Which of the following are considered key vital statistics?

• A. Attack rate and morbidity rate
• B. Incidence and prevalence rate
• C. Maternal mortality rate and fetal death rate
• D. Relative risk

Answer: (C)

Vital statistics are population indicators that track births and deaths over time. Maternal mortality rate and fetal death rate fit this category because they summarize outcomes related to pregnancy and childbirth and are routinely collected to monitor maternal and perinatal health at the population level. These rates help assess health care quality, access, and the impact of public health interventions. In contrast, attack rate and morbidity rate describe disease occurrence in an outbreak or population context; incidence and prevalence describe how often a disease occurs over time but are not vital events; and relative risk is a measure of association between an exposure and an outcome. Thus, maternal mortality rate and fetal death rate are the key vital statistics.