Source of bias in prenatal care utilization indices: implications for evaluating the Medicaid expansion.

摘要: BACKGROUND: Recent expansions in eligibility for coverage of prenatal care services by the Medicaid program reflect national initiatives to improve pregnancy outcomes. This study investigates potential impact that completeness reporting and gestational age variables strategies impute missing data may have on evaluations expansion. METHODS: study, examining 15 years vital record from a single state comparing 1 year four mid-Atlantic states, selected live births resident mothers analyses. The "day 15" "preceding case" methods were used data. RESULTS: Considerable temporal geographic variation was detected construct indices. After imputing values cases with data, proportion which adequacy utilization could not be determined ranged 3% 24% among states inv...