Birthweight recall by mothers of Israeli children

doi:10.1038/sj.ph.1900626

Public Health

Volume 114, Issue 3, May 2000, Pages 161-163

https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ph.1900626 Get rights and content

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of maternally recalled birthweight (BW) in a population of 6-y-old children in Jerusalem.

The study population consisted of 259 children entering the first grade in two schools in the city. We compare the recalled BW at entrance to school and the BW values as recorded in the Mother and Child Health Clinic of the Hadassah Community Health Center.

The mean recalled BW was 11.7 g lower than the mean recorded BW (P>0.05). There were no statistical differences in mean BW values between the two data sources (according to socio-demographic characteristics) except for mother's age and origin, where no trends could be detected. Fifty-eight percent of the mothers accurately recalled the BW of their children to within 100 g and 80% recalled the BW to within 500 g. Seventy-three percent of mothers of low-birthweight children recalled a BW value of less than 2500 g and 99% of mothers of normal BW children recalled a BW of 2500 g or more. Correlation coefficients between the two sources ranged from 0.89 to 0.96.

Given the high degree of accuracy, maternally recalled birthweight is a reliable and valid measure of birthweight 6 y post-partum and its use is justified when no records of birthweight are available.

Public Health (2000) 114, 161–163

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Cited by (30)

