NSFG - 2011-2013 NSFG - Public Use Data Files, Codebooks and Documentation

NSFG - 2011-2013 NSFG - Public Use Data Files, Codebooks and Documentation

2011-2013 NSFG: Public Use Data Files, Codebooks, and Documentation

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On this Page

• Codebooks and Documentation
• Variance Estimation Examples
• Questionnaires
• Downloadable Data Files
• Program Statements
• Other Data Files

Codebooks and Documentation

• Codebooks:
  • Webdoc interactive codebook
• User's Guide:
  • Main Text  [PDF - 1.16 MB]
    • Part 1 General Information for Users 
    • Part 2 Topic-Specific Notes 
  • Appendix 1: File Indexes for 2011–2013 NSFG
    • 1a. Female Respondent File Index  [PDF - 689 KB]
    • 1b. Female Pregnancy (Interval) File Index  [PDF - 179 KB]
    • 1c. Male File Index  [PDF - 738 KB]
  • Appendix 2: SAS and STATA Syntax Guidelines for Common File Manipulations  [PDF - 65 KB]
  • Appendix 3: Recode Specifications for 2011–2013 NSFG
    • 3a.Female Respondent File Recode Specifications  [PDF - 573 KB]
    • 3b.Female Pregnancy (Interval) File Recode Specifications  [PDF - 118 KB]
    • 3c. Male File Recode Specifications  [PDF - 391 KB]
  • Appendix 4: Recode “Cross-walk” Grids
    • 4a. Male-Female Recode Crosswalk for 2011–2013  [PDF - 79 KB]
    • 4b. Female and Pregnancy Recode Crosswalks for 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2013  [PDF - 353 KB]
    • 4c. Male Recode Crosswalk for 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011– 2013  [PDF - 49 KB]
  • Appendix 5: Summary of NSFG Questionnaire Changes – NSFG 2011–2013  [PDF - 197 KB]
  • Appendix 6: Frequently Asked Questions about the NSFG  [PDF - 102 KB]
  • Appendix 7: Restricted Use Variables Available through the RDC
    • 7a. List of Restricted Use Variables for the Female File  [PDF - 87 KB]
    • 7b. List of Restricted Use Variables for the Male File  [PDF - 217 KB]
    • 7c. Summary of Variable Modifications for Public Use  [PDF - 87 KB]

Variance Estimation Examples

Variance estimation examples that can be modified to analyze the 2011–2013 NSFG data are provided on the Cycle 6 (2002) webpage. Those examples are intended to cover many of the common types of variance estimation.  Note that the stratum, cluster, and weight variables should be modified to reflect the appropriate 2011–2013 variable names. (See tables below.) See also the 2011–2013 NSFG User’s Guide  [PDF - 1.16 MB], starting on page 13 for more information on sample weights and variance estimation.  If you have any questions about any of these examples, please e-mail the NSFG staff atnsfg@cdc.gov.

2002, 2006-2010, and 2011-2013 Design and Weight Variables

Design variable	2002	2006-2010	2011-2013
Stratum variable	SEST	SEST	SEST
Cluster/Panel Variable	SECU_R (fem resp) SECU_P (fem preg)  SECU (male resp)	SECU	SECU
Final post-stratified, fully adjusted case weight	FINALWGT	WGTQ1Q16	WGT2011_2013

Questionnaires

• Detailed Questionnaire Outlines
• Description of the two questionnaire formats (CAPI-lite and CRQ)
• Female Questionnaire
• Male Questionnaire

Downloadable Data Files

• Female Respondent Data File (2011-2013_FemResp.dat)
• Female Pregnancy Data File (2011-2013_FemPreg.dat)
• Male Respondent Data File (2011-2013_Male.dat)

Program Statements

• SAS Program Statements
  • Female respondent file (2011-2013_FemRespSetup.sas)
  • Pregnancy file (2011-2013_FemPregSetup.sas)
  • Male respondent file (2011-2013_MaleSetup.sas)
• SPSS Program Statements
  • Female respondent file (2011-2013_FemRespSetup.sps)
  • Pregnancy file (2011-2013_FemPregSetup.sps)
  • Male respondent file (2011-2013_MaleRespSetup.sps)
• STATA Program Statements
  • Female respondent file
    • 2011-2013_FemRespSetup.dct
    • 2011-2013_FemRespSetup.do
  • Pregnancy file
    • 2011-2013_FemPregSetup.dct
    • 2011-2013_FemPregSetup.do
  • Male respondent file
    • 2011-2013_MaleSetup.dct
    • 2011-2013_MaleSetup.do

Other Data Files

The NSFG ACASI data for 2011-2013 are now included as part of the main NSFG public use files.  In addition to the main 2011–2013 public use data files, there are other files available containing Interviewer Observation data, Region of Residence, and Contextual data.  Below are instructions on how to access these other data files, as well as further information about the ACASI data.

