Survey Results

Survey Items: Survey instrument item number for children 0-5 years: C26b,C24; for children 6-11 years: C24b,C22; for children 12-17 years: C25b,C23
Variable in public use data file: AVAILABLE: K4Q27

Denominator: Children age 0-17 years who had unmet for health care in the past 12 months

Numerator: Children who had unmet need for health care due to availability; Children who had unmet needs for health care not due to availability

Revisions and Changes: This question was asked in the 2009/10 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). In the 2009/10 NS-CSHCN, the question asked whether the child encountered difficulties or delays getting services for medical care, dental care, specialized therapies, counseling, medical equipment, special education, and early intervention that can be obtained in clinics, schools, child care centers, through community programs, at home, and other places. In the 2016 NSCH, the question asks whether the child had difficulties getting health care services for medical care or other kinds of care like dental, vision care, and mental health care services. For more information about the changes, click here.
Due to changes in the survey’s mode of data collection and sampling frame, as well as adjustments to item wording where necessary, MCHB alerts data users that it is not possible to compare estimates from the redesigned survey to those from previous iterations of the NSCH or NS-CSHCN or to conduct related trend analyses. The redesigned NSCH will support trend analyses beginning with data from 2016.

Additional Notes: Survey respondents who answered "Yes" to the question, "During the past 12 months, was there any time when this child needed health care but it was not received?" (K4Q27) were then asked which of the listed reasons contributed to not receiving needed health services.

Treatment of Unknown Values: Missing values due to non-response or a “don’t know” response are not included in the denominator when calculating prevalence estimates and weighted population counts displayed in the data query results table. In the majority of cases, the proportion of missing values is less than 2%. Exceptions are noted in the form of a Data Alert at the bottom of a results table. The exclusion of these values does not change the prevalence estimates (%) and only marginally affects the weighted population counts (Pop. Est.). If missing cases are handled in any other way, details can be found in the "Additional notes" section above.

History and Development: The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) funds and directs the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), and develops survey content in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau and a Technical Expert Panel. The Technical Expert Panel consists of experts in survey methodology and children’s health, federal and state stakeholders, clinicians and researchers. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the survey, oversees the sampling, and produces a final data set of survey results. Respondents’ cognitive understanding of the survey questions was assessed during the pretest phase and revisions were made. Previously validated questions and scales are used when available.
Prior to 2016, the NSCH and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs were each conducted three times as interviewer-assisted telephone surveys using random digit dial sampling. In 2016, the two surveys were combined into a single self-administered questionnaire. Due to decline in the number of households with landline telephones, the NSCH now utilizes an address-based sampling method to select participating households, thus all invitations are sent by mail. Participants may choose to complete the survey either online using a secure website or a mailed paper version of the survey. All final data components are verified by the Census Bureau, MCHB and DRC/CAHMI staff prior to public release. More information can be found in the “Review the Surveys” section of this website.