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BMC Medical Research Methodology
Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Improvement of maternal Aboriginality in NSW birth data

Authors: Fenglian Xu, Elizabeth A Sullivan, Richard C Madden, Deborah Black, Lisa R Jackson Pulver

Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

The Indigenous population of Australia was estimated as 2.5% and under-reported. The aim of this study is to improve statistical ascertainment of Aboriginal women giving birth in New South Wales.

Methods

This study was based on linked birth data from the Midwives Data Collection (MDC) and the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) of New South Wales (NSW). Data linkage was performed by the Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHeReL) for births in NSW for the period January 2001 to December 2005. The accuracy of maternal Aboriginal status in the MDC and RBDM was assessed by consistency, sensitivity and specificity. A new statistical variable, ASV, or Aboriginal Statistical Variable, was constructed based on Indigenous identification in both datasets. The ASV was assessed by comparing numbers and percentages of births to Aboriginal mothers with the estimates by capture-recapture analysis.

Results

Maternal Aboriginal status was under-ascertained in both the MDC and RBDM. The ASV significantly increased ascertainment of Aboriginal women giving birth and decreased the number of missing cases. The proportion of births to Aboriginal mothers in the non-registered birth group was significantly higher than in the registered group.

Conclusions

Linking birth data collections is a feasible method to improve the statistical ascertainment of Aboriginal women giving birth in NSW. This has ramifications for the ascertainment of babies of Aboriginal mothers and the targeting of appropriate services in pregnancy and early childhood.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Improvement of maternal Aboriginality in NSW birth data
Authors
Fenglian Xu
Elizabeth A Sullivan
Richard C Madden
Deborah Black
Lisa R Jackson Pulver
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Research Methodology / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2288
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-12-8

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