Data Sources—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP).

Description

BRFSS is administered as a telephone interview. Computer-assisted telephone interviewing has been used since 2004. State data may be collected directly by the State health department or through a contractor. In 2007, 12 State health departments collected their data in-house; 42 contracted data collection to university survey research centers or commercial firms.

Survey Sample Design

BRFSS is a State-based system of telephone health surveys of adults age 18 and over who reside in households with telephones. Random-digit-dialed (RDD) probability design was used initially. Disproportionate stratified sample (DSS) design has been implemented since 2003 and the number of States using DSS is increasing. In the DSS design most commonly used in the BRFSS, telephone numbers are divided into two strata, high density and medium density. Strata are sampled separately. Telephone numbers in the high-density stratum are sampled at the highest rate. In 2009, 50 States and the District of Columbia used DSS design. Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands used RDD design.

One resident household was chosen if a selected telephone number reached a household. One adult in the household was randomly selected to be interviewed.

Primary Survey Content

The objective of BRFSS is to collect uniform, State-specific data on preventive health practices and risk behaviors that are linked to chronic diseases, injuries, and preventable infectious diseases in the adult population.

The survey consists of core questions asked in all States, standardized optional questions on selected topics that are administered at the State's discretion, a rotating set of core questions asked every other year in all States, and State-added questions developed to address State-specific needs. Questions cover behavioral risk factors (e.g., alcohol and tobacco use), preventive health measures, HIV/AIDS, health status, activity limitations, and health care access and utilization.

Population Targeted

U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and over who reside in households with telephones.

Demographic Data

Gender, age, educational attainment, race/ethnicity, household income, employment status, and marital status.

Years Collected

Since 1984. The number of States participating in the survey has increased from 15 in 1984 to 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands since 2001.

Schedule

Annual. Data are collected monthly.

Geographic Estimates

National; State; smaller area estimates possible in some States.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System operational and user's guide. Version 3.0. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; December 12, 2006.

Go to http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/technical_infodata/index.htm for a collection of documents and survey data providing technical and statistical information regarding the BRFSS, such as comparability and sampling information.

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NAMCS is an annual survey that collects visit, practice, and provider-level data from office-based physicians and community health center (CHC) providers in the United States. Field personnel meet with participating office-based physicians and instruct them in survey data collection methods. Physicians are asked to complete a 1-page questionnaire (Patient Record Form) on a sample of their office visits during their assigned reporting period. However, more than half of NAMCS Patient Record forms submitted in 2008 (53.8%) were abstracted by field personnel from the U.S. Census Bureau rather than by the physician or medical office personnel.

Survey Sample Design

NAMCS has been fielded since 1989. The sampling frame for office-based physicians in NAMCS is derived from the American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association master files. Physicians are excluded if they are federally employed, do not provide direct patient care, or specialize in anesthesiology, radiology, or pathology.

A special stratum of CHC providers was first added in 2006. The sampling frame for CHC providers in NAMCS is developed using data from the Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Primary Health Care Uniform Data System and the Indian Health Service. Each participating CHC provides a list of physicians and midlevel providers who would be available during the predetermined 1-week reporting period. This list becomes the frame for selection of up to three physicians and midlevel providers in each CHC.

To maintain consistency with measures included prior to 2006, visits to CHC midlevel providers are excluded from the NHQR and NHDR. In 2007 and 2008, data from a total of 61,519 visits were obtained from 2,544 office-based physicians. Unweighted and weighted response rates in these years ranged from 59% to 62%, respectively.

Primary Survey Content

Data are collected from medical records and include type of provider seen; reason for visit; diagnoses; drugs ordered, provided, or continued; and selected procedures and tests ordered or performed during the visit. Patient data include age, sex, race, and expected source of payment. Data are also collected on selected characteristics of physician practices.

Population Targeted

Sample data are weighted to produce national estimates of office visits. The basic sampling unit is the patient visit. The specialties of anesthesiology, pathology, and radiology are not included. Also not included are contacts by telephone, visits made outside the physician's office, visits in hospitals or institutional settings, and visits made for administrative purposes only.

Demographic Data

Patient age, gender, race, and ethnicity.

Years Collected

Annually from 1973-1981; 1985; an annual schedule was resumed in 1989.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National; U.S. Census Bureau regions.

Notes

NAMCS is a visit-based survey rather than a population-based survey. Therefore, estimates of incidence and prevalence of disease cannot be computed. The survey is cross-sectional in nature. Multiple visits may be made by the same person within the sample.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ahcd.htm.

References

Hsiao CJ, Cherry DK, Beatty PC, et al. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2007 summary. National Health Statistics Report 2010;27. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr027.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

2007 NAMCS micro-data file documentation. Available at: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NAMCS/doc07.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

2008 NAMCS micro-data file documentation. Available at: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NAMCS/doc08.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NHANES is a computer-assisted in-person interview, conducted in the household and in private mobile examination centers. NHANES includes clinical examinations, selected medical and laboratory tests, and self-reported data. Interviews are conducted in the mobile examination center for sensitive topics as well as for physical examinations and laboratory tests.

