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.