Gestational age estimation on United States livebirth certificates: a historical overview

Summary Gestational age on the birth certificate is the most common source of population‐based gestational age data that informs public health policy and practice in the US. Last menstrual period is one of the oldest methods of gestational age estimation and has been on the US Standard Certificate o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology 2007-09, Vol.21 (s2), p.4-12
Main Authors: Wier, Megan L., Pearl, Michelle, Kharrazi, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birth Certificates
Birth Weight
clinical estimate of gestation
Female
Gestational Age
gestational age estimation
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Live Birth
Medical History Taking - methods
Menstrual Cycle
obstetric estimate of gestation
Pregnancy
United States - epidemiology
Vital Statistics
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Summary:Summary Gestational age on the birth certificate is the most common source of population‐based gestational age data that informs public health policy and practice in the US. Last menstrual period is one of the oldest methods of gestational age estimation and has been on the US Standard Certificate of Live Birth since 1968. The ‘clinical estimate of gestation’, added to the standard certificate in 1989 to address missing or erroneous last menstrual period data, was replaced by the ‘obstetric estimate of gestation’ on the 2003 revision, which specifically precludes neonatal assessments. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these measures, potential research implications and challenges accompanying the transition to the obstetric estimate.
ISSN:0269-5022
1365-3016
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-3016.2007.00856.x