Survey Sample Design

The NHANES sample design has changed over time. NHANES III, conducted from 1988 to 1994, consisted of two phases of comparable length and sample size. Phase 1 and Phase 2 comprised random samples of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Beginning in 1999, NHANES became a continuous, annual survey. The sample design is a complex, multistage, clustered design using unequal probabilities of selection. In 1999-2006, African Americans, Mexican Americans, people with low income, people ages 12-19 years, and people age 60 years and over were oversampled.

NHANES samples 30 primary sampling units (PSUs) within a 2-year survey cycle. The sample size in each PSU is roughly equal and is intended to yield about 5,000 examined people per year. From 1988 to 2006, the household interview response rates were in the range of 79% to 86%, and the medical examination response rates were in the range of 76% to 80%.

Primary Survey Content

Data collected include information on chronic disease prevalence and conditions (including undiagnosed conditions), risk factors, dietary intake and nutritional status, immunization status, infectious disease prevalence, health insurance, and environmental exposures. Other topics addressed include hearing, vision, mental health, anemia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, obesity, oral health, and physical fitness.

Population Targeted

For NHANES III, the civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in the United States age 2 months and over. Beginning in 1999, people of all ages.

Demographic Data

Gender, age, education, race/ethnicity, place of birth, income, occupation, and industry.

Years Collected

From 1960 to 1962 (National Health Examination Survey [NHES] I), 1963-1965 (NHES II), 1966-1970 (NHES III), 1971-1974 (NHANES I), 1976-1980 (NHANES II), 1982-1984 (Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), 1988-1994 (NHANES III), 1999-2010 (NHANES).

Schedule

Fielded periodically (1960-1994); continuously beginning in 1999, with data releases occurring in 2-year cycles.

Geographic Estimates

National; four U.S. Census Bureau regions (from 1988).

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.

References

Ezzati TM, Massey JT, Waksberg J, et al. Sample design: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Vital Health Stat 1992;2(113).

National Center for Health Statistics. Plan and operation of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-94. Vital Health Stat 1994;1(32).

Analytic and reporting guidelines: the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; September 2006. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes2005-2006/nhanes05_06.htm.

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NHIS is a cross-sectional household interview survey that gathers information on demographic characteristics, illnesses, injuries, impairments, chronic conditions, use of health resources, health insurance, and other health topics. Using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI), professional interviewers conduct personal interviews in households in English and Spanish (the CAPI Spanish version was initiated in mid-1998). A new NHIS instrument, which uses Blaise® computer-assisted interviewing software, was implemented for the 2004 survey year.

Survey Sample Design

Sampling and interviewing are continuous throughout each year. The sampling plan follows a multistage area probability design that allows representative sampling of households. The sampling plan is redesigned after every decennial census. The current sampling plan was implemented in 2006. It has many similarities to the previous sampling plan, which was in place from 1995 to 2005.

The first stage of the current sampling plan consists of a sample of 428 primary sampling units (PSUs) drawn from approximately 1,900 geographically defined PSUs that cover the 50 States and the District of Columbia. A PSU consists of a county, a small group of contiguous counties, or a metropolitan statistical area. Within a PSU, two types of second-stage units are used: area segments and permit segments. Area segments are defined geographically and contain an expected 8, 12, or 16 addresses. Permit segments cover housing units built after the 2000 census. The permit segments are defined based on updated lists of building permits issued in the PSU since 2000 and contain an expected four addresses.

The current NHIS sample design continues oversampling Blacks and Hispanics, which was a new feature of the previous sample design. A new feature of the current design is that Asians are oversampled as well. In addition, the adult selection process has been revised so that Black, Hispanic, and Asian people age 65 and over have an increased probability of being selected. The new sample design is anticipated to result in approximately 87,500 people residing in 35,000 households with completed interviews each year. The survey is designed so that the sample scheduled for each week is representative of the target population and the weekly samples are additive over time.

Primary Survey Content

The core household interview asks about everyone in the household. Additional questions are asked of one sample adult and one sample child (under 18 years) per family in the household. The sample adult questionnaire includes chronic health conditions and activity limitations, health behaviors, health care access, health care provider contacts, immunizations, and AIDS knowledge and attitudes. The sample child questionnaire includes questions about chronic health conditions, activity limitations, health status, behavior problems, health care access and use, and immunizations.

Child data are proxy reported by a parent or other knowledgeable adult respondent. Adult sample person data are all self-reported. Special modules are fielded periodically and cover areas such as cancer, prevention, disability, and use of complementary and alternative medicine.

Population Targeted

Civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in the United States.

Demographic Data

Gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, income, marital status, place of birth, industry, and occupation.

Years Collected

Continuously, since 1957. Current sample design began in 2006; current questionnaire design began in 1997.

Schedule

Annually.

Geographic Estimates

National; U.S. Census Bureau regions; some of the 10 Health and Human Services regions; some States; metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.

Notes

The annual NHIS response rate is close to 90% of the eligible households in the sample.

Metropolitan statistical areas are based on the 2000 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for defining metropolitan and micropolitan areas and on the 2000 census:

Metropolitan categories:

• Large Central—Central counties in metro areas of 1 million or more population.
• Large Fringe—Outlying counties in metro areas of 1 million or more population.
• Medium—Counties in metro areas of 250,000-999,999 population.
• Small—Counties in metro areas of 50,000-249,999 population.

Nonmetropolitan categories:

• Micropolitan—Counties in areas with an urban cluster of 10,000-49,999 population.
• Noncore—Nonmicropolitan.

For details, the 2006 NCHS Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/urban_rural.htm.

Adults with a disability are defined to be those with physical, sensory, and/or mental health conditions that can be associated with a decrease in functioning in such day-to-day activities as bathing, walking, doing everyday chores, and/or engaging in work or social activities.

Limitations in basic activities represent problems with mobility and other basic functioning at the person level. Basic activities include problems with mobility; self-care (activities of daily living, or ADLs); domestic life (instrumental ADLs); and activities dependent on sensory functioning (limited to people who are blind or deaf).

Limitations in complex activities represent limitations encountered when the person, in interaction with his or her environment, attempts to participate in community life. Complex activities include limitations experienced in work; and in community, social, and civic life. These two categories are not mutually exclusive since people may have limitations both in basic activities and in complex activities.

Neither basic nor complex activities include adults with neither basic nor complex activity limitations.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

References

For more details, refer to the NHIS description documents available from the datasets and documentation section at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

National Center for Health Statistics. Data file documentation, National Health Interview Survey, 2006 (machine-readable data file and documentation). Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2007.

National Center for Health Statistics. Data file documentation, National Health Interview Survey, 2005 (machine-readable data file and documentation). Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2006.

National HIV/AIDS Surveillance System

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP).

Description

The HIV/AIDS Surveillance System is the Nation's source for timely information on HIV/AIDS. CDC funds and assists State and local health departments to collect the information. Health departments report their data to CDC.

Since the epidemic was first identified in the United States in 1981, population-based AIDS surveillance has been used to track the progression of the HIV epidemic. Since 1985, many States have implemented HIV case reporting as part of their comprehensive HIV/AIDS surveillance programs. As of April 2008, 57 areas had laws or regulations requiring confidential reporting by name for adults, adolescents, and children with confirmed HIV infection (not AIDS) in addition to the reporting of people with AIDS.

All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. dependent areas report AIDS cases to CDC by using a uniform surveillance case definition and case report form. The original definition was modified in 1985 and 1987. The case definition for adults and adolescents was modified again in 1993.

Primary Content

Mode of exposure to HIV, case definition category, and other clinical and demographic information.

Population Targeted

Entire population of all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories. AIDS data are nationally representative.

Demographic Data

Age, gender, race, ethnicity, State and county of residence, and country of birth, as well as whether the person is alive.

Years Collected

Since 1981.

Schedule

The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report is published annually. Supplemental reports are published on an ad hoc basis and are available online at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm.

Geographic Estimates

National, State, region, and metropolitan statistical area.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/index.htm.

References

HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2007. Vol. 19. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/.

National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

The 2007 NHHCS is one in a continuing series of nationally representative sample surveys of U.S. home health and hospice agencies. It is designed to provide descriptive information on home health and hospice agencies, their staffs, their services, and their patients.

NHHCS, conducted between August 2007 and February 2008, was reintroduced into the field in 2007 after a 7-year break. During that time, the survey was redesigned and expanded to include a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) system, many new data items, and larger sample sizes of current home health patients and hospice discharges. All agencies that participated in the survey were either certified by Medicare or Medicaid or were licensed by a State to provide home health or hospice services and currently or recently served home health or hospice patients. The survey excluded agencies that provided only homemaker services or housekeeping services, assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), or durable medical equipment and supplies. The 2007 NHHCS included a supplemental survey of home health aides employed by home health and hospice agencies, called the National Home Health Aide Survey (NHHAS).

Survey Sample Design

The 2007 NHHCS used a stratified two-stage probability sample design. The first stage, carried out by NCHS, was the selection of home health and hospice agencies from the sample frame of more than 15,000 agencies. These represented the universe of agencies providing home health care and hospice services in the United States. The primary sampling strata of agencies were defined by agency type and metropolitan statistical area (MSA) status. Within these sampling strata, agencies were sorted by census region, ownership, certification status, State, county, ZIP Code, and size (number of employees). For the 2007 NHHCS, 1,545 agencies were systematically and randomly sampled with probability proportional to size.

The second stage of sample selection was completed by the interviewers during the agency interviews. The current home health patients and hospice discharges were randomly selected by a computer algorithm, based on a census list provided by each agency director or his or her designee. Up to 10 current home health patients were randomly selected per home health agency, up to 10 hospice discharges were randomly selected per hospice agency, and a combination of up to 10 current home health patients and hospice discharges were randomly selected per mixed agency. Current home health patients were defined as patients who were on the rolls of the agency as of midnight of the day immediately before the agency interview. The hospice discharges were defined as patients who were discharged from the hospice agency during the 3-month period beginning 4 months before the agency interview. Discharges that occurred because of the death of a sampled hospice patient were included.

