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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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
William Mosher
Anjani Chandra
Joyce Abma
Gladys Martinez
Stephanie J. Willson
National Center for Health Statistics
3311 Toledo Rd. Room 7318
Hyattsville, MD 20782

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

8. Cycle 6 Design Interviews in both English and Spanish
Over-samples: Blacks, Hispanics, 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)

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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%

13. Examples of Topics in Cycle 5 Also Covered in Cycle 6

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

15. Source: Abma and Sonenstein, 2000
Cumulative percent of females 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

16. Percent of Current Contraceptors using the Pill,
Percent
Source: Piccinino & Mosher, 1998

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

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

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

20. 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

21. (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

22. 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

23. New in Cycle 6

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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)

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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. Using NSFG Data

36. 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

37. 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!

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

39. 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

40. 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)

41. 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

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

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

44. 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

45. 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

46. Questions?