At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- The 2002 survey cycle and the continuous survey (2006-2010) include men and women.
- Restricted geographic data available down to the census tract and block group level through the National Center for Health Statistics Research Data Center.
- Weight and height information for respondents ages 15 to 44 years.
- Oversampling of women, teens (ages 15 to 19 years), Blacks, and Hispanics.
- Data linkage to census data provides neighborhood contextual data for all cycles conducted since 1995.
Website
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm
Purpose
To collect data about family life, marriage and divorce, pregnancy, infertility, use of contraception and reproductive health for adolescents and adults in the United States (U.S.).
Target Population
Noninstitutionalized individuals ages 15 to 44 years in the U.S.
Conducted
Conducted continuously since 2006, most recent data release covers 2015-2017. Previous survey cycles were conducted periodically. Surveys of women only were conducted in 1973, 1976, 1982, 1988, and 1995.
Sponsor
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (various agencies). Data are available through the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Special Note(s)
The women-only surveys conducted periodically from 1973 to 1995 also provided detailed information on maternal and infant health.
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional, multistage area probability sampling to obtain a nationally representative sample. Oversampling of women, teens (ages 15 to 19 years), Blacks, and Hispanics.
Learn more about the sampling design and survey operations at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_02/sr02_150.pdf and
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_01/sr01_048.pdf and
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_02/sr02_158.pdf
Sample Size
10,416 individuals (4,815 men and 5,601 women), ages 15 to 44 years, are represented in the 2011-2013 data file. The 2011-2013 sample was drawn from 65 areas (defined by primary sampling units [PSUs]). In each survey year during 2011-2013, approximately 5,200 individuals were interviewed. Sample size for the first 4 years of continuous data collection - 2006-2010 (released October 2011) - was approximately 22,600 individuals (approximately 10,000 men and 12,000 women). Sample sizes of the six surveys prior to continuous interviewing, conducted between 1973 and 2002, range from approximately 8,000 to approximately 11,000 interviews.
For the 2013-2015 data file 5,699 women and 4,506 men 15-44 years of age for a total sample size of 10,205.
Special Note(s)
The most recent public use data file described above was released in December 2014, covering interviews conducted from 2011-2013. The subsequent two years of interviews, 2013-2015, will be contained in a data file to be released late in 2016, and will contain a comparable number of interviews.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Disability (equipment use; general) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Food assistance (e.g., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP]) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Income sources (e.g., earnings/bonuses, Supplemental Security Income [SSI], child support, unemployment compensation, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF]) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Number of children in household (and number of daughters ages 9 to 18 years) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Number of people in household | Interview/questionnaire |
| Place of birth | Interview/questionnaire |
| Respondent’s age | Interview/questionnaire |
| Respondent’s employment | Interview/questionnaire |
| Respondent’s income | Interview/questionnaire |
| Respondent’s race/ethnicity (including Hispanic subgroup) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Respondent’s sex | Interview/questionnaire |
Diet-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Breastfeeding practices | Interview/questionnaire |
Weight-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Respondent’s body mass index | Calculated |
| Respondent’s height | Self-report |
| Respondent’s weight | Self-report |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Obtain data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Cost
Free of charge.
Restricted data are available through the National Center for Health Statistics Research Data Center. The initial set-up fee for obtaining data through the Research Data Center is $750. Access fees vary depending on mode of access. Learn more.
Special Note(s)
Access to certain data is restricted, including details about race/ethnicity and characteristics of the respondent’s household. A complete list of restricted-use variables for the female survey is available. A list of restricted-use variables for the male survey also is available.
Contextual data files for the 2011-2013 survey are available through the National Center for Health Statistics Research Data Center.
These include geographic variables for state and county of residence, allowing linkage with characteristics of the community in which respondents live. Geographic information is based on of the respondent’s address at the time of the interview and at the time of the previous Census.
Contextual data files are available for the 1995, 2002 and 2006-2010 public use data files as well. Learn more about accessing data through the Research Data Center.
The most recent year for which data are available is not necessarily the most recent year this survey was conducted.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
For 2011-2013 data: State, county or county-equivalent area (representing or grouped into primary sampling units around metropolitan areas). For prior survey years: those variables and metropolitan statistical area, block, block group, and census tract.
Existing Linkages
NSFG data on individuals (anonymized) have been linked to Census Bureau data (including the American Community Survey) on community characteristics using address.
Special Note(s)
A list of community contextual variables available through the Census linkages is available from NCHS.
Selected Publications
Diet-Related
Mosher WD, Deang LP, Bramlett MD. Community environment and women’s health outcomes: Contextual data. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics 2003;23(23):1-72.
Weight-Related
Boehmer U, Bowen DJ, Bauer GR. Overweight and obesity in sexual-minority women: Evidence from population-based data. American Journal of Public Health 2007;97(6):1-7.
Brunner-Huber LR, Toth JL. Obesity and oral contraceptive failure: Findings from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. American Journal of Epidemiology 2007;166(11):1306-1311.
Callegaria LS, Nelsonc KM, Arterburnd DE, Pragera SW, Schiffa MS, Bimla Schwarzg E. 2014. Factors associated with lack of effective contraception among obese women in the United States. Contraception 90:265-71.
Vahratian A. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age: Results from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Maternal and Child Health Journal 2009;13(2):268-273.
Methods
Groves RM, Mosher WD, Lepkowski J, Kirgis NG. Planning and development of the continuous National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics 2009;1(48):1-64.
Lepkowski JM, Mosher WD, Davis KE, Groves RM, Van Hoewyk J. The 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth: Sample design and analysis of a continuous survey. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics 2010;2(150):1-36.
Lepkowski JM, Mosher WD, Groves RM, et al. Responsive design, weighting, and variance estimation in the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(158). 2013.
