The Accuracy of Early Reproductive History and Physical Activity Participation Recall Across Multiple Age Ranges.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Medical Decision Making
• Female Lifespan Wellness

Background:

• Accurate recall of reproductive health events is vital for medical decisions and assessing female wellness.
• The Health and Reproductive Survey (HeRS) was developed to capture reproductive events and influences across the female lifespan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the reliability of women's recall of specific reproductive events and influences.
• To investigate recall consistency across different age groups for key reproductive health indicators.

Main Methods:

• 144 participants completed the HeRS twice, with a 4-month interval, to evaluate recall reliability.
• Statistical analysis included Cohen's kappa for categorical data and 95% limits of agreement for continuous data.

Main Results:

• High recall reliability was observed for age at menarche (0.83), physical activity level (0.9), and birth control use (0.85-0.9).
• Recall consistency for menarche, physical activity, and birth control use remained high across youngest and oldest age groups.
• While physical activity recall showed variability (0.79), other key reproductive events were recalled consistently.

Conclusions:

• The HeRS is a reliable tool for assessing reproductive history and physical activity across diverse age ranges.
• The survey effectively gathers crucial reproductive lifespan information, aiding in comprehensive female health evaluations.