive on the protection of confidential statistical data (SME/10-2023);
  • Protection of personal data within the scope of the Statistical Office of the SR (Directive);
  • Conditions for granting access to confidential statistical data for scientific purposes.

Generally, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic provide / publish statistical data and information without direct identifiers in such a form that the data provided to the applicants could not be directly or indirectly identified (i. e. it applies the active protection for all reporting units).

Microdata are provided under special conditions. Any requirement for disclosure of microdata is considered separately by the highest management of the Statistical Office. Access to microdata is provided either by sending confidentional data to research institutions, or through the Safe centrum. The Safe Centre is a secured room that is supervised and where researchers can analyse data on a computer with the necessary data analysis software installed (Microsoft Excel, SAS, etc.). This computer is not connected to the Internet, the internal network does not have a functional USB port or a CD driver. It is not possible to export or send micro-data. The SO SR's expert applies the methods of data protection and, subsequently, makes the data available to the researcher – applicant.

Microdata sent to researchers for research purposes are protected in such a way as to minimize the risk of identifying the units, which they relate to, while maintaining as much information value as possible of the microdata.

SO SR shall grant access to the confidential statistical data when

1. Research proposal application form has been correctly filled in and submitted;
2. Contract on providing confidential statistical data for scientific purposes between the research institution and the SO SR, which specifies conditions for access to the data, obligations of the contract parties, measures to ensure statistical confidentiality and penalties for violation of these obligations, was signed;

Every individual researcher working with the data shall comply with the Instructions for handling confidential statistical data for scientific purposes .

Just direct identifiers are removed from microdata available via Safe centre; other statistical disclosure control methods are applied to the researchers’ outputs.  The information loss in microdata is therefore equal to zero, in the outputs it is proportionate to the re-identification risk. Researchers working with the microdata in the Safe centre are led to make such outputs that do not need to be protected (due to no risk of re-identification).

Microdata are sent to research institutions in form of anonymized dataset, i.e. protected such that re-identification risk is minimized and maximum possible information value is preserved.

Microdata available via Safe centre has less information loss than microdata that are sent to research institutions.

Concerning the production and publication of statistics at national level:

The Statistical Office of the SR publishes data in accordance with the First Release Calendar, Publication Release Calendar and with the Schedule for updating the ´DATAcube´public database. Final annual data are released on the SO SR´s web site within 90 days after the end of the reference year (i. e. in March of Y+1) and preliminary monthly data within 60 days after the end of the reference month; the preliminary data for the reference year Y become final in March of Y+1.

Since the year 2020: In connection with the Covid-19 pandemic, the deadline for the processing and providing data on the numbers of deaths has shortened, as follows: the first preliminary numbers of deaths are released (in the DATAcube database) within 20 days after the end of the reference month, in the breakdown by week of death, age group and sex; the period of the release of preliminary monthly numbers of deaths has reduced from 60 to 30 days after the end of the reference month and, in addition, they have a more detailed structure (i. e. by age, sex and cause of death).

Release dates of online publications and information reports containing also COD data:

• Information reports on the latest development of mortality in the Slovak Republic and in its regions (i. e. monthly death figures by selected ICD-10 Chapters are compared with the monthly averages for the previous 5 years not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic): monthly;
• Statistical Yearbook of the Slovak Republic: January;
• ´WE IN NUMBERS – Population Change´: March;
• The Population Change in the SR (´Source Publication´) – including time series of data on deaths by selected causes of deaths in the SR and its regions, districts and urban municipalities, as well as by detailed list of causes of death in the SR): June;
• ´STATISTICS IN CONTEXTS´ edition – i. e. the analytical publication describing main trends of demographic phenomena in the SR (e. g. ´Main trends of the development of mortality in the SR, 2020´): October.

Concerning death statistics at national level:

• Information Reports Catalogue;
• News;
• Publications.

The release and provision of statistical information is conducted in compliance with the Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics, as amended. It has to fulfil the criteria of the European Statistics Code of Practice (timeliness, accuracy, reliability, relevance, clarity, impartiality, objectivity, professional independence, cost-effectiveness).

The general data release policy of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic:

• Policy on Dissemination of Statistical Information of the SO SR;
• Principles of Release and Provision of Statistical Information.

