Open Access Research article

Intraclass correlation coefficients in the Brazilian network for surveillance of severe maternal morbidity study

Samira M Haddad1, Maria H Sousa2, Jose G Cecatti1,2*, Mary A Parpinelli1, Maria L Costa1, Joao P Souza3 and for the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity Group

Full TextView PDF (217KB)

Author affiliations

1 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Campinas, R Alexander Fleming, 101, Campinas, SP, 13083-881, Brazil

2 Campinas Center for Studies in Reproductive Health (CEMICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil

3 Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Geneva, Switzerland

For all author emails, please log on.

Citation and License

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2012, 12:101 doi:10.1186/1471-2393-12-101

Published: 21 September 2012

Abstract

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of variables concerning personal characteristics, structure, outcome and process in the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity study conducted to identify severe maternal morbidity/near miss cases using the World Health Organization criteria.

Method

It was a cross-sectional, multicenter study involving 27 hospitals providing care for pregnant women in Brazil. Cluster size and the mean size of the primary sampling unit were described. Estimated prevalence rates, ICC, their respective 95% confidence intervals, the design effect and the mean cluster size were presented for each variable.

Results

Overall, 9,555 cases of severe maternal morbidity (woman admitted with potentially life-threatening conditions, near miss events or death) were included in the study. ICC ranged from < 0.001 to 0.508, with a median of 0.035. ICC was < 0.1 for approximately 75% of the variables. For process-related variables, median ICC was 0.09, with 0.021 for those related to outcome. These findings confirm data from previous studies. Homogeneity may be considered minor, thus increasing reliability of these findings.

Conclusions

These results may be used to design new cluster trials in maternal and perinatal health and to help calculate sample sizes.

Keywords:
Intraclass correlation coefficient; Maternal near miss; Severe maternal morbidity; Maternal and perinatal health