IF FEMALE

The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics recommended all states add this question to their death certificates. Arkansas added this question in 2008.

If deceased was male, leave this item blank.

If female, do not leave blank. Complete this item for ALL FEMALES OF ALL AGES (not just those in their childbearing years.) Exception: If the cause or manner of death is “Pending”, Item 24 may be added later when the investigation is complete. Add the missing information to the same form used to add the missing cause or manner of death.

Answer “Unknown” only if the medical certifier was unable to determine if the deceased was pregnant at the time of death or had been pregnant within the past year. If the medical certifier leaves this item blank, the funeral home or county registrar should not assume the answer is “unknown.” Instead, the medical certifier should be contacted for the missing information.

If the medical certifier does not know the female’s pregnancy history, but she was obviously too young or too old to have been pregnant in the past year, instead of “Unknown” check “Not pregnant within the past year”.