The Vital Registration origin focusing some of the legislative aspects in Brazil was studied, pointing out some of the implications that this legislation carries to the vital statistics and to health planning and epidemiology. Under the subjetc of birth, emphasis was given to the matter registration by place of ocurrence, wich has influence in the infant-maternal health programming. Under the subject of desease, registration by place of ocurrence, cause of death and under registration were studied. Referring to the still born, the definitions of live-birth and still-birth given by the World Health Organization were emphasized and poiting out misusage, which carries problems into the Law and vital statistics fields. Some recommendations were pointed such as better relationship among the several professionals - legislators, physicians, public-notaries, health-staticicians - that somehow are involved with vital events.
Vital Statistics; Civil Registration; Legislation; Mortality; Birth-rate
