Accuracy and reliability of maternal recall of infant birth weight among older women.

PURPOSE: We assessed the accuracy and reliability of maternal recall of infant birth weight 35 to 70 years after delivery. METHODS: A total of 120 well functioning women (mean age 80 years; 45% Black) reported the birth weight for each live birth and then provided documentation of birth weights (n = 22) or reported birth weights a second time (n = 98). RESULTS: Agreement between recalled and documented birth weights was high for first births (ICC = 0.96) but moderate for subsequent births (ICC = 0.59). Maternal recall was highly reliable for first births (r = 0.95) and subsequent births (r = 0.87), and reliability remained high when considered separately by race, education, income, and age. CONCLUSION: Women report accurate and reliable infant birth-weight data an average of 57 years after delivery, and recall is particularly precise for first births.