Component Description
The Immunization section (variable name prefix IMQ) provides survey participant interview data on immunization with the hepatitis A vaccine for participants ages 2 and above; the hepatitis B vaccine; and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for participants’ ages 9 to 59 years old. The number of doses received is also obtained since all vaccines are multi-dose.
Eligible Sample
All survey participants 2 years of age and older are asked about the hepatitis A vaccination; all survey participants are asked about the hepatitis B vaccination; and all survey participants’ ages 9-59 are asked about the HPV vaccination.
Interview Setting and Mode of Administration
These questions were asked, in the home, by trained interviewers using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system. Persons 16 years of age and older and emancipated minors were interviewed directly. A proxy provided information for survey participants who were under 16 years of age and for participants who could not answer the questions themselves.
The Interviewer Procedure Manuals and Survey Questionnaires and Exam Manuals can be found on the NHANES website at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/search/datapage.aspx?Component=Examination&CycleBeginYear=2011.
Quality Assurance & Quality Control
The CAPI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. CAPI also uses online help screens to assist interviewers in defining key terms used in the questionnaire.
Data Processing and Editing
Participants’ questionnaire interview responses were entered into a laptop computer and then uploaded to the NHANES computerized database in the same manner as other sections of the Sample Person Questionnaire. The data were edited for completeness, consistency, and illogical values.
Analytic Notes
The IMQ questionnaire data was collected on a full sample of respondents and can be analyzed in conjunction with results from MEC laboratory data. Analysts should review all NHANES hepatitis and HPV laboratory data release documentation and statistical and analytic guidelines prior to