Table of Contents

Component Description

The ACASI section on sexual behavior (variable name prefix SXQ) provides information on lifetime and current sexual behavior for both men and women. Major items in this section include age of first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, use of condoms, circumcision status (for men), and history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Eligible Sample

Eligible Sample

Sample persons aged 14-59 years were eligible. Several questions in this section are age and gender specific. Data from participants aged 20-59 years are included in this release. Special use data files for participants 14-19 years will be available through the NCHS Research Data Center.

Exclusion Criteria

Mentally impaired individuals or participants unable to comprehend English or Spanish were not asked these questions. 

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

Mode of Administration

 MEC ACASI Interview

Data Collection Methods

The NHANES Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI) was conducted in a private room in the MEC in either English or Spanish. The ACASI enabled the respondents both to hear questions through earphones and read questions on the computer and to move at their own speed as they touch the screen to indicate their response. No proxies or translators were permitted.

Data Processing and Editing

Responses to SXQ030 (age at first sex) between 1-9 years were recoded as "under 10 years."

 

Analytic Notes

 Special Notes on Using the Dataset

Wording of some of the questions differed slightly between the 1999 and 2000 surveys. In the 1999 household questionnaire the term "sexual intercourse" was used (instead of "sex") in the following questions: SXQ030, SXQ120, SXQ130, SXQ150, SXQ170, SXQ190, SXQ200, SXQ220.

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS

SXQ020 - Ever had sexual intercourse

Variable Name:
SXQ020
SAS Label:
Ever had sexual intercourse
English Text:
The next set of questions is about your sexual behavior. By sex, we mean vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Please remember that your answers are strictly confidential. Have you ever had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2418 2418
2 No 175 2593 SXQ280
7 Refused 4 2597 SXQ280
9 Don't know 8 2605 SXQ280
. Missing 233 2838

SXD030 - Age when first had sexual intercourse

Variable Name:
SXD030
SAS Label:
Age when first had sexual intercourse
English Text:
How old were you when you had sex for the first time?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter an age. ENTER AGE IN YEARS.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 120
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
10 to 44 Range of Values 2372 2372
1 Less than 10 years of age 30 2402
777 Refused 8 2410
999 Don't know 8 2418
. Missing 420 2838

SXQ100 - #men sex intercourse partners/life

Variable Name:
SXQ100
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/life
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 999 Range of Values 1318 1318
77777 Refused 11 1329
99999 Don't know 4 1333
. Missing 1505 2838

SXQ120 - #men sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ120
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 255 Range of Values 1332 1332
77777 Refused 0 1332
99999 Don't know 1 1333
. Missing 1505 2838

SXQ130 - #women sex intercourse partners/life

Variable Name:
SXQ130
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/life
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 50 Range of Values 1326 1326
77777 Refused 3 1329
99999 Don't know 4 1333
. Missing 1505 2838

SXQ150 - #women sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ150
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 10 Range of Values 1333 1333
77777 Refused 0 1333
99999 Don't know 0 1333
. Missing 1505 2838

SXQ170 - #women sex intercourse partners/life

Variable Name:
SXQ170
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/life
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 1000 Range of Values 1070 1070
77777 Refused 9 1079
99999 Don't know 6 1085
. Missing 1753 2838

SXQ190 - #women sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ190
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 150 Range of Values 1081 1081
77777 Refused 4 1085
99999 Don't know 0 1085
. Missing 1753 2838

SXQ200 - #men sex intercourse partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ200
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/lifetime
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 175 Range of Values 1079 1079
77777 Refused 3 1082
99999 Don't know 3 1085
. Missing 1753 2838

SXQ220 - #men sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ220
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 20 Range of Values 1085 1085
77777 Refused 0 1085
99999 Don't know 0 1085
. Missing 1753 2838

SXQ240 - #sexual intercourse partners/past mo

Variable Name:
SXQ240
SAS Label:
#sexual intercourse partners/past mo
English Text:
In the past 30 days, with how many people have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER # OF PARTNERS.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 30 Range of Values 427 427
77777 Refused 0 427 SXQ260
99999 Don't know 0 427 SXQ260
. Missing 2411 2838

SXQ250 - #times had sex without condom/past mo

Variable Name:
SXQ250
SAS Label:
#times had sex without condom/past mo
English Text:
In the past 30 days, how many times have you had sex without using a condom?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER # OF TIMES.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 45 Range of Values 323 323
77777 Refused 1 324
99999 Don't know 1 325
. Missing 2513 2838

SXQ260 - Doctor ever told you had genital herpes

Variable Name:
SXQ260
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had genital herpes
English Text:
Has a doctor or other health care professional ever told you that you had genital herpes?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 87 87
2 No 2326 2413
7 Refused 1 2414
9 Don't know 4 2418
. Missing 420 2838

SXQ265 - Doctor ever told you had genital warts

Variable Name:
SXQ265
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had genital warts
English Text:
Has a doctor or other health care professional ever told you that you had genital warts?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 132 132
2 No 2281 2413
7 Refused 1 2414
9 Don't know 4 2418
. Missing 420 2838

SXQ270 - Doctor ever told you had gonorrhea

Variable Name:
SXQ270
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had gonorrhea
English Text:
In the past 12 months, has a doctor or other health care professional told you that you had gonorrhea, sometimes called GC or clap?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 12 12
2 No 2401 2413
7 Refused 2 2415
9 Don't know 3 2418
. Missing 420 2838

SXQ272 - Doctor ever told you had chlamydia

Variable Name:
SXQ272
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had chlamydia
English Text:
In the past 12 months, has a doctor or other health care professional told you that you had chlamydia?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 25 25
2 No 2391 2416
7 Refused 1 2417
9 Don't know 1 2418
. Missing 420 2838

SXQ280 - Are you circumcised or uncircumcised

Variable Name:
SXQ280
SAS Label:
Are you circumcised or uncircumcised
English Text:
Are you circumcised or uncircumcised?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD SXQ1 - CLINICAL SKETCH OF CIRCUMCISED PENIS. HAND CARD SXQ2 - CLINICAL SKETCH OF UNCIRCUMCISED PENIS. VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select circumcised, uncircumcised.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Circumcised 765 765
2 Uncircumcised 375 1140
7 Refused 14 1154
9 Don't know 32 1186
. Missing 1652 2838