Expanded health data from the new birth certificate, 2006

Area of Science:

• Perinatal epidemiology
• Public health surveillance
• Maternal and child health statistics

Background:

• The 2003 U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth introduced new data fields for improved maternal and infant health monitoring.
• Understanding trends in pregnancy risk factors, obstetric procedures, and newborn conditions is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present 2006 data on newly implemented checkbox items from the 2003 U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth.
• To analyze trends in pregnancy risk factors, labor and delivery characteristics, and newborn conditions using 2006 birth data.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive statistical analysis of births occurring in 2006.
• Data sourced from 19 states that adopted the 2003 U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth by January 1, 2006.

Main Results:

• Prevalence rates for prepregnancy (6.8/1,000) and gestational diabetes (38.7/1,000) increased with maternal age.
• Cervical cerclage (2.9/1,000) and external cephalic version (3.2/1,000) were utilized, with decreasing success rates for the latter in older mothers.
• Significant racial and Hispanic origin disparities were observed in the use of antenatal steroids and surfactant replacement therapy, irrespective of gestational age.
• Six percent of all infants required admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Conclusions:

• The 2003 certificate provides valuable insights into contemporary birth data, highlighting age-related risks and treatment variations.
• Addressing disparities in care, particularly for premature infants, remains a critical public health objective.
• Continued monitoring of birth data is essential for evaluating and improving maternal and infant health outcomes.