Reliability of Birth Certificate Data: A Multi-Hospital Comparison to Medical Records Information

Authors: DiGiuseppe D.L.¹; Aron D.C.²; Ranbom L.³; Harper D.L.⁴; Rosenthal G.E.⁵

Source: Maternal and Child Health Journal, Volume 6, Number 3, September 2002 , pp. 169-179(11)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Objective: To examine the reliability of birth certificate data and determine if reliability differs between teaching and nonteaching hospitals. Methods: We compared information from birth certificates and medical records in 33,616 women admitted for labor and delivery in 1993–95 to 20 hospitals in Northeast Ohio. Analyses determined the agreement for 36 common data elements, and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of birth certificate data, using medical record data as a “gold standard.” Results: Sensitivity and positive predictive value varied widely (9–100% and 2–100%, respectively), as did agreement, which was “almost perfect” for measures of prior obstetrical history, delivery type, and infant Apgar score ( = 0.854–0.969) and “substantial” for several other variables (e.g., tobacco use ( = 0.766), gestational age ( = 0.726), prenatal care ( = 0.671)). However, agreement was only “slight” to “moderate” for most maternal risk factors and comorbidities ( = 0.085–0.545) and for several complications of pregnancy and/or labor and delivery ( = 0.285–0.734). Overall agreement was similar in teaching (mean = 0.51) and nonteaching ( = 0.52) hospitals. Although agreement in teaching and nonteaching hospitals varied for some variables, no systematic differences were seen across types of variables. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the reliability of birth certificate data vary for specific elements. Researchers and health policymakers need to be cognizant of the potential limitations of specific data elements.

Keywords: birth certificate; medical record; reliability

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 2: Division of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Care Research, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 3: Bureau of Medicaid Policy, Ohio Department of Human Services, Columbus, Ohio 4: Quality Information Management Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio 5: Program for Interdisciplinary Research in Health Care Organization, Iowa City VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City Iowa; gary-rosenthal@uio

Publication date: 2002-09-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Obstetrics & Gynecology ,  Pediatrics ,  Public Health
• By this author: DiGiuseppe D.L. ;  Aron D.C. ;  Ranbom L. ;  Harper D.L. ;  Rosenthal G.E.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers