[Reliability of data available in the Information System for Live Birth in the city of Teresina, Piauí State, Brazil--2002].

This article aims to evaluate the reliability of the data available in the Information System for Live Birth (SINASC) in the city of Teresina, Piauí State, Brazil for the year of 2002. The proportion of data completeness was analyzed, and concordance between variables for data reported to SINASC and hospital records (SINASC-P) was estimated using the kappa index. This study demonstrated that variables in SINASC presented a higher level of completeness (>90%) than those in SINASC-P (>74%), and the concordance was excellent (kappa>0.80) for the following variables: maternal age, marital status, number of live births, type of delivery, and the sex and weight of newborn infants. Concordance for the number of stillbirths, prenatal visits, educational level and gestational age was categorized from fair-to-adequate (0.20<kappa<0.80). SINASC variables showed excellent completeness and good (kappa=0.76) general reliability. We recommend improvement in the quality of data collection in hospital records and SINASC in Teresina.