Skip To The Main Content
 

NSCH Survey Methodology

The resources below detail the NSCH’s methodology starting with the 2016 survey year. The NSCH’s administration processes are detailed in one-page diagrams created by the DRC. Detailed information on the NSCH survey sampling and data collection procedures are also available via the Methodology Report created by US Census Bureau.

Attention! The Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Census Bureau revised imputation and weighting by race and ethnicity for the 2021 and 2022 NSCH. Revised 2021 datasets are available on the Census Bureau’s Data Release page. These revised datasets should be used when combining with the 2022 NSCH datasets. Please read the weighting revisions technical document for more information.

The updated weights have been applied to the 2022 NSCH DRC constructed dataset and the 2022 and 2021-2022 NSCH data query findings. Updated weights have not been applied to prior DRC datasets and data query findings. Due to the imputation and weighting changes, the estimates produced using the U.S. Census Bureau’s public use files with the new weights are not directly comparable to these prior DRC data query and DRC constructed datasets. The DRC indicators and measures displayed on the interactive data from prior years can be recreated with updated weights by applying the codes available in the DRC codebook(s) to updated public use files provided on the U.S.Census Bureau’s website.

Guidance for using the NSCH data

2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)

2021 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)

2020 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)

2019 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)

2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)

2017 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)

2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)

The Design and Operations Manuals for the 2011/12, 2007, and 2003 NSCH are available at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) website.