• ACASI Data (2011-2013)
• Interviewer Observation Data (2011-2013)
• Contextual Data (2011-2013)
• Region (2011-2013)

ACASI Data: Unlike in past NSFG file releases, when much of the data collected in the Audio Computer-Assisted Self Interviewing (ACASI) portion of the interview was released separately under a special data user agreement, the ACASI data for 2011-2013 are included in the main public use files for 2011-2013 NSFG that were released in December 2014.  Please see Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation for the 2011-2013 NSFG for all links associated with accessing these data.

If you wish to access ACASI data from 2006-2010 NSFG or prior NSFG surveys, you must still follow the procedures specified for those datasets.

Interviewer Observation Data: The Interviewer Observations File is a special data file that contains responses from the NSFG interviewers about the respondent and the interview setting. This file will not be provided for the NSFG 2011-2013 interview data released in December 2014, but will be compiled once four years of interviews have been collected, covering 2011-2015.  The Interviewer Observation Data files will be released soon after the release of  the 2013-2015 public use files.   For more information on the Interviewer Observation Data File and for files from previous NSFG surveys, use the links to previous NSFG data releases and click on “Other Data Files.”  The Interviewer Observation data are only available for use in the Research Data Center.

Contextual Data: Contextual Data: The 2011-2013 contextual data file consists of three variables: CASEID, the State FIPS code, and the County FIPS code of the respondent’s address at the time of the interview.  These data are only available to the research community through the NCHS and Census Research Data Centers (RDCs) due to the increased risk of deductive disclosure of individual respondent’s identities when geographic variables are linked to the survey data.  FIPS codes can be used to merge external contextual information with the 2011-2013 NSFG public use files.  For more information about using these data, including options on accessing the RDC and associated charges, visit the RDC website. Researchers may also find useful information for working with NSFG data through the RDC in theCommunity Environment and Women's Health Outcomes: Contextual Data,  [PDF - 5.2 MB].

Region: Based on the respondent’s state of residence at the time of the interview, a 4-category REGION variable has been created and is available for statistical research purposes.  REGION is provided to researchers free of charge, upon request, and can be merged onto the public use data files using the unique CASEID variable.  Given the increased risk of deductive disclosure when REGION is merged with the public-use survey data, however, a user agreement must be signed before gaining access to this file.

This data file consists of two variables: CASEID and REGION.  There are 10,416 records in this file—5,601 female respondent cases and 4,815 male respondent cases. 

REGION [1] takes these values:
1 = Northeast
2 = Midwest
3 = South
4 = West

[1]   United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau Regions and Divisions with State FIPS Codes.  Available at: http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/pdfs/reference/us_regdiv.pdf .

If you wish to request the NSFG REGION variable for 2011-2013, please make your request by providing the following materials by email (nsfg@cdc.gov) or regular mail to the address further below:

• a brief summary, on your organization’s letterhead, of the proposed use of the REGION variable. (If you are a student, a faculty advisor should also provide a letter of support for the proposed research.)
• a signed User’s Agreement  [PDF - 474 KB], which describes the specific protections in place at your institution that meet the NCHS confidentiality standards for data users.  Each data user who will have direct access to the REGION variable, including research assistants, must sign an agreement.  If emailing the signed user agreements, they must be completely legible, good-quality scans in either PDF or JPG format.

NOTE: When manuscripts are prepared which include analyses including the REGION variable, the requestor must send them to NCHS before being submitted for publication so they can be assessed by NCHS staff for disclosure risk.

When your request is approved, you will be sent an encrypted, password-protected ASCII data file consisting of CASEID in columns 1-5 and REGION in column 6. Passwords will be forwarded when the requestor confirms receipt of the data file.  NCHS makes every effort to process data requests promptly.  Once the researcher provides the required materials, requests are typically reviewed within 2 business days, with files sent soon thereafter. 

For additional information or questions about this variable, please contact the NSFG staff via mail, e-mail, or telephone at:

National Survey of Family Growth
Reproductive Statistics Branch
Division of Vital Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics
3311 Toledo Road
Hyattsville, MD  20782
nsfg@cdc.gov
(301) 458-4222