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. 2013;13 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S3.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-S1-S3. Epub 2013 Jan 31.

Validation of Canadian mothers' recall of events in labour and delivery with electronic health records

Uilst Bat-Erdene  1 , Amy Metcalfe, Sheila W McDonald, Suzanne C Tough
Affiliations

Validation of Canadian mothers' recall of events in labour and delivery with electronic health records

Uilst Bat-Erdene et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013.

Abstract

Background: Maternal report of events that occur during labour and delivery are used extensively in epidemiological research; however, the validity of these data are rarely confirmed. This study aimed to validate maternal self-report of events that occurred in labour and delivery with data found in electronic health records in a Canadian setting.

Methods: Data from the All Our Babies study, a prospective community-based cohort of women's experiences during pregnancy, were linked to electronic health records to assess the validity of maternal recall at four months post-partum of events that occurred during labour and delivery. Sensitivity, specificity and kappa scores were calculated. Results were stratified by maternal age, gravidity and educational attainment.

Results: Maternal recall at four months post-partum was excellent for infant characteristics (gender, birth weight, gestational age, multiple births) and variables related to labour and delivery (mode of delivery, epidural, labour induction) (sensitivity and specificity >85%). Women who had completed a university degree had significantly better recall of labour induction and use of an epidural.

Conclusion: Maternal recall of infant characteristics and events that occurred during labour and delivery is excellent at four months post-partum and is a valid source of information for research purposes.

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