title: Validation of selected items on the 2003 U.S. standard certificate of live birth: New York City and Vermont.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the validity of selected items on the 2003 revised U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth to understand the accuracy of new and existing items.
  
  
  METHODS
  We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of select variables reported on the birth certificate using the medical record as the gold standard for a representative sample of live births in New York City (n=603) and Vermont (n=664) in 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both sites, sensitivity was excellent (>90%) for Medicaid coverage at delivery, any previous live births, and current method of delivery; sensitivity was moderate (70%-90%) for gestational diabetes; and sensitivity was poor (<70%) for premature rupture of the membranes and gestational hypertension. In both sites, PPV was excellent for Medicaid coverage, any previous live births, previous cesarean delivery, and current method of delivery, and poor for premature rupture of membranes. In both sites, almost all items had excellent (>90%) specificity and NPV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is needed to determine how best to improve the quality of data on the birth certificate. Future revisions of the birth certificate may consider removing those items that have consistently proven difficult to report accurately.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA ; Current affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bombard
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Gotham Center, Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, Queens, NY.
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mulready-Ward
authors.affiliation: Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Human Services, Burlington, VT.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Gotham Center, Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, Queens, NY.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sackoff
authors.affiliation: Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Human Services, Burlington, VT.
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brozicevic
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Vital Statistics, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambatese
authors.affiliation: Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Human Services, Burlington, VT.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyland-Funke
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Lucinda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: England
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001719:Birth Certificates; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014707:Vermont / Q000453:epidemiology