Severe obstetric complications and birth characteristics in preterm or term delivery were accurately recalled by mothers

Objective: This study examined the accuracy of maternal recall of obstetric complications & birth characteristics & its determinants for both preterm & term deliveries 3–9 years ago. Methods: In 101 preterm & 107 term deliveries at the National Taiwan University Hospital during 1995–2000, recall data were obtained by telephone interview with the mothers & were matched with medical records. Results: Among 10 obstetric complications assessed, the accuracy of maternal recall could either have high sensitivity & high specificity (Cesarean section, gestational hypertension, & induced labor), low to moderate sensitivity & high specificity (pre-eclampsia, breech, & cord loops), or low sensitivity & low specificity (ante partum vaginal bleeding, edema, & proteinuria). The correlations between maternal recall & medical records for birth weight (r 5 .95) & gestational age (r 5.93) in the preterm group were slightly higher than those in the term group (r 5.89 & .83, respectively). Factors associated with higher recall accuracy included preterm delivery, first birth order, & lower total parity, but no factor consistently related to maternal accuracy for all obstetric complications & birth characteristics. Conclusion: The accuracy of maternal recall on obstetric complications varied depending on the nature of complications examined, whereas that on birth characteristics was high