Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115926

John Paulson, MS¹, Sandra Solano-McGuire, MD, MS², and Erin Edinger². (1) Vital Statistics, Ohio Department of Health, 246 North High St, 7th floor, Columbus, OH 43266-0588, 614-644-8507, jpaulson@odh.ohio.gov, (2) Health Statistics, Ohio Department of Health, 246 North High Street, 8th Floor, P.O. Box 118, Columbus, OH 43216

Health status measures derived from birth certificates, among the most readily-available and long-standing health indicators, are used to develop interventions and allocate resources. A revision in Ohio's electronic birth certificate surveillance system necessitated a data quality study to ensure that data gathered in the new system closely approximated data gathered in the old system. The study provided an added opportunity to measure several potentially important hospital factors that could influence data quality. The study compared electronically-collected birth certificates to medical records examined by a chart reviewer to assess data quality, and included 700 births during the period January 2003 to May 2004. Twelve different birth certificate elements were examined. In addition, these hospital factors were examined: hospital size, use of data collection worksheets prior to certificate completion, and differing staff assignments for certificate completion. The main statistic used in this analysis is the congruency rate between certificate and medical record. The congruency rate was highest and over 90% for marital status, mother's age and Hispanic status, birth weight, and prior pregnancy history. Education, gestational age, and maternal weight gain had middle-range congruency rates of approximately 60%. Prenatal care onset and visit number had the lowest congruence (40% or less). Results from the hospital factor portion of the study are not complete at submission deadline but will be presented. The study finding's implications for interpretation and use of community low birth weight rates and prematurity rates will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Understand that important birth certificate information derives from a series of data collection steps that vary by place of birth
• Recognize that some birth certificate variables more closely approximate truth than others
• Articulate specific data collection practices within hospitals that may improve the validity of birth certificate information

Keywords: Birth Outcomes, Public Health Informatics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.