Annual.

Dissemination at national level is made in line with 8.1 Release calendar.

Online, on the SO SR website: News ; Demography – deaths and causes of deaths in the SR in the year 2023.

Online, on the SO SR website: Publications.

See also 8.1. Release calendar.

• The DATAcube database: DATAcube - EN/SK. It contains multidimensional tables (cubes) with time series. Users can carry out their own selections. 
• The STATdat database: STATdat - EN/SK

Examples of the tables (DATAcube):

• Deaths by Causes of Death, Sex and Permanent Residence - SR-Area-Reg-District, U-R [om7035rr].
• Deaths by Causes of Death Age and Sex - SR-Reg-District [om7036rr].
• Deaths by Month of Death, Age, Sex and Causes of Death - SR-Area-Reg (monthly) [om3801mr].

Generally, national and international data users are interested in statistical data on deaths and CoD produced by the SO SR. Data users can download (for free) statistical data on deaths and CoD from the public web-site of the Statistical Office of the SR (on-line databases and pre-defined cross tables); in case of requests for more detailed data, they can contact, a. o., the Information service of the SO SR. In connection with the Coronavirus pandemic, the SO SR registered more requests for data and metadata on deaths. 

The provision of the anonymised microdata sets for scientific purposes follows the Instructions for handling confidential statistical data for scientific purposes published on the Office’s website in the section Services/Information services.

An applicant who can establish that he/she carries out scientific work and will use the provided data only for the purposes of these activities, shall submit a request in the form of a filled Research proposal application form (available on the Office’s website in the section Services/Information services). After the approval of the request by the managerial board meeting of the Office, the Information Service Unit of the SO SR Central Office draws up the draft terms, ensures the conclusion of the contract with customer and the data provision. Access to the anonymised microdata for scientific purposes is possible also in the Safe-Centrum in the building of the SO SR Central Office on the basis of the concluded contract.

Microdata sent to researchers for research purposes are protected in such a way as to minimize the risk of identifying the units which they relate to while maintaining as much information value as possible of the microdata.

For further details, please see 7.2.

Thematic maps.

Methodological explanations or notes are, as a standard, added to data in all publications / databases. In addition to statistical data on deaths and causes of death, the SO SR provides also relevant metadata to applicants for data.

Changes in methodology are announced in the form of methodological explanations or notes. Methodological notes are included in all population-related publications and databases.

Methodological notes are also here: Metadata, About theme, Glossary.

100%.

• Vision and mission, common shared values and Quality objectives of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic;
• Quality policy of the SO SR;
• Quality declaration of the SO SR;
• Strategic map of the SO SR;
• Quality Reports.

The causes of death data are based on the regulation, which defines scope, definitions of variables and characteristics of the data.

The standards and rules specified in the ICD are followed. 

The system of checks for consistency and completeness of data has been developed. 

The data collection and processing of demographic statistics in the Slovak Republic is conducted in accordance with the Quality management system of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (SO SR). 

The SO SR holds certificates in the area:

• quality management system
• information security management system

The SO SR holds the certificate of the quality management system according to ISO 9001:2015. The compliance of the Quality Management System with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard was confirmed by recertification audit by Bureau Veritas Slovakia in September 2021. The successful audit reaffirmed that the quality management system introduced in the SOSR creates the appropriate conditions for further improvement of the products and services provided to the customers and for the development of the office towards greater efficiency and effectiveness. 

The SO SR holds also the certificate of the information security management system according to ISO/IEC 27001:2013. The compliance of the information security management system with the requirements of the ISO 27001:2013 standard was proved by the first certification audit performed by QSCert in August 2020. The successful certification audit confirmed that the information security management system introduced in the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic creates suitable preconditions for the collection, processing, publication and provision of statistical data and for the development of the Office towards higher information security in order to maintain data confidentiality, availability and integrity.

Data users interested in CoD statistics include: research institutions, state organizations, media, private persons. They contact the Statistical Office SR on the basis of the Act No. 211/2000 Coll. on Free Access to Information, as amended (´The Freedom of Information Act´). Key requests for CoD statistics comprise:

• standard statistical outputs that are already released at the Internet portal of the Statistical Office of the SR;
• more complex outputs that require ad hoc retrievals from non-public databases of the Office.