Primary Survey Content

Agency data collected, available in agency administrative records, included information on the year an agency was established, the types of services an agency provided, referral sources, specialty programs, and staffing characteristics. Data collected on home health patients and hospice discharges, available in medical records, included age, sex, race and ethnicity, services received, length of time since admission, diagnoses, medications taken, advance directives, and many other items.

Population Targeted

Agency directors and their designated staff in the United States.

Demographic Data

Gender, age, race and ethnicity.

Years Collected

NHHCS was first conducted in 1992 and was repeated in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000, and most recently in 2007-2008.

Geographic Estimates

National. The primary sampling strata of agencies were defined by agency type and MSA status.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhhcs.htm.

References

For more details, refer to the NHHCS description documents available from the datasets and documentation section at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhhcs/nhhcs_questionnaires.htm.

National Center for Health Statistics. Survey methodology, National Home and Hospice Care Survey. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2007.

National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NHAMCS collects data on the use and provision of medical care services in hospital emergency departments (EDs) and outpatient departments (OPDs). Hospital staff are asked to complete 1-page questionnaires (Patient Record forms, or PRFs) on a sample of their patient visits during an assigned reporting period. However, about one-third of NHAMCS PRFs submitted in 2008 (32.3%) were abstracted by field personnel from the U.S. Census Bureau rather than by hospital staff.

Survey Sample Design

NHAMCS is designed as a national probability sample of visits to EDs and OPDs of non-Federal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the United States. NHAMCS uses a 4-stage probability design that involves samples of primary sampling units (PSUs), hospitals within PSUs, clinics within hospitals, and patient visits within clinics and emergency service areas. Hospital staff are asked to complete PRFs for a systematic random sample of patient visits occurring during a randomly assigned 4-week reporting period during the survey year.

About 400 hospitals participate in NHAMCS each year. About 350 hospitals have eligible EDs and 200 have eligible OPDs. In 2007 and 2008, 69,624 PRFs were completed for ED visits and 68,381 PRFs were completed for OPD visits. Response rates in 2007 and 2008 ranged from 61% for OPDs to 89% for EDs.

Primary Survey Content

Information is obtained on various aspects of ED and OPD patient visits, including patient, hospital, and visit characteristics. The survey instrument is redesigned every 2 to 4 years to address changing health data needs. Among the items collected are patient's age, gender, race, and ethnicity; patient's expressed reason for visit; intentionality of injury, if any; physician's diagnoses; diagnostic services ordered or provided; procedures provided; medications; providers seen; visit disposition; immediacy with which patient should be seen; and expected source of payment. Items collected that are specific to the ED include mode of arrival, waiting time, duration of time in the ED, initial vital signs, and cause of injury.

Population Targeted

The survey is a representative sample of visits to EDs and OPDs of non-Federal, short-stay, or general hospitals, exclusive of Federal, military, and Veterans Affairs hospitals, located in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Telephone contacts and visits for administrative purposes are excluded. NHAMCS is weighted to give national estimates of ED and hospital OPD visits.

Demographic Data

Patient age, gender, race, and ethnicity.

Years Collected

Since 1992.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National; U.S. Census Bureau regions.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ahcd.htm.

References

Niska R, Bhuiya F, Xu J. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2007 emergency department summary. National Health Statistics Report 2010;26. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr026.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

Hing E, Hall MJ, Ashman JJ, et al. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2007 outpatient department summary. National Health Statistics Report 2010;28. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr028.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

2007 NHAMCS micro-data file documentation. Available at: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NHAMCS/doc07.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

2008 NHAMCS micro-data file documentation. Available at: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NHAMCS/doc08.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NHDS collects and produces national estimates on characteristics of inpatient stays in non-Federal short-stay hospitals in the United States. NHDS data are abstracted from inpatient medical records by U.S. Census Bureau field personnel. In addition, electronic files are purchased from commercial sources, States, or hospitals.

Survey Sample Design

In 1965-1987, NHDS was a two-stage stratified systematic random sample. Under the 1988 redesign, hospitals were selected using a modified three-stage stratified design. Units selected at the first stage consisted of either hospitals or geographic areas. The geographic areas were primary sampling units (PSUs) used for the 1985-1994 National Health Interview Survey, which are geographic areas such as counties or townships.

Hospitals within PSUs were selected at the second stage. Strata at this stage were defined by geographic region, PSU size, abstracting service status, and hospital specialty-size groups. Within these strata, hospitals were selected with probabilities proportional to their annual number of discharges. At the third stage, a sample of discharges was selected by a systematic random sampling technique.

In 2007, 501 hospitals were selected and 422 participated. The unweighted response rate was 88% and the weighted response rate was 82%. Data were collected from medical records for approximately 365,000 discharges.

Primary Survey Content

Patient information collected includes demographics, length of stay, diagnoses, and procedures. Hospital characteristics collected include region, ownership, and bed size.

Population Targeted

NHDS contains a sample of discharges from non-Federal hospitals located in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. The survey only includes hospitals with an average length of stay for all patients of less than 30 days or with a general (medical/surgical) or children's specialty. NHDS data are weighted to give national and regional estimates of hospital discharges.

Demographic Data

Patient age, gender, race, and ethnicity.