Parent-reported birth information: birth weight, birth length and gestational age. Validation study in the SENDO project
2021, Gaceta Sanitaria
Citation Excerpt :
This can be easily explained by the fact that it is easier to recall data on important or stressful events. Giving birth to a child is, without doubt, a significant moment in life, therefore data related to birth are more accurately recalled.25,26 Also, our results are similar to other cohorts based on highly educated participants,27,28 such as the US Nurses’ Health Study II, which showed a higher response rate, higher agreement and better validity than other studies in adult population based on participants with low income or low educational level studies.12,14
To test the validity of parent-reported birth information obtained through an online, self-administered questionnaire.
The SENDO project is a prospective and dynamic paediatric cohort of Spanish children aged 4 to 6 years old at recruitment. Objective data from medical birth records were compared to parent-reported data getting intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for quantitative variables and weighted Kappa Index for qualitative ones. Percentage of responders and of total agreement was also evaluated.
Parental response rate was over 99% for birth weight and gestational age and 76% for birth length. ICC for birth weight was 0.95 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.94-0.96) and 0.78 (95%CI: 0.73-0.83) for birth length, both showing very high correlations. The total agreement percentage for gestational age was 97%, and Kappa weighted index was 0.90 (95%CI: 0.89-0.90), showing a very high agreement as well.
We found high correlations and excellent agreement in parent-reported birth data 4 to 6 years after delivery. Our results show parent-reported birth data, especially birth weight, are valid for use in epidemiological research.
Analizar la validez de los datos sobre el nacimiento referidos por los padres mediante un cuestionario autoreferido on-line.
El proyecto SENDO es una cohorte pediátrica prospectiva y dinámica de niños españoles de 4-6 años al reclutamiento. Se compararon datos objetivos de registros médicos del nacimiento con datos referidos por los padres, utilizando coeficientes de correlación intraclase para variables cuantitativas y el índice Kappa ponderado para variables cualitativas. Se evaluaron también el porcentaje de respuesta y el acuerdo total.
La tasa de respuesta fue superior al 99% para el peso al nacimiento y la edad gestacional, y del 76% para la talla. El coeficiente de correlación intraclase para el peso fue 0,95 (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 0,94-0,96) y para la talla fue 0,78 (IC95%: 0,73-0,83); ambas correlaciones muy altas. El porcentaje de acuerdo total para la edad gestacional fue del 97% y el índice ponderado Kappa fue de 0,90 (IC95%: 0,89-0,90), con un muy alto grado de acuerdo.
Encontramos una alta correlación y una excelente concordancia en los datos de los nacimientos referidos por los padres 4-6 años después del parto. Nuestros resultados muestran que los datos de nacimiento referidos por los progenitores, en especial el peso, son suficientemente válidos como para ser utilizados en investigación epidemiológica.
Civil unrest and birthweight: An exploratory analysis of the 2007/2008 Kenyan Crisis
2012, Social Science and Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
Based on existing literature, maternally recalled birthweight is a reliable measure, but less precise than hospital records (Boeke et al., 2011; Gofin, Neumark, & Adler, 2000; Lumey, Stein, & Ravelli, 1994; Seidman, Slater, Ever-Hadani, & Gale, 1987). In addition, Gofin et al. (2000) concluded, “its use is justified when no records of birthweight are available,” (Gofin et al., 2000). STATA version 11.1 was used for data analysis (StataCorp, 2009).
For decades, Africa has been plagued by political and ethnic conflict, the health ramifications of which are often not investigated. A crisis occurred recently in Kenya following the 2007 presidential election. Ethnic violence ensued, targeting the incumbent President Kibaki’s Kikuyu people. The violence occurred primarily in Nairobi and the Rift Valley of Kenya. We sought to examine the association between exposure to the 2007/2008 Kenyan Crisis and birthweight. Using the 2008/2009 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), we compared birthweights of infants in utero or not yet conceived during the 15 months after the political turmoil following the 2007 presidential election (exposed) to those who were born before the crisis (unexposed). There were 663 “exposed” and 687 “unexposed” infants. Multivariate regression was used. We examined the possibility of two-way and three-way interactions between exposure status, ethnicity (Kikuyu versus non-Kikuyu), and region (violent region versus not). Overall, exposure to the Kenyan Crisis was associated with lower birthweight. Kikuyu women living in a violent region who were exposed during their 2nd trimester had the greatest difference in birthweight in comparison to all unexposed infants: 564.4 g lower (95% CI 285.1, 843.6). Infants of Kikuyu exposed during the 2nd trimester and living in a violent region weighed 603.6 g less (95% CI 333.6, 873.6) than Kikuyu infants born during the unexposed period. Political unrest may have implications for the birthweight of infants, particularly among targeted populations. Given the adverse sequelae associated with lowered birthweight, these results suggest that particular attention should be paid to pregnant women and targeted ethnic groups following such events.
Limited validity of parental recall on pregnancy, birth, and early childhood at child age 10 years
2010, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Citation Excerpt :
The validity of data collected retrospectively needs to be examined before using them to estimate relationships with health or developmental outcomes. Regarding early-life factors, previous studies found good recall for maternal smoking during pregnancy [18–20], for gestational age [20–22], and for birth weight [19,20,23–26], but not for alcohol use during pregnancy [18,19]. However, most of these studies covered a limited period of time and did not consider a combination of variables.
Evidence on the validity of parental recall of early childhood behavior is lacking. Our aim was to examine the validity of parental recall at child age 10–12 years for maternal lifestyle during pregnancy, the birth characteristics, and early childhood behavior.
