title: The use of missing birth record data as a marker for adverse reproductive outcomes: a geocoded analysis of birth record data.
abstract: Adverse reproductive outcomes (AROs) disproportionately affect black American infants and significantly contribute to the U.S. infant mortality rate. Without accurate understanding of AROs, there remains little hope of ameliorating infant mortality rates or eliminating infant health disparities. However, despite the importance of monitoring infant mortality rates and health disparities, birth record data quality is not assured. Racial disparities in the reporting of birth record data have been documented, and missing birth record data for AROs appears to be disproportionate. Due to the extent of missing birth record data, innovative strategies have been developed to evaluate relationships between maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and community-based ARO rates. Because addresses convey aggregate information about income level, education and occupation, ZIP codes, census tracts and census block-groups have been applied to geocoding efforts. The goals of this study are to: 1) analyze the extent of missing birth record data for New Jersey areas with high rates of an ARO (preterm birth), 2) evaluate associations between the extent of missing birth record data and other AROs, and 3) consider how geocoding strategies could be applied to provide a basis for understanding maternal SES risk factors and ARO resource allocation for at-risk communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Adrienne J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Headley
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fulcomer
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bastardi
authors.forename: Wansoo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Marcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sass
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001719:Birth Certificates; D019352:Censuses; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors