GENERAL INFORMATION The NHANES III Household Youth Questionnaire Data File contains all data collected during the household interviews for children and youths 2 months to 16 years of age. Demographic data, survey design variables, and sampling weights for this age group are also included. This first section provides a brief background and information about the contents of the Household Youth Questionnaire Data File. The second section is the Data File Index, a listing of all of the variables with the standard names and their positions in the data set. The third section contains the frequency counts and codes for all of the variables, followed by notes and appendices. References are found in the fourth section. The data that comprise this file were obtained from three separate interviews administered in the household: the Screener, the Family, and Household Youth questionnaires. The Screener was a brief interview administered to all households within selected sampling units to determine eligibility for participation in the survey. Information obtained from the Screener questionnaire was the basis for the demographic variables, and survey-related variables. The purpose of the Family questionnaire was to obtain data on educational levels, occupation, health insurance coverage, income, and food security of family members, and to record characteristics of the house itself. The Household Youth questionnaire was administered to a proxy respondent, usually the child's parent or guardian. Questions on topics such as birth experience, motor and social development, health services usage, dental care, selected medical conditions, school attendance, language, and vitamin, mineral and medicine usage were asked according to age subgroups. The Household Youth questionnaire was completed for 13,944 children and youths ages 2 months - 16 years of age during the six years of NHANES III. Interviews were conducted by field staff, in both English and Spanish. All staff received intensive initial training, and formal retraining was conducted throughout the survey to ensure that high skill levels were maintained. The data collection system was automated in Phase 2, at which time interviews were conducted using CAPI (computer-assisted personal interview). Details on survey instruments and forms, training manuals and data collection procedures are published elsewhere (U.S. DHHS, 1996). Data processing and editing were performed for consistency of responses within sections of the questionnaire sections. Identifiable information including names, addresses, and social security numbers, as well as other administrative items were excluded from the data file in order to ensure confidentiality. Notes are provided both for standardized and recoded variables, and for variables requiring additional explanation. Hand cards and other diagrams that were used during interviews are located with copies of the survey instruments in the Plan and Operation of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (U.S. DHHS, 1996). Users should note that because questions were modified, reordered, added, or deleted, this documentation may not follow the exact ordering of the questions on survey instruments. Since NHANES III was based on a complex multistage design, appropriate sample weights should be used in analyses to produce national estimates and associated variances. The final interview weights WTPFQX6 should be used for analysis of interview data alone. If interview data are combined with examination, laboratory or dietary data, the total MEC weights (WTPFEX6) or MEC+home weights (WTPFHX6) should be used.