American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 154, No. 10 : 883-888
Copyright © 2001 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
PRACTICE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY |
Validity of Birth Certificate Data for the Outcome of the Previous Pregnancy, Georgia, 1980–1995
From the World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Perinatal Care and Health Services Research in Maternal Child Health, Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
The author evaluated the validity of four historically based variables collected on Georgia birth certificates: outcome of preceding pregnancy, history of delivery of a low- (<2,500 g) or high- (>4,000 g) birth-weight infant, and death of the baby resulting from the preceding pregnancy. Data were derived from birth and fetal death certificates that were linked for the first and second deliveries of 231,075 women in Georgia from 1980 through 1995. Deaths that occurred during the infant's first year of life were also linked to the birth certificate. For all but the survival variable, the outcome of the first birth as reported on the certificate for the second birth was compared with the outcome recorded on the certificate for the first birth, which was assumed to be correct. Except for ascertainment of death of the firstborn infant, sensitivities for the history of poor outcomes were low. Furthermore, sensitivities were higher when an extremely adverse outcome occurred in the first pregnancy or an adverse outcome recurred. The only high sensitivity was for past infant death (85.4%). These results suggest caution when using these variables to identify high-risk subsets for further research or control for confounding.
birth certificates; sensitivity; specificity
Abbreviations: HBW, high birth weight (>4,000 g); LBW, low birth weight (<2,500 g); PVN, predictive value negative; PVP, predictive value positive; RR, relative risk
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  B. Luke and M. B. Brown The Changing Risk of Infant Mortality by Gestation, Plurality, and Race: 1989-1991 Versus 1999-2001 Pediatrics, December 1, 2006; 118(6): 2488 - 2497. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Gilbreath and P. H. Kass Adverse Birth Outcomes Associated with Open Dumpsites in Alaska Native Villages Am. J. Epidemiol., September 15, 2006; 164(6): 518 - 528. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. K. Finch The Starting Gate: Birth Weight and Life Chances Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, December 1, 2005; 30(6): 1178 - 1182. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. R. Petrini, W. M. Callaghan, M. Klebanoff, N. S. Green, E. M. Lackritz, J. L. Howse, R. H. Schwarz, and K. Damus Estimated Effect of 17 Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate on Preterm Birth in the United States Obstet. Gynecol., February 1, 2005; 105(2): 267 - 272. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. S. Kirby Invited Commentary: Using Vital Statistics Databases for Perinatal Epidemiology: Does the Quality Go In Before the Name Goes On? Am. J. Epidemiol., November 15, 2001; 154(10): 889 - 890. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|