A population database for maternal and child health research in Western Australia using record linkage.
This paper describes a linked total population database established in Western Australia for monitoring and evaluating maternal and child health and for conducting epidemiological studies. Good vital statistics data including all Western Australian hospitalisations and excellent birth defects and cerebral palsy registers have ensured that complete data are available. Examples of studies which have been conducted using the database are given.
Stanley
F J
FJ
Institute for Child Health Research, West Perth, Western Australia.
Croft
M L
ML
Gibbins
J
J
Read
A W
AW
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003219:Confidentiality; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007255:Information Services; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012985:Software Design; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology