Premium
Validity of Infant Race/Ethnicity from Birth Certificates in the Context of U.S. Demographic Change
Author(s) -
Mason Lisa Reyes,
Nam Yunju,
Kim Youngmi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6773.12083
Subject(s) - ethnic group , context (archaeology) , race (biology) , medicine , demography , psychology , geography , sociology , gender studies , archaeology , anthropology
Objective To compare infant race/ethnicity based on birth certificates with parent report of infant race/ethnicity in a survey. Data Sources The 2007 O klahoma birth certificates and SEED for O klahoma Kids baseline survey. Study Design Using sensitivity scores and positive predictive values, we examined consistency of infant race/ethnicity across two data sources ( N = 2,663). Data Collection/Extraction Methods We compared conventional measures of infant race/ethnicity from birth certificate and survey data. We also tested alternative measures that allow biracial classification, determined from parental information on the infant's birth certificate or parental survey report. Principal Findings Sensitivity of conventional measures is highest for w hites and A frican A mericans and lowest for H ispanics; positive predictive value is highest for H ispanics and A frican A mericans and lowest for A merican I ndians. Alternative measures improve values among w hites but yield mostly low values among minority and biracial groups. Conclusions Health disparities research should consider the source and validity of infant race/ethnicity data when creating sampling frames or designing studies that target infants by race/ethnicity. The common practice of assigning the maternal race/ethnicity as infant race/ethnicity should continue to be challenged.