title: Client and birth record linkage: a method, biases, and lessons.
abstract: "Due to rising data collection costs and the availability of extant data files, record linkage is becoming increasingly important in evaluation research. We begin by discussing record linkage as a data-generating technique and its applicability to evaluation studies.  This paper--part of a larger study assessing the perinatal outcomes of a comprehensive prenatal program for poor, urban women--describes a method for linking client records to live and stillbirth records [in Cleveland, Ohio]. Biases which can enter into the linkage process and general issues which need to be addressed early in an investigation are also discussed."
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holian
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas; D015982:Bias; D001719:Birth Certificates; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005313:Fetal Death; D007226:Infant Mortality; D009026:Mortality; D009656:North America; D009820:Ohio; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D014798:Vital Statistics
keywords: Americas; Bias; Birth Records; Data Collection; Data Linkage; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Error Sources; Evaluation; Evaluation Methodology; Fetal Death; Infant Mortality; Measurement; Mortality; North America; Northern America; Ohio; Population; Population Dynamics; Population Statistics; Research Methodology; United States; Vital Statistics