Evaluation of birth defect histories obtained through maternal interviews

Area of Science:

• Medical Epidemiology
• Birth Defects Research
• Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

• Family history is crucial for birth defect etiology studies.
• The accuracy of parental recall for birth defects is not well-established.
• Previous studies have not fully assessed the validity of maternal reports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of maternal recall regarding birth defects in offspring.
• To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of mothers' reports.
• To assess how sociodemographic factors and defect type influence reporting accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Atlanta Birth Defects Case-Control study.
• Interviewed mothers of infants with major structural defects and mothers of normal infants.
• Maternal responses were coded by blinded interviewers and coders.

Main Results:

• Sensitivity of maternal reports was 61%, specificity was 98%.
• Positive predictive value was estimated at 47%.
• Accuracy varied by maternal race, education, and defect type.

Conclusions:

• Maternal recall of birth defects has limitations in sensitivity and positive predictive value.
• Family history data from maternal interviews require cautious interpretation and validation.
• Inaccurate family history data can significantly impact birth defect recurrence risk estimates.