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Sensitivity of probabilistic record linkage for reported birth identification: Pró-Saúde Study
Renata Gutierrez da Matta Coutinho1, Claudia Medina Coeli, Eduardo Faerstein
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. retont@yahoo.com.br
Revista De Saude Publica
|October 4, 2008
Summary
This study assessed probabilistic record linkage for identifying births using Brazilian birth records. Sensitivity reached 72.8% with an amplified review strategy, though limited data and similar names posed challenges.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Accurate identification of births is crucial for epidemiological studies and public health surveillance.
- Probabilistic record linkage offers a method for connecting disparate datasets, such as cohort studies and vital statistics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sensitivity of probabilistic record linkage for identifying reported births within a Brazilian cohort.
- To compare the effectiveness of reduced versus amplified clerical review strategies in enhancing linkage accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Pró-Saúde Study cohort (technical-administrative staff, university in Rio de Janeiro, 1999).
- Linked 92 cohort records to the Brazilian Information System on Live Births (SINASC) database using the RecLink II program.
- Employed both reduced and amplified clerical review strategies to assess linkage outcomes.
Main Results:
- Sensitivity for birth identification was 60.9% with the reduced clerical review strategy.
- Sensitivity increased to 72.8% when employing the amplified clerical review strategy.
- Key challenges included a limited number of available data fields and a high frequency of homonymous (identical) names.
Conclusions:
- Probabilistic record linkage can identify reported births, with amplified clerical review improving sensitivity.
- Data limitations and name duplication significantly hinder the accuracy of birth identification through record linkage in this context.
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