[Exactness of the birth registry of Barcelona regarding birth weight and weeks of gestation].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to know the accuracy of the variables birth weight and gestational age in the Barcelona Birth Registry. Hospital medical records are used as gold standard.


METHODS
A representative sample (n = 1,932) was selected from all the residents born in the city of Barcelona between 1st of May and 31st of December of 1996. The variables birth weight and gestational age were evaluated. Exhaustivity, sensitivity, specificity and predictive value for these variables were calculated.


RESULTS
The Registry shows a high exhaustivity for the study variables. The lowest value of sensitivity corresponds to premature births (65.1%) and the lowest value of specificity to term births (63.9%). The predictive value positive was 77.5% for preterm births and 76.7% for term births.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, exhaustivity and accuracy of the Barcelona Birth Registry are high, but sensitivity for preterm births in the Registry is lower. However, the corresponding maternal and child health indicators do not vary in an important manner.
Font
M
M
Institut Municipal de Salut Pública, Ajuntament de Barcelona.
Pasarín
M I
MI
Ricart
M
M
Martos
D
D
D001719:Birth Certificates; D001724:Birth Weight; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain