The quality of the new birth certificate data: a validation study in North Carolina

A random sample of 395 December 1989 North Carolina birth certificates and the corresponding maternal hospital medical records were examined to validate selected items. Reporting was very accurate for birthweight, Apgar score, and method of delivery; fair to good for tobacco use, prenatal care, weight gain during pregnancy, obstetrical procedures, and events of labor and delivery; and poor for medical history and alcohol use. This study suggests that many of the new birth certificate items will support valid aggregate analyses for maternal and child health research and evaluation.
Three hundred ninety-five North Carolina birth certificates from Dec 1989 were selected randomly for review. They were compared with the corresponding hospital records from the delivery. The purpose of the review was to verify the accuracy of the birth certificates, especially of the new items many states require. Information regarding birthweight, Apgar score and method of delivery was found to be very accurate. Reporting on mother's tobacco use, prenatal care, weight gain during pregnancy, obstetrical procedures and the events of labor and delivery was deemed to be fair to good. However, data regarding medical history and alcohol use were poor. Study results indicates that many of the items included on new birth certificates will provide valid tools for the evaluation of mother and child health studies.