The number of requests for death and CoD statistics increased in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The aim is to satisfy user needs to the most extent possible while taking into account the protection of personal and confidential data.

User needs are registered in the system of the Statistical Office of the SR (Information Service). They are taken into account in designing dissemination products.

Data are published with a good quality and on a timely basis.

(The satisfaction survey is conducted every two years for all statistical domains. The aim of the surveys is to determine customer satisfaction with the products and services of the SO SR, to obtain information on users, their interest and opinion on the provision and quality of statistical products and services. The facts obtained are a valuable resource for the direction of further activities of the SO SR).

COD data for the Slovak Republic that are transmitted to Eurostat fully meet the content requirements in the respective regulation.

All COD data, on the residents and non-residents who died in the SR, are disseminated to Eurostat.  

The underlying COD is unknown for deaths of SR citizens with permanent residence in the SR that took place abroad (R99 code is assigned).

Unidentified dead bodies are not statistically processed.

The parity and age of mother are not available for neonatal deaths (the data source, i. e. ´Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death´, does not contain this information).

1. For mandatory variables: 100%
2. For voluntary variables:  100%
3. For additional variables:

• External CoD
  
  •  100%.
• Place of occurrence for external CoD
  •  84,1% for the year 2023.

The data related to deaths occurred in the Slovak Republic are fully comprehensive and accurate. The data related to deaths of SR citizens with permanent residence in the SR that occurred abroad are less detailed.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable. Data collection is from administrative sources.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

For statistics at national level: see 8.1. Release calendar.

Not applicable.

For statistics at national level: see 8.1. Release calendar.

The data were transmitted (i.e. actually delivered) before 30 June 2023.

Data are fully comparable.

In 1996, pursuant to the Act of the NC SR No. 221/1996 Coll., the territorial and administrative division of the SR was changed with effect from 1 August 1996, whereby 8 regions and 79 districts were established, replacing the territorial and administrative division of the SR valid until 30 July 1996 (4 regions: Bratislava – the capital city of the SR, Western Slovakia, Central Slovakia and Eastern Slovakia and 38 districts).

The regional breakdown in the regional demographic tables provided to Eurostat is according to the Regulation (EC) No. 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS), which constitutes the legal framework for regional classification for the collection, compilation and dissemination of harmonised regional statistics in the Union.

The Decree No. 438/2004 Coll. of the SO SR, which issues the classification of statistical territorial units, is based on the principles of the international NUTS classification. It regulates the classification of statistical territorial units for the needs of regional statistics, for the provision of comparable regional statistical data within the European Statistical System and for the analytical purposes.

Not applicable.

In the Slovak Republic, data on causes of death have been processed according to the ICD-10 since 1994. In the years 1994 - 2009, a 3-character alphanumeric code was used to code CoD. From the reference year 2010, a 4-character alphanumeric code is in use. In 1996, according to Act No. 221/1996 (Coll.), the territorial and administrative arrangement of the Slovak Republic was changed when 8 regions and 79 districts were created with effect from 1 August 1996. (According to NUTS classification, regions = NUTS 3, districts = NUTS 1). 

Please, see 15.2. For the transmission of CoD microdata to Eurostat, there are no breaks in CoD time series.

Data on deaths and causes of deaths are both obtained by means of the exhaustive monthly statistical survey on deaths, which is conducted by the SO SR in the domain of demographic statistics; data on deaths and CoD are both drawn from the same source - i.e. from individual statistical reports titled: ´The Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death (OBYV 3-12)´. Data on stillbirths are obtained by means of the exhaustive monthly statistical survey on births conducted by the SO SR in the domain of demographic statistics; they are drawn from individual statistical reports titled: ´Statistical Report on Birth (OBYV 2-12)´. The reporting units comprise registry offices (i. e. state authorities in charge of the civil registration of vital events); medical information on deaths and births included in OBYV 3-12 and OBYV 2-12 reports are provided by medical doctors.

Data published by the SO SR: In terms of the reference population, death and birth statistics (likewise the rest of the demographic statistics) cover the whole population of the Slovak Republic, i. e., persons who have permanent residence in the territory of Slovak Republic (i. e. SR citizens, EU citizens registered for permanent residence in the SR and third-country citizens who have been granted a permanent residence permit in the territory of the SR). 

There is no discrepancy between death data and CoD data in terms of the total number of deaths.

Not applicable.

Data published by the SO SR:

Demography statistics (including birth statistics and death statistics) is processed continually, separately for each month and for the whole year. Data produced as a result of continuos monthly statistical processing are preliminary. They are preliminary, because due to possible shifts in the reporting duty by reporting units, some OBYV reports may be delivered to the Statistical Office of the SR with a delay (i. e. not in the month immediately following the month of the occurrence of the vital event, but in one of the following months); as a result, a gap between the date where the vital event took place de facto and the period of its statistical processing can arise. 

Data produced as a result of annual statistical processing after the end of the reference year are final. They are published within 3 months from the end of the reference year (in March – final basic data). 

See also 8.1. Release calendar.

Not applicable.

There are no inconsistencies between the neonates information provided in the General mortality dataset and in the Stillbirths and neonates dataset. 

The cost and burden of the data collection is reduced by using validation and dissemination IT tools.

At present, electronicisation of OBYV 3-12 reporting is being prepared, i. e., fully electronic flow of OBYV 3-12 data: Health Care Surveillance Authority (examining medical doctors, pathologists) - Ministry of Interior (registry offices) - Statistical Office of the SR.

Not applicable.

There is no systematic revision of previous year data.

Not applicable.

Survey: exhaustive monthly demographic survey on deaths and on births (stillbirths).  

Statistics on deaths: ´Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death (OBYV 3-12)´ is the source of the data; registry offices are reporting units. Before submitting the report to the Statistical Office, the registrar checks reliability and completeness of the data filled in by the medical doctor.

Statistics on births (incl. stillbirths): ´Statistical Report on Birth (OBYV 2-12)´ is the data source; registry offices are reporting units. Before sending the report to the Statistical Office, the registrar checks reliability and completeness of the data filled in by the health institution where the child was born.

The continuous exhaustive monthly demographic survey on deaths and on births (stillbirths).

The state statistical survey on deaths and on births (incl. stillbirths) is organised and conducted by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic on the basis of the Programme of State Statistical Surveys. The Programme of State Statistical Surveys is a legislative document imposing the reporting duty concerning all statistical surveys on reporting units according to § 18, article 3 of the Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on Official Statistics, as amended. The aim of the survey is to collect and process data for the purposes of demographic statistics in accordance with the standards of the European Statistical System.

In terms of the method, it is an exhaustive survey with a monthly periodicity, where the reporting units comprise registry offices (i. e. municipal and city authorities in charge of the civil registration of vital events /i. e. they keep birth, marriage and death registers/; there is also the Special Registry Office for the registration of the vital events that occurred to SR citizens abroad).

Main actors – statistics on deaths:

1. The Statistical Office of the SR conducts the state statistical survey on deaths by means of the report ´Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death /OBYV 3-12/´. The OBYV 3-12 report must be completed for each deceased person.
2. Examining medical doctor performs the medical examination of a person's body after death. S/he fills in the basic identification details of the deceased and medical data (e. g. cause of death and respective 4-character alphanumeric code of diagnosis) in the OBYV 3-12 report. S/he can recommend to do autopsy – in that case, pathologist shall fill in the OBYV 3-12 report as well. The examining medical doctor, or pathologist (in the case of autopsy), is required to send (within a defined time period) the completed OBYV 3-12 report to the registry office respective to the place of death of a person. According to the legal regulations, the medical examination of a dead body may be performed only by a medical doctor who has received an authorization from the Health Care Surveillance Authority (HCSA). The criterion for obtaining the authorization is the completion of training for examining medical doctors; the training is led by professionals in that field, i. e., by medical doctors of forensic and pathological-anatomical units of the HCSA.
3. Registry Office – before submitting the OBYV 3-12 report to the Statistical Office of the SR, the civil registrar checks the reliability and completeness of the data filled in by the examining medical doctor / pathologist. The civil registrar fills in the personal and other data necessary for the statistical survey according to the documents submitted, or information given orally, by the survivor or the person arranging the funeral (e. g. marital status and nationality of the deceased, personal identification number of the surviving spouse, etc.).

