“CDC’s
National Survey of Family Growth is critical to help ensure that
policies and programs address the health needs of all Americans. The
survey provides important health information on family life that can be
used to help people live stronger and healthier lives. I urge you to
take part in this important survey to help impact in a positive way our
nation’s health.”
Dr. Julie
Gerberding, MD
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The best
health decisions are based on
the best health information.
You, or a
member of your family, may have a chance to take part in an important
national survey. The National Center for Health Statistics, a part of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is responsible for this
survey - The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). The NSFG gathers
and publishes important data on marriage and divorce, family
life, having and raising children, and medical care. The survey is used
for health and health education programs and for research on American families.
This section is designed to answer some of the most commonly asked
questions about the NSFG:
What is the National Survey of Family Growth?
The National Survey of Family Growth gathers information on family life,
marriage and divorce, pregnancy, infertility, use of birth control,
sexual experience, and men’s and women’s health. The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services uses the survey results. This information is
used to plan health services and educational programs.
The survey is
authorized by a Federal law, Section 306(b) 1 (h) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 USC 242), which asks us to collect “statistics on family
formation, growth, and dissolution.”
The survey provides accurate national statistics on critical issues
like:
People making
choices about school, work, and having a family
Women looking for a safe and effective way to space their children
The health
care that men and women get, including family planning and reproductive
health
Risk for
sexually transmitted infections
Child care services used by working parents
How programs for families and children are working
Who Is Doing the National Survey of Family Growth?
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, does the survey. You can find
out more about NCHS at our home address. NCHS has asked the University
of Michigan to do the interviews. A professional, female interviewer
from the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center will come to
your home and find out if you are eligible for the study. The
interviewer who comes to your home will have a University of Michigan
identification badge with her picture on it and a Letter of
Authorization from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She
will ask you questions and type your answers into a laptop computer. You
will also get to answer some questions by putting answers into the
computer yourself.
How Was I Chosen?
We do not know who lives at your house or what your name is. We take a
sample of households from all across the United States. When your
interviewer arrives, she will find out if there is someone in your
household we need to include in our study.
Why Should I Take Part? Why Not Interview Across
the
Street?
We cannot talk to all of the millions of men and women in this country —
that would cost too much and take too long. So we scientifically select
a “sample” of households. We then choose one person from some of those
households to be in the survey. Choosing the sample scientifically lets
us take the information we learn and use it to better understand the
whole population. Once participants have been chosen they cannot be
replaced.
Are These Interviews Just for Families, or Those With
Children? No. If you do not have children, or live alone, your responses are just
as important to the study as anyone else’s. You will be asked only those
questions that apply to you. For example, we need to have accurate
information about topics such as:
How many people are choosing not to have children or to have them later
in life
How long marriages and other relationships last
How often divorced fathers see their children
The need for infertility services
Will my Answers be Kept Private?
Yes. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all the information you
provide [Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 242M),
the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a), and the Confidential Information
Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (PL 107-347)]. Each research
staff member has signed a legal confidentiality pledge. The answers you
give will be combined with answers from many other people. The data will
be reported as percentages, totals, and averages. By law we cannot
release information that could identify you or your family to anyone
else. Anyone who breaks the law can be fined up to $250,000, lose their
job, and/or be sent to prison.
Do I Have to Answer the Questions?
Your help with this study is voluntary. Saying yes or no to being in the
study will not change any benefits you get now or in the future.
Most people find the interview interesting and enjoyable. Your
participation is very important because each person interviewed
represents thousands of others. Some of the questions may be sensitive
for some people. You may choose not to answer any question for any
reason and may stop the interview at any time.
How Long Will it Take?
Interviews take about 60-80 minutes for most adults. Interviews for
teenagers take about 60 minutes. A few interviews take a little less or
a little more time. We will do the interview at the time that works best
for you. Also, for your help in being part of this study, you will
receive $40 as a token of our appreciation.
Who Is the University of Michigan?
The University of Michigan was one of the first public universities in
the United States. Today, the University is one of the largest research
universities in the world. This study is only one of many important
surveys done by the University’s Survey Research Center. Other studies’
topics include families, health, retirement and other important issues.
Where Do I Get More Information?
For study information:
Ask your interviewer
Visit the survey’s website
Call Dr. Bill Mosher, Dr. Joyce Abma, or Dr. Gladys Martinez at NCHS
(toll-free): 1-866-227-8347
For
information about your rights as a participant:
Call the
office set up to oversee research (toll-free) 1-800-223-8118
To schedule an
interview:
Call the
University of Michigan (toll-free): 1-800-759-7947