The National Center
for Health Statistics (NCHS)
is pleased to offer downloadable public-use
data files through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
(CDC)/FTP file server. Users of this service have access to
data sets,
documentation, and
questionnaires from NCHS surveys and data collection
systems. Downloading instructions are available in "readme" files.
NCHS encourages the use of its public-use files for independent research and
analysis. NCHS does not endorse or otherwise judge
the merits of any outside independent research. Users should always
pay special attention to the
documentation provided with these public-use files, in order to
better ensure that their analyses will ultimately result in high quality,
accurate statistical results.
Public-use data files
are prepared and disseminated to provide access to the full scope of the
data while also protecting confidentiality. This allows researchers to manipulate the data in a format
appropriate for their analyses. NCHS makes every effort to
release data collected through its surveys and data systems in a timely
manner.
Descriptions of NCHS
data systems and activities are found in the section
Surveys
and Data Collection Systems. Public-use data files
that are not listed below can be obtained through other sources. Ordering
instructions and the various formats available (e.g., CD-ROM and data tape)
are provided in the
Electronic Products web pages.
Users of NCHS
public-use data files must comply with
data use restrictions to ensure that the information
will be used solely for statistical analysis or reporting purposes.
A list of data programs from NCHS
for which public-use data files are available.