Common Quality Issues with Revised Birth Certificate Data David Justice

1. Common Quality Issues with Revised Birth Certificate Data David Justice Data Acquisition and Evaluation Branch Division of Vital Statistics, NCHS

5. 2007: The Scales Tipped

6. Median Reporting Lag

7. Infant Death Underreporting • New item “Infant Alive at Time of Report” • If response is “NO” then a matching infant death record should be identified • March 2006 – Article in DVS newsletter • July 2006 – Presentation at VSCP Meeting

8. Infant Death Underreporting • January 2007 – DAEB sent “Infant Alive” reports to 2005 birth revisers • March 2007 – DAEB sent “Infant Alive” reports to all 2006 revisers • April 2007 – Article sent by Charlie Rothwell • May 2007 – DAEB sent < 500g reports to non-revisers

9. Infant Death Underreporting • Positive response to reports from DAEB • Identify infant deaths that have not been reported or linked • Identify birth records where “Infant Alive” is reported incorrectly • Identify birth records that should have been reported as a fetal death

10. Data Quality Issues • Out of range values and inconsistencies • State system not adhering to specs • State specs different from NCHS specs • NCHS specs not detailed enough • Some problems not identifiable on an individual record basis

11. Data Quality Issues 1APGAR SCORE AT 10 MINUTES • Depends on Apgar at 5 Minutes • Only if Apgar at 5 Minutes is < 6 • Code ’88’ is used when Apgar at 5 minutes is 06 - 10

12. Data Quality Issues • HISPANIC ORIGIN OF FATHER • Unknown level inconsistent with other father’s information (race, education, dob) • Defaulting to ‘NNNN’ when unmarried instead of ‘UUUU’

13. Data Quality Issues 3 INVALID FIPS CODES • Blanks are invalid • Use ZZ for country or state • Use 999 for county • Use 99999 for place

14. Data Quality Issues • METHOD OF DELIVERY – Attempted Forceps, Vacuum • Vs. Final Route and Method of Delivery = Forceps, Vacuum • Forceps/Vacuum should be reported in only one place

15. Data Quality Issues • RISK FACTOR – Previous C-Section • Bad combinations with # of C-sections: • Yes, 00 • No, 99 or reported number • Unknown, 00 or reported number

16. Data Quality Issues 6 RISK FACTOR – Infertility Treatment • Subcategories added end of 2003 • If infertility treatment = Y then report Y, N or U for subcategories • Otherwise, subcategories X or U

17. Data Quality Issues 7 MONTH DEFAULTS ON DATES • Other Pregnancy Outcome • Last Live Birth • First Prenatal Care Visit • Month reported as 01 instead of 99 when unknown month

18. Data Quality Issues • OUTLYING VALID VALUES • Mother’s Height in Feet (1,2,7,8) • Plurality (>6)

19. Not Classifiable Levels • Contract Standards • Reviser Levels are being monitored • Available on VSCP Website • 2007 levels have been added • Some items with 0 unknowns?

20. Facility Reports • All states are submitting facility codes on the revised file • 2005 Joint presentation by NCHS and N.Y. State • NCHS can produce reports by facility for any values, particularly unknowns

21. Void Flags • Void Lists not required if void flag used properly • Not used by all revised states • Annual Final Void List still required

22. 2008 Documentation • Deliverable each Fall – plan to request a full set from all States in 2008 • Include certificates, worksheets, and system documentation – useful for 1st time revisers • NCHS would like to review drafts in advance

23. Questions or Concerns? DAEB Statistician or Vital Statistics Specialist David Justice DVS/DAEB Research Triangle Park, NC djustice@cdc.gov 919 541 0589