Years Collected

1965 to present.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National; four U.S. Census Bureau regions.

Notes

Data on race are not available from some hospitals because the hospitals provide data from billing forms that do not include race as a required item. In general, nonresponse rates for all races are about 22% to 25%; nonresponse rates among people of Hispanic origin are greater, at about 60% to 63% annually.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhds.htm.

References

Kozak LJ. Underreporting of race in the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Advance Data From Vital And Health Statistics. No. 265. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 1995.

Dennison CF, Pokras R. Design and operation of the National Hospital Discharge Survey: 1988 redesign. Vital Health Stat 2000;1(39).

National Hospital Discharge Survey, 2007. Public use data file documentation. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics; April 2010. Available at: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NHDS/NHDS_2007_Documentation.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed January 27, 2010.

National Immunization Survey (NIS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NIS is a continuing nationwide telephone sample survey to monitor vaccination coverage rates among children ages 19-35 months. Starting in 2006, NIS-Teen was established to collect similar information for adolescents ages 13-17 years. NIS-Teen was conducted for a national sample in the fourth quarters of 2006 and 2007 and expanded to an annual sample in each of 56 or more State and local geographic areas starting in 2008.

The first stage of survey administration is conducted using telephone interviews with households having age-eligible children. In the second stage, provider reports of vaccination information from the child's medical record are obtained.

Survey Sample Design

In each of 56 or more State and local geographic areas (which together make up the United States), NIS draws independent quarterly samples of telephone numbers and then uses random-digit dialing to identify households that have one or more children ages 19 to 35 months. In the telephone interview, the interviewer collects vaccination information for each child that meets the age criterion and obtains permission to contact the providers of the child's vaccinations. In a second phase, a mail survey, NIS asks providers to report vaccination information from the child's medical record. This information is generally more accurate and complete than the household information.

Primary Survey Content

Data collected for children ages 19-35 months include vaccination status and timing for diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis (DTP/DT/DTAP); polioe; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib); hepatitis B (Hep B); varicella zoster; pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV); hepatitis A (Hep A); influenza; and rotavirus. Data are collected by race and ethnicity, income, location of residence, geographic division, State, and selected urban areas.

Population Targeted

Children ages 19-35 months or 13-17 years living in the United States at the time of the interview.

Demographic Data

Gender, race, ethnicity, income, location of residence, four U.S. Census Bureau regions.

Years Collected

Since 1994. Data collection for varicella began in July 1996; data collection for PCV began in July 2001.

Schedule

Quarterly samples, reported annually.

Geographic Estimates

National, State, and local areas.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/.

NIS estimates home page: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/default.htm#nis.

Data system and information for survey respondents home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nis.

References

Zell ER, Ezzati-Rice TM, Battaglia MP, et al. National Immunization Survey: the methodology of a vaccination surveillance system. Public Health Rep 2000;115(1):65-77.

National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Description

NPCR provides funds and guidance to States and U.S. territories to implement and enhance their cancer registries. As of 2010, NPCR supported central registries and promoted the use of registry data in 45 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Island jurisdictions. Cancer registry data collected through NPCR are used to identify and monitor trends in cancer incidence and mortality; guide planning and evaluation of cancer control programs; help allocate health resources; contribute to clinical, epidemiologic, and health services research; and respond to concerns from citizens over the presence of cancer in their communities.

Population Targeted

NPCR registries collect data about cancer cases occurring in approximately 96% of the U.S. population.

Demographic Data

Gender, age, race.

Years Collected

Since 1994.

Schedule

Data collection is ongoing and reports are published periodically. Since 2001, State registries have been reporting data annually.

Geographic Estimates

National; participating States.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/index.htm.

References

U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States cancer statistics: 1999-2006 incidence and mortality Web-based report version. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/uscs.

National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP), Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention (DSTDP), and Division of Reproductive Health (DRH); Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Population Affairs (OPA); Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau; and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (OASPE).

Mode of Administration

Professional interviewers used computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) based on Blaise� software to conduct personal, in-home interviews in English and Spanish with one person per selected household in a private setting. A portion of the interview was conducted using audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) to allow respondents greater privacy in answering sensitive questions.

Description

NSFG is designed and administered by NCHS in response to Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act, which directs NCHS to "collect statistics on... family formation, growth, and dissolution," as well as "determinants of health" and "utilization of health care." Accordingly, the purpose of the survey is to produce reliable national statistics on:

• Factors affecting pregnancy—including sexual activity, contraceptive use, and infertility.
• Medical care associated with contraception, infertility, and childbirth.
• Factors affecting marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and adoption.
• Childrearing practices among women and men.
• Men's and women's attitudes about sex, childbearing, and marriage.

Survey Sample Design

The first step in the sampling procedure was to select a national sample of 110 primary sampling units (PSUs). PSUs are counties or groups of adjacent counties. This national sample was divided into four parts, each of which was a nationally representative sample. The fieldwork plan envisioned working the sample over a 4-year period, so one of these four national quarter samples was used each year.

The NSFG sample design consisted of five stages of selection to choose eligible sample persons. Women, teens ages 15-19, and Black and Hispanic persons are selected at higher rates, yielding an oversample of such persons.