Registry offices send on a monthly basis the collection of completed OBYV reports for the past reference month to the Statistical Office of the SR for the statistical processing in the Integrated Statistical Information System (ISIS). The Registry offices are obliged to do so no later than the 3^rd calendar day (OBYV 3-12) and no later than the 5^rd calendar day (OBYV 2-12) after the end of the reference month.

The statistical processing of data includes:

• recording and checking data from OBYV reports;
• loading data into the source database;
• production of output tables and other aggregates (e. g. set of tables for the publication in the online public database ´DATAcube´, cross-tables for the demographic yearbook /´source book´/; life tables, tables for POPSTAT etc.).

Table on certification (Percentage)

• Stillbirths
  • The SO SR collects data on stillbirths by means of the ´STATISTICAL REPORT ON BIRTH (Obyv 2-12)´ – this is a regular report used for reporting of all births, including also stillbirths. The SO SR stores data on stillbirths in the statistical database of births, in which there is a variable VITALITY (code 1= live-birth; code 2= stillbirth).
  • There is no special cause of death for stillborn children - the code P95 (Fetal death of unspecified cause) is assigned.     
• Neonates
  • The SO SR collects data on deaths, including deaths of neonates, by means of the ´MEDICAL REPORT AND THE STATISTICAL REPORT ON DEATH (Obyv 3-12)´ – this is a regular report used for reporting of all deaths, including also deaths of neonates.

Within the Integrated Statistical Information System (ISIS), automated checks of accuracy, consistency, and completeness of collected data are running (e. g., cross checks focused on logical relations among particular information according to a detailed technical project for the statistical processing; e. g., CoD are checked against sex and age and against injury codes; reported ICD codes must be valid codes that can be used as underlying cause of death, etc.).

Verified data are stored in the internal statistical database on deaths (microdata).

Description of coding procedure (central level, distributed among other bodies, etc.): determination and coding of causes of deaths is performed by medical doctors trained in the certification/post-mortem examinaton (autopsies). There are fields for both text diagnoses and ICD codes in the OBYV 3-12 report.

Description of the procedures to detect errors (i.e.errors such as potential inconsistency in the death certificate or error due to mistake when filling the deaths certificates):

• If inconsistencies are found, the system gives a warning message. In case of serious errors it is not possible to save the e-form until data corrected. Depending on the type of the error, errors are corrected by statisticians or by consultation with the respective registry office (completing missing information) or with a medical specialist from the National Health Information Center. 
• See also 18.4. Data validation.

Description of the measures taken in order to solve detected errors:  Errors in medical information can be solved e. g. by means of consultation with a medical specialist from the National Health Information Center. 

Coding performed by a certifier: deaths must be coded only by a medical doctor-certifier. They are coded on the basis of ICD-10.

Estimation of the percentage of autopsy from which information is available for coding: 100%.

Description of double coding exercises and rate of codification errors for underlying cause of death: Not available.

ICD codes for the underlying cause (% of the Total)

Unknown country/region (%) for residents and non-residents who died in the country

The demographic survey on deaths is an exhaustive survey; the Statistical Office of the SR registers all deaths occurred in the territory of the Slovak Republic and deaths of the Slovak Republic´s citizens with permanenet residence in the SR that occurred abroad. Unidentified dead bodies are not statistically processed. If a statistical report on death is received after the deadline of the annual data processing, it is included in the next year data.

The results of the statistical survey on deaths / stillbirths are collected monthly. The compilation of statistics (i. e. processing of output tables) is based on the date where deaths / stillbirths occurred de facto, not on the period of their statistical processing.

In case of neonatal deaths (they come from national statistics on deaths; the source of data: ´Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death /OBYV 3-12/´), the parity and age of mother are not available.

In case of stillbirths (they come from national statistics on births; the source of data: ´Statistical Report on Birth /OBYV 2-12/´), the cause of death is not available (´P95´ is assigned to all stillbirths).

Parity represent the number of all births (live births + stillbirths) a woman has had in the past. (Information on the number of live births a woman has had in the past are not available.)

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

No further comments.