title: Concordance between maternal recall of birth complications and data from obstetrical records.
abstract: Prenatal complications are associated with poor outcomes in the offspring. Access to medical records is limited in the United States and investigators often rely on maternal report of prenatal complications.
  
  
  
  We tested concordance between maternal recall and birth records in a community-based sample of mothers participating in a longitudinal study in order to determine the accuracy of maternal recall of perinatal complications.
  
  
  
  Participants were 151 biological mothers, who were interviewed about gestational age at birth, birthweight, and the most commonly occurring birth complications: nuchal cord and meconium aspiration when the female child was on average 6years old, and for whom birth records were obtained.
  
  
  
  Concordance between reports was assessed using one-way random intra-class coefficients for continuous measures and kappa coefficients for dichotomous outcomes. Associations between maternal demographic and psychological factors and discrepancies also were tested.
  
  
  
  Concordance was excellent for continuously measured birthweight (ICC=0.85, p<0.001) and good for gestational age (ICC=0.68, p<0.001). Agreement was good for low birthweight (<2500g) (kappa=0.67, p<0.001), fair for preterm delivery (<37weeks gestation) (kappa=0.44, p<0.001), and poor for nuchal cord or meconium aspiration. Most discrepancies were characterized by presence according to birth record and absence according to maternal recall. Receipt of public assistance was associated with a decrease in discrepancy in report of nuchal cord.
  
  
  
  Concordance between maternal retrospective report and medical birth records varies across different types of perinatal events. There was little evidence that demographic or psychological factors increased the risk of discrepancies. Maternal recall based on continuous measures of perinatal factors may yield more valid data than dichotomous outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. Electronic address: kekeenan@uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hipwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McAloon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Arpita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Magee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011939:Mental Recall; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Maternal recall; Neurodevelopment; Obstetric record; Perinatal complication