Primary Survey Content

NSFG is intended to produce reliable national statistics on factors affecting pregnancy and birth rates, including variables that affect whether sexual activity occurs, whether pregnancy occurs, and whether pregnancy results in a live birth. As part of this core mission, information is gathered on a host of related topics such as sociodemographic characteristics; sexual activity; marriage, divorce, and cohabitation; children ever born, as well as pregnancies that did not end in live birth; contraceptive use and the use of family planning services; infertility, impaired fecundity, and use of infertility services; pregnancy intention and other circumstances surrounding pregnancy; breastfeeding; adoption and the care of nonbiologic children; and attitudes regarding sex, childbearing, and marriage.

In more recent cycles, questions have been added to monitor various indicators related to HIV and risk of sexually transmitted disease, including HIV testing and a range of drug-related and sexual behaviors. With the inclusion of men in Cycle 6, greater attention has been paid to men's experience with fathering.

While the questionnaires are structured somewhat differently for men and women, they are designed to yield essentially comparable data for men and women on key indicators related to fertility, family formation, and reproductive health.

Population Targeted

Civilian, noninstitutionalized men and women ages 15-44 years living in households in the United States.

Demographic Data

Gender, age, race, Hispanic origin, education, income, marital/cohabiting status, place of birth, and other variables.

Years Collected

Periodically conducted surveys from 1973-2002. Continuous since June 2006.

Schedule

Periodic.

Geographic Estimates

National; counties and cities; PSUs consisting of groups of adjacent blocks selected randomly.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm.

References

For more details, refer to the NSFG description documents available from the datasets and documentation section at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/nsfg_questionnaires.htm.

Abma JC, Martinez GM, Copen CE. Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006-2008. Vital and Health Statistics Series 23, No. 30. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2010.

Chabot MJ, Lewis C, Thiel de Bocanegra H, et al. Correlates of receiving reproductive health care services among U.S. men aged 15 to 44 years. Am J Mens Health 2011;5(4):358-66.

Chandra A, Mosher WD, Copen CE, et al. sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity in the United States: data from the 2006-2008 National Survey of Family Growth. National Health Statistics Report 2011;36.

Edwards LM, Haglund K, Fehring RJ, et al. Religiosity and sexual risk behaviors among Latina adolescents: trends from 1995 to 2008. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2011;20(6):871-7.

Eisenberg ML, Lipshultz LI. [Letter to the editor re: Eisenberg ML, Lipshultz LI. Estimating the number of vasectomies performed annually in the United States: data from the National Survey of Family Growth. J Urol 2010;184(5):2068-72.] J Urol 2011;185(4):1541-2.

Ford JL. Racial and ethnic disparities in human papillomavirus awareness and vaccination among young adult women. Public Health Nurs 2011 Nov-Dec;28(6):485-93. Epub 2011 Jun 6.

Gelman A, Nikolajski C, Schwarz EB, et al. Racial disparities in awareness of the human papillomavirus. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2011;20(8):1165-73.

Guzzo KB, Hayford S. Fertility following an unintended first birth. Demography 2011 Nov;48(4):1493-516.

Jones R, Dreweke J. Countering conventional wisdom: new evidence on religion and contraceptive use. New York: Guttmacher Institute; 2011.

Kavanaugh ML, Jerman J, Hubacher D, et al. Characteristics of women in the United States who use long-acting reversible contraceptive methods. Obstet Gynecol 2011;117(6):1349-57.

Kavanaugh ML, Williams SL, Schwarz EB. Emergency contraception use and counseling after changes in United States prescription status. Fertil Steril 2011 Jun 30;95(8):2578-81. Epub 2011 Apr 1.

Lepkowski JM, Mosher WD, Davis KE, et al. The 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth: sample design and analysis of a continuous survey. Vital Health Stat 2;2010 Jun;(150):1-36.

Livingston G, Parker K. A tale of two fathers: more are active, but more are absent. Washington, DC: Pew Social & Demographic Trends; 2011.

Martinez GM, Abma JC, Copen CE. Educating teenagers about sex in the United States. NCHS Data Brief 2010 Sep;(44):1-8.

McNamee CB, Raley RK. A note on race, ethnicity and nativity differentials in remarriage in the United States. Demographic Research 2011;24(13):293-312.

Mosher WD, Jones J. Use of contraception in the United States: 1982-2008. Vital Health Stat 23;2010 Aug;(29):1-44.

Pazol K, Warner L, Gavin L, et al. Vital signs: teen pregnancy—United States, 1991-2009. MMWR 2011;60(13):414-20.

Stidham Hall K, Moreau C, Trussell J. Discouraging trends in reproductive health service use among adolescent and young adult women in the USA, 2002-2008. Hum Reprod 2011;26(9):2541-8.

Welti K, Wildsmith E, Manlove J. Trends and recent estimates: contraceptive use among U.S. teens and young adults. Child Trends Research Brief. Washington, DC: Child Trends; December 2011. Publication #2011-23. Available at: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2011_12_01_RB_ContraceptiveUse.pdf [Plugin Software Help]. Accessed March 13, 2012.