The study population comprised 2,230 children and their parents. Children aged 10–12 years were recruited from elementary schools (response: 76.0%). Parents were asked to recall lifestyle during pregnancy, birth characteristics, and childhood behavior at age 4–6 years. Recalled data were compared with information registered by Preventive Child Healthcare (PCH) from birth onwards.
For birth weight and gestational age, we found no systematic difference between recalled and PCH-registered data; 95% limits of agreement were ±1.2 pounds (600 g) and ±2.4 weeks, respectively. For maternal alcohol use during pregnancy and early childhood behavior problems, Cohen's kappas were low (0.03–0.11). Compared with PCH registration, parents tended to overreport at age 10–12 years. In contrast, kappa was high for maternal smoking during pregnancy (0.77).
Retrospectively collected information on lifestyle during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood behavior is sometimes biased, which limits its value in estimating the contribution of early-life adversity to health in later life.
Severe obstetric complications and birth characteristics in preterm or term delivery were accurately recalled by mothers
2006, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Citation Excerpt :
Another approach is to assess the accuracy of maternal recall of obstetric complications and birth characteristics in a more representative sample of the population. Among them, birth weight has been the most thoroughly examined for various periods of time since the index delivery [14–21]. Other studies further examined the accuracy of maternal recall of gestational age [22–24] and/or obstetric complications [25–31] in nondiseased populations.
This study examined the accuracy of maternal recall of obstetric complications and birth characteristics and its determinants for both preterm and term deliveries 3–9 years ago.
In 101 preterm and 107 term deliveries at the National Taiwan University Hospital during 1995–2000, recall data were obtained by telephone interview with the mothers and were matched with medical records.
Among 10 obstetric complications assessed, the accuracy of maternal recall could either have high sensitivity and high specificity (Cesarean section, gestational hypertension, and induced labor), low to moderate sensitivity and high specificity (pre-eclampsia, breech, and cord loops), or low sensitivity and low specificity (ante partum vaginal bleeding, edema, and proteinuria). The correlations between maternal recall and medical records for birth weight (r = .95) and gestational age (r =.93) in the preterm group were slightly higher than those in the term group (r = .89 and .83, respectively). Factors associated with higher recall accuracy included preterm delivery, first birth order, and lower total parity, but no factor consistently related to maternal accuracy for all obstetric complications and birth characteristics.
The accuracy of maternal recall on obstetric complications varied depending on the nature of complications examined, whereas that on birth characteristics was high.
Fraternal birth order and birth weight in probably prehomosexual feminine boys
2002, Hormones and Behavior
The purpose of this study was to confirm a previous finding that homosexual males with older brothers weigh less at birth than do heterosexual males with older brothers. The subjects comprised 250 feminine boys referred to a child psychiatry service because of extreme cross-gender wishes or behavior and assumed, on the basis of previous research, to be prehomosexual, plus 739 control boys and 261 control girls referred to the same service for reasons unrelated to sexual orientation or gender identity disorder and assumed, from base-rate probabilities, to be preheterosexual. The feminine boys with two or more older brothers weighed 385 g less at birth than did the control boys with two or more older brothers (P = 0.005). In contrast, the feminine and control boys with fewer than two older brothers did not differ in birth weight. This finding suggests that the mechanism by which older brothers increase the odds of homosexuality in later-born males operates prior to the individual's birth. We hypothesize that this mechanism may be immunologic, that antimale antibodies produced by human mothers in response to immunization by male fetuses could decrease the birth weight of subsequent male fetuses as well as increase their odds of homosexuality.
Evidence for reliability and validity of parent reports of twin children's birth information
2020, Early Childhood Research Quarterly
The purpose of this paper was to assess the reliability and validity of birth information provided by parents and to determine if the age of the child affects the reliability of information collected. This study used data from 105 families of typically developing twin and triplet children whose parents provided this information as part of a larger survey. Families originally participated in a longitudinal study at least once when children were between the ages of 1 and 5 years and were re-tested at least once subsequently between the ages of 2 and 17 years. A subset of 57 families (mean age = 2.58 years, sd = 2.41) also released hospital birth information to compare to parent report to assess validity. Repeated measures MANCOVAs were used to test for significant differences between parent reports at each time point. No differences were found between parent reports provided at different points in time regardless of the age of the child when reports were collected or length of time between collections. Thus, the method of using parent reports to collect data on neonatal birth complications appears to show acceptable test-retest reliability. Correlation analyses comparing parent reports to hospital records showed that parent reports were highly valid, with all correlations highly significant except minor birth complication scores for second born children. These findings have far-reaching implications for data collection in research and clinical work because they suggest that obtaining parent reports of birth complications, even many years after birth, is an acceptable method for assessing this information.

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ArticlesBirthweight recall by mothers of Israeli children

Abstract

Lancet.

Lancet.

Lancet.

Growth in-utero, blood pressure in childhood and adult life and mortality from cardiovascular diseases

BMJ

Outcomes of low birthweight

Horm Res.

Birthweight and adult health outcomes in a biethnic population in the USA

Diabetologia

Childhood growth and age at menarche

Br J Obstet Gynaecol

A growth chart for international use in maternal and child health care: guidelines for primary health care personnel

Articles
Birthweight recall by mothers of Israeli children