Open AccessValidity of Maternal and Perinatal Risk Factors Reported on Fetal Death Certificates
Author(s) -
Mona T. LydonRochelle,
Vicky Cárdenas,
Jennifer Nelson,
Kay M. Tomashek,
Beth A. Mueller,
Thomas R. Easterling
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2004.044305
Subject(s) - medicine , anencephaly , death certificate , birth certificate , obstetrics , fetal death , population , autopsy , fetus , cause of death , pregnancy , medical record , environmental health , disease , genetics , biology
We sought to estimate the accuracy, relative to maternal medical records, of perinatal risk factors recorded on fetal death certificates. We conducted a validation study of fetal death certificates among women who experienced fetal deaths between 1996 and 2001. The number of previous births, established diabetes, chronic hypertension, maternal fever, performance of autopsy, anencephaly, and Down syndrome had very high accuracy, while placental cord conditions and other chromosomal abnormalities were reported inaccurately. Additional population-based studies are needed to identify strategies to improve fetal death certificate data.