Survey Results

Survey Items: Survey instrument item number for children 0-5 years: C8 (2017), C9 (2018)
Variable in public use data file: K6Q12, K6Q13A, K6Q13B, K6Q14A, K6Q14B in 2017; K6Q12, K6Q13A; K6Q13B, K6Q14A, K6Q14B in 2018

Denominator: Children age 9-35 months

Numerator: Children whose parent did not complete a standardized developmental screening tool; Children whose parent completed a standardized developmental screening tool

Revisions and Changes: In 2018 this measure did not change from the 2017 NSCH.

Additional Notes: The AAP recommends that all children should be screened for developmental delays during their regular well-check visits at 9, 18, and 24 or 30 months. This measure uses age-appropriate questions to verify whether young children received standardized developmental, behavioral and social screening using a parent-reported, standardized screening tool or instrument. Parent respondents for all children between 9 months and 5 years old were asked the following question: "During the past 12 months, did a doctor or other health care provider have you or another caregiver fill out a questionnaire about specific concerns or observations you may have about this child’s development, communication, or social behaviors?" (K6Q12). If the response to K6Q12 was “Yes”, parents were asked if the questionnaire covered language or social development (K6Q13 and K6Q13A, respectively, for ages 9-23 months, and K6Q14A and K6Q14B for ages 2-5 years). The measure is considered missing if both types of contents are missing.

Treatment of Unknown Values: Missing values may be due to non-response (i.e. a skipped item) or a “don’t know” response. The way these items are handled can vary by measure. For NPMs and NOMs, having missing values for all items in an indicator will lead to the case being given a missing value on the overall measure. For some other measures, if there is a missing value on any of the items, the case will be set to missing. How missing values are handled is documented in the "Additional notes" field above when required.
Missing values are not included in the denominator when calculating prevalence estimates and weighted population counts displayed in the Interactive 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.). To learn about the impact of the missing values on the population count estimates, click here.

History and Development: The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) 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 of the survey redesign (in 2015) and reassessed after the 2016 survey; subsequent revisions were made. Previously validated questions and scales are used when available. The manuscript "The Design and Implementation of the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health" provides detailed information about the redesign of the NSCH, administration of the first redesigned survey (2016), and the sampling and administration changes for the 2017 and 2018 NSCH. 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 annual self-administered questionnaire. Due to decline in the number of households with landline telephones, the NSCH now utilizes an addressed 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, HRSA/MCHB and CAHMI/DRC staff prior to public release. More information about the survey can be found in the "About the National Survey of Children's Health" section of this website and HRSA's MCHB website.