Survey
description The National Health Examination Survey, Cycle III (NHES III) was conducted on a
nationwide probability sample of 7,514 youths 12-17 years of age. Of the 7,514 youths
selected for the sample, 6,768 (90 percent) were examined. Adjusted sampling weights were
computed in order to inflate the sample so as to closely reflect the 23 million youths in
the U.S. population at that time in terms of age, sex, and certain other demographic
characteristics.
Because the same basic sampling plan
was used in Cycle III as in the earlier Cycle II, nearly one-third of the children
examined in Cycle II were also examined in Cycle III. In the Cycle III Extended Data Tape
(EDT), provision has been made for the user to identify sample persons examined in both
surveys and to create from the Cycle II Integrated Data Tape (IDT) and the Cycle III EDT a
composite data set for longitudinal studies.
Data file
description The NHES III tape contains responses to detailed questionnaires for medical and
developmental histories; responses to school questionnaires; results of medical, dental,
and psychological examinations, and vision and hearing tests; anthropometric measurements;
and certain x-rays and laboratory tests.
The NHES III data tape contains all data collected over the entire course of the
survey: March 1966-March 1970. Data are only available on data tape. Other studies related
to this survey areHHANES,
NHANES I, NHANES II, NHANES III and NHES, Cycle 1 and Cycle
2.
Ordering
information The NHES III data tape
can only be purchased through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). The NTIS order numbers are as
follows:
Data on tape
Title
NTIS
Order no.
Price
Extended health examination of youths, ages
12-17 years (Tape No. 3EDT)
PB-296025
$265.00
Documentation contents The major data elements obtained and derived from this survey have been compiled into
one EDT. The data tape documentation contains a brief description of NHES III, a file
description, a detailed description of the data items, and detailed notes on items judged
not to be self-explanatory. A sample weight for each examined person is included.
A detailed description of the design and operation of NHES III is provided in Vital
and Health Statistics, Series
1, No. 8, which contains a detailed discussion of the contents of NHES III
and the rationale and purpose for the inclusion of various components of the examination.
Some reports that contain results from Cycle III of the National Health Examination Survey
are Vital and Health Statistics, Series 11, Nos. 159-163 and 167.
Contacts
For publications and electronic data products from NHANES: call (301) 458-4636 or NTIS or
GPO.
Technical questions about
the file contact:
Division of Health Examination Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics
3311 Toledo Road
Hyattsville, Maryland 20782-2003
(301) 458-4567