Xu X, Macaluso M, Frost J, et al. Characteristics of users of intrauterine devices and other reversible contraceptive methods in the United States. Fertil Steril 2011 Nov;96(5):1138-44. Epub 2011 Sep 13.

National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTBSS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE).

Description

Reports of verified cases of tuberculosis (RVCT) are submitted to DTBE by 60 reporting areas (the 50 States, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, and 7 other jurisdictions in the Pacific and Caribbean). In January 1993, an expanded system was developed to collect additional information for each reported TB case to better monitor trends in TB and TB control. A software package (SURVS-TB) for data entry, analysis, and transmission of case reports to CDC was designed and implemented as part of the expanded TB surveillance system. In 1998, the Tuberculosis Information Management System (TIMS) replaced SURVS-TB.

In total, 11,182 TB cases were reported in the United States in 2010.

Primary Content

Number of new TB cases, patient management, and program evaluation.

In the expanded system started in January 1993, the RVCT form for reporting TB cases was revised to collect information on occupation, initial drug regimen, HIV test results, history of substance abuse and homelessness, and residence in correctional or long-term care facilities at the time of diagnosis. RVCT Follow Up Report-1 was added to collect drug susceptibility results for the initial M. tuberculosis isolate from patients with culture-positive disease. To evaluate the outcomes of TB therapy, RVCT Follow Up Report-2 was added to collect information on the reason and date therapy was stopped, type of health care provider, sputum culture conversion, use of directly observed therapy, and results of drug susceptibility testing for the final M. tuberculosis isolate from patients with culture-positive disease.

Population Targeted

Civilian population residing in the United States with a diagnosis of TB.

Demographic Data

Age, gender, race, and country of origin.

Years Collected

In aggregate form, since 1953; in individual case forms since 1985.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National and State.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov.

Data source home page: http://www.cdc.gov/tb.

References

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination. Reported tuberculosis in the United States, 2010. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; October 2011. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/statistics/reports/2010/pdf/report2010.pdf [Plugin Software Help].

National Vital Statistics System: Linked Birth and Infant Death Data (NVSS-I)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NCHS's Division of Vital Statistics obtains information on births and deaths from the registration offices of each of the 50 States, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands. Before 1972, NCHS received and processed microfilm copies of all death certificates and a 50% sample of birth certificates from all registration areas. In 1972, some States began sending their data to NCHS through the Cooperative Health Statistics System (CHSS). States that participated in the CHSS program processed 100% of their death and birth records and sent the entire data file to NCHS on computer tapes.

Currently, data are sent to NCHS through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP), following the same procedures as CHSS. The number of participating States grew from 6 in 1972 to 46 in 1984. Starting in 1985, all 50 States and the District of Columbia participated in VSCP.

In the linked birth and infant death dataset, the information from the death certificate is linked to the information from the birth certificate for each infant less than age 1 who dies in the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam. Starting with data year 1995, linked file data are produced in a period data format preceding the release of the corresponding birth cohort format. The 2005 linked file contains a numerator file that consists of all infant deaths occurring in 2005 that have been linked to their corresponding birth certificates, whether the birth occurred in 2004 or 2005.

Other changes to the dataset, starting with 1995 data, include addition of record weights to correct for the 1.0% to 1.4% of records that could not be linked in 2000 to 2005 (2% in 1995 to 1999) and imputation for unstated birth weight.

Primary Survey Content

The vital statistics general mortality data are a fundamental source of geographic and cause-of-death information and some demographic information. The birth certificate is the primary source of demographic information, such as age, race, and Hispanic origin of the parents; maternal education; live birth order; and mother's marital status. It also provides maternal and infant health information, such as birth weight, period of gestation, plurality, prenatal care, and maternal smoking.

Population Targeted

Infants in 50 States and District of Columbia.

Demographic Data

Age, gender, race, and Hispanic origin of infant and parents, mother's education and marital status.

Years Collected

Linked data are available for the data years 1983-1991 and 1995-2007.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National and State.

Place of death is classified by State and county. In residence classification, all deaths are allocated to the usual place of residence as reported on the death certificate and are classified by State, county, and city.

Notes

Data on mother's educational attainment, tobacco use during pregnancy, and prenatal care based on the 2003 revision are not comparable with data based on the 1989 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/linked.htm.

References

Mathews TJ, MacDorman MF. Infant mortality statistics from the 2006 period linked birth/infant death data set. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2010 Apr 30;58(17):1-31.

National Vital Statistics System: Mortality (NVSS-M)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NVSS mortality files include data for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. All deaths occurring in those areas are included (approximately 2.3 to 2.4 million annually).

By law, registration of deaths is a funeral director's responsibility. Administrative records (death certificates) completed by funeral directors, physicians, medical examiners, and coroners are filed with State vital statistics offices. Selected statistical information is forwarded to NCHS to be merged into a national statistical file.

Beginning with 1989, revised standard certificates replaced the 1978 versions. States are phasing in revisions to the certificates that occurred in 2003. Demographic information on the death certificate is provided by the funeral director and is based on information supplied by an informant. Medical certification of cause of death is provided by a physician, medical examiner, or coroner.

Currently, data are sent to NCHS through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP). The number of States participating in the VSCP program grew from 6 in 1972 to 46 in 1984. Starting in 1985, all 50 States and the District of Columbia participated in VSCP.

Primary Content

Year of death, place of decedent's residence, place death occurred, age at death, day of week and month of death, Hispanic origin (beginning in 1984), race, marital status (beginning in 1979), place of birth, gender, underlying and multiple causes of death for all States, injury at work (beginning in 1993), hospital and patient status, and educational attainment (beginning in 1989) for selected States.

Population Targeted

U.S. population.

Demographic Data

Sex, race, Hispanic origin, age at death, place of decedent's residence, educational attainment for selected States, and marital status.

Race and ethnic origin are separate items on the death certificate. Beginning in 1992, California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington reported expanded Asian and Pacific Islander categories: Asian Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, Samoan, and Guamanian. The rest of the States reported a combined Other Asian and Pacific Islander category in addition to the categories of White, Black, American Indian, Chinese, Hawaiian, Japanese, and Filipino that all States report. As of 1997, all States report Hispanic origin. The categories reported include Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, and Other Hispanic. Beginning with data for 2003, multiple-race data are available for selected States.

Years Collected

The mortality reporting data system began in 1880, but not all States participated before 1933. Coverage for deaths has been complete since 1933.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National, regional, State, and county.

Notes

Beginning with 1989 data, some changes were initiated to increase confidentiality. Identifying information, including date of death and geographic identifiers for counties of fewer than 100,000 people, is not available for public use.

Data on educational attainment have been revised since 2004. Some States implemented the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth, while others still use the 1989 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth.

NHQR and NHDR tables report geographic location. Geographic locations are based on the 2000 Office of Management and Budget standards for defining metropolitan and micropolitan areas and on the 2000 census:

• Metropolitan areas:
  • Large Central: Central counties in metro areas of 1 million or more population.
  • Large Fringe: Outlying counties in metro areas of 1 million or more population.
  • Medium: Counties in metro areas of 250,000-999,999 population.
  • Small: Counties in metro areas of 50,000-249,999 population.
• Nonmetropolitan areas:
  • Micropolitan: Counties in areas with an urban cluster of 10,000-49,999 population.
  • Noncore: Nonmicropolitan.

Details are in the 2006 NCHS Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties, available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/urban_rural.htm.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm.

References

Miniño AM, Xu JQ, Kochanek KD. Deaths: preliminary data for 2008. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2010 Dec 9;59(2):1-52.

Xu JQ, Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, et al. Deaths: final data for 2007. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2010 May 20;58(19):1-135.

National Vital Statistics System: Natality (NVSS-N)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Description

NVSS natality files include approximately 4 million birth records annually, with data for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.

State laws require birth certificates to be completed for all births. The registration of births is the responsibility of the professional attendant at birth, generally a physician or midwife. Federal law mandates national collection and publication of birth and other vital statistics data.

Birth certificates completed by physicians and midwives are filed with State vital statistics offices; selected statistical information is forwarded to NCHS to be merged into a national statistical file. Standard forms for the collection of the data and model procedures for the uniform registration of events are developed and recommended for State use through cooperative activities of the States and NCHS. Beginning with 1989, revised standard certificates replaced the 1978 versions; States are phasing in implementation of the next scheduled revision, for 2003.

Primary Content

Demographic information include: year, date, place of birth, and live-birth order.

Maternal and infant health information consists of: month prenatal care began, number of prenatal visits, medical risk factors, tobacco use, alcohol use, maternal weight gain, obstetric procedures, attendant at birth, method of delivery, place of delivery, complications of labor and delivery, period of gestation, birth weight, Apgar score, abnormal conditions of newborn, congenital anomalies, and plurality.

Population Targeted

U.S. resident population.

Demographic Data

Child: Sex.

Mother and father: Race, Hispanic origin (beginning in 1978), age, place of mother's residence, and educational attainment (beginning in 1978) (education of father not currently collected).

Mother: marital status.

Race and Hispanic origin are separate items on the birth certificate. Beginning with 1992 data, California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington have reported expanded Asian and Pacific Islander (API) categories of Asian Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, Samoan, and Guamanian. Eleven States currently collect expanded API categories. The rest of the States report a combined Other Asian and Pacific Islander category in addition to the categories of White, Black, American Indian, Chinese, Hawaiian, Japanese, and Filipino that all States report. As of 1993, all States report Hispanic origin. The categories reported include Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, and Other Hispanic.

Years Collected

The national birth registration system was established in 1915. Not all States participated before 1933. Coverage for births has been complete since 1933.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National, regional, State, and county; also cities of 100,000 population or more.

Beginning with 1989 data, some changes were initiated to increase confidentiality protection. Identifying information, including geographic identifiers for counties of fewer than 100,000 people, is not available for public use.

Notes

Data on mother's educational attainment, tobacco use during pregnancy, and prenatal care have been revised since 2004. Some States implemented the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth, while others still use the 1989 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Data system home page: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm.

References

Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, et al. Births: final data for 2008. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2010 Dec 8;59(1):1-72.

Return to Contents
Proceed to Next Section