Reliability of mothers' reports of birth data

Abstract

To determine the reliability of recall of birth and early childhood events, a group of 47 mothers was asked details of their child's birth and about any child-rearing problems at an average of 5-6 years after the birth. Thirty-four of these mothers were asked similar questions 3 years later. The information given by the mothers was compared with the information documented in the hospital records when the children were born. The mothers overestimated the length of pregnancy and overestimated the number of neonatal problems. Only half could recall the birth weight accurately. When asked the same questions 3 years later there was a tendency for memory to have mellowed with fewer pregnancy complications and child-rearing difficulties being recalled than on the previous interview. Information given by mothers about such objective data as length of gestation, birth weight and obstetric complications is not necessarily accurate. Less objective data may be recalled even less accurately.