Using Data From the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) William Mosher, Ph.D. Stephanie Willson, Ph.D.

Presentation Overview Purposes and uses of NSFG data Cycle 6 (2002) sample design and methodology Similarities between Cycles 5 and 6 New in Cycle 6 Questionnaire content Using NSFG data

Intermediate variables Social factors Intercourse variables: Timing of first intercourse Percent of women who ever had intercourse Time spent in marriage (separation, divorce) Frequency of intercourse Social factors Race/ethnicity Religion Labor force participation Education Income Access to health care Family background Community environment (economic, social, etc.) Conception variables: Fertility (live births) Contraceptive use Sterilization Infertility Pregnancy outcome (gestation) variables: Miscarriage and stillbirth Induced abortion

Uses of NSFG Data Collect periodic data on the “intermediate variables” “Snapshot” of U.S. fertility, family formation, and reproductive health Complement vital statistics Track national health objectives (e.g. Healthy People 2010) Evaluate health and social policies Research: demographic and public health

NSFG History in Brief Cycle Year Scope Number of Interviews Over-Samples Average Length Incentive Payment 1 1973 Ever-Married Women 15-44 9,797 Black Women 60 Minutes No 2 1976 8,611 3 1982 All Women 15-44 7,969 Black Women Teens 4 1988 8,450 70 Minutes 5 1995 10,847 Black Women Hispanic Women 100 Minutes $20 6 2002 Women 15-44 Men 15-44 12,572 (W=7,643 M=4,929) Blacks Hispanics Teens F=85 Min M=60 Min $40

Obtaining Data Files Public use files of Cycles 1-5 of the NSFG are available now on CD-ROM Cycle 6 will be available on CD-ROM this Fall If you have questions, want to request a CD, or wish to be notified when Cycle 6 data are available, please email: William Mosher (wdm1@cdc.gov) Anjani Chandra (ayc3@cdc.gov) Joyce Abma (jza2@cdc.gov) Gladys Martinez (gmm7@cdc.gov) Stephanie J. Willson (zex8@cdc.gov) National Center for Health Statistics 3311 Toledo Rd. Room 7318 Hyattsville, MD 20782

Cycle 6 Sample Design Nationally representative sample of women & men 15-44 years of age. Civilian non-institutionalized population. In-person (not telephone) interviews with one person (15-44) per household.

Cycle 6 Design Interviews in both English and Spanish Over-samples: Blacks, Hispanics, 15-24 year olds Informed Consent: Signed consent for adults (18-44 years of age) Signed assent and signed parental consent for minors (15-17 years of age)

Breakdown of Sample Sizes for Cycles 3-6 NSFG Cycles 1982 1988 1995 2002 Total 7,969 8,450 10,847 12,572 Hispanic women 550 641 1,553 1,589 Black women 3,099 2,684 2,446 1,530 White/other women 4,320 5,125 6,848 4,524 Men - 4,929

Cycle 6 Sample Size by Subgroup FEMALE MALE TOTAL 7,643 4,929 12,572 15-19 years 1,150 1,122 2,272 20-24 years 1,363 938 2,301 25-44 years 5,130 2,869 7,999 Hispanic 1,589 1,124 2,713 Black 1,530 930 2,460 White/other 4,524 2,875 7,399

Sample Weights Adjust for: Differential probability of selection Non-response rates Post-stratification (age, race, sex).

Cycle 6 Response Rates by age & sex FEMALE MALE 15-19 years 82% 81% 20-24 years 80% 25-44 years 74% Overall response rate = 79%

Examples of Topics in Cycle 5 Also Covered in Cycle 6

Probability that 1st Marriage Dissolves Within Ten Years Percent Age at marriage Race and Hispanic Origin Source: Bramlett & Mosher, 2002 (based on 1995 NSFG)

Source: Abma and Sonenstein, 2000 Cumulative percent of females 15-19 years of age who have had sex before reaching selected ages, 1988 and 1995 Percent 77 70 19 11 1 3 Age in years Source: Abma and Sonenstein, 2000

Percent of Current Contraceptors using the Pill, 1982-1995 Percent Source: Piccinino & Mosher, 1998

Percent Living with Father at Time of Most Recent Delivery Wantedness at Conception Source: Chandra, poster presented at PAA 1998

Percent Breastfed among Babies Born 1990-1993 Wantedness of Pregnancy at Conception Source: Abma et al., 1997, Table 57

Percent of Births 1991-95 Unwanted by Mother at Time of Conception Race and Hispanic Origin Source: Abma et al., 1997, Table 15

Use of Family Planning or Medical Services in Past Year Among Women 15-44: U.S., 1995 Percent Source: Abma et al., 1997, Table 74

(Expect 0, impaired fecundity) Ever-Married Childless Women Age 35-44: Childbearing Expectations and Fecundity 1988 1995 1982 (Expect 1 or more) (Expect 0, fecund) (Expect 0, impaired fecundity) Source: Abma & Martinez, Paper Presented at PAA, 2002

Percent Uninsured Among Women 15-44 Race and Hispanic Origin Source: 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, NCHS Race and Hispanic Origin Source: 1995 National Survey of Family Growth

New in Cycle 6

Definition of Sex (CAPI vs. Audio-CASI) Most of interview (CAPI) continues practice in Cycles 1-5: Heterosexual vaginal intercourse The kind of sex  Babies New in Cycle 6: All types of sexual activities (Audio-CASI) including vaginal, oral, & anal sex Sex  risks for STDs and HIV

New in Cycle 6: Male Data Activities with children Military service Some examples include: Activities with children For children he lives with For children he does not live with Military service Male fertility Marital Non-marital Child support

Data that’s available for both men & women--1 Demographic characteristics Birth expectations Marital Status and Cohabitation Attitudes: Sex, childbearing, family Contraceptive use and Sterilization

Data that’s available for both men & women--2 Health insurance, use of health care Number of sexual partners HIV/STD risk behaviors Substance use Sexual orientation, attraction, behavior

Female Questionnaire: 2002 Section A: Age, race, marital/cohabitation status, education Household roster Family & parental background Section B: Pregnancy history Nonbiological children ever raised Adoption (including current plans to adopt)

Female Quex 2002 (cont’d) Section C: Section D: Marital & cohabitation history First sexual partner Sex education (for 15-19 year olds) Numbers of partners Sexual partner history for last 12 months Section D: Sterilization operations (self & current H/P) Fecundity impairments

Female Quex 2002(cont’d) Section E: All methods ever used Contraceptive history, month-by-month, for last 3 years Partner-specific use for 3 most recent partners in last 12 months Consistency of condom use Wantedness of pregnancies

Female Quex (cont’d) Section F: Section G: Use of medical care in the last 12 months for family planning general health Section G: Desires & intentions for future children

Female Quex 2002(cont’d) Section H: Section I: Use of infertility services Reproductive health-related conditions HIV testing Section I: Health insurance; religion; work; child care Attitudes on sex, parenthood & marriage Section J (ACASI): Income

Male Questionnaire 2002 (by section) (Largely the same as female Section A) Ever/never had sex; partners in lifetime and last 12 months; vasectomy; sex educ (if 15-19) Current wife or cohabiting partner: characteristics; when married or began living together; Children with her; contraceptive use 3 most recent sexual partners in the last 12 months; first sexual partner ever; Children with them; contraceptive use Former wives and first premarital cohabiting partner; Children with them; contraceptive use

Male Questionnaire (cont’d) F. Other births and pregnancies fathered: characteristics of their mothers Activities with biological and adopted children he lives with, and does not live with Desires and intentions for future children Health conditions, use of family planning and other health care services, HIV testing Religion; military service; work; attitudes on sex, marriage, parenthood

Using NSFG Data

Public Use Data Files Cycles 1 - 5 are available on CD-ROM now. Main files for Cycle 6 (on CD-ROM and web soon) will include: User’s Guide, Codebook, and Questionnaires

Web-Doc for Public Use Files Standard components of the Codebook Variable names & column locations Question text Frequencies with response labels Universe statements (“who got this question”) New user-friendly features Hyperlinks to questionnaires, recode specs, and other variables in codebook Revised online so updates can be “rolled out” to users more quickly Less need for paper copies!

Omitted items data File Will be available soon after the forthcoming Cycle 6 public use file. Access procedures are being worked on now.

Omitted Items File Audio-CASI data Pregnancy re-reporting Drug and alcohol use Numbers of sexual partners (opposite-sex and same-sex) Non-voluntary sexual intercourse (18-44 only) STD/HIV risk behaviors Sexual orientation & attraction Sexually transmitted infections Interviewer Observations

Contextual data files: Cycle 5 Cycle 5 contextual data files currently available Access: apply to NCHS RDC Linkage to over 1,000 contextual variables Community characteristics 4 levels (state, county, census tract, block group) 3 points in time (1990, 1993, 1995)

Percent of Women 18-29 Who Had a Birth Before 18 Median Family Income at Block Level Source: 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, Contextual Data Files

Contextual data files: Cycle 6 Community characteristics 2 points in time (2000 & 2002) data at 4 levels: state county census tract block group

Applying to use contextual data Contact us Go to www.cdc.gov/nchs/r&d Short application emphasizes what data you will use (not a big literature review) Access options: Remote access (by e-mail from your office) In person in the RDC Staff-assisted (for follow-up & revisions)

Public Use: Fieldwork Data File Includes all persons in the sampling frame Data on respondents and non-respondents Response rates Field work effort Observations of neighborhood Cycle 5 is available Cycle 6 will be available in 2005

How to stay current with the NSFG Go to: www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm The NSFG website contains: PDF files of all NSFG reports published by NCHS A list of 360+ publications from the NSFG PDF files of the 2002 female & male questionnaires Information on how to obtain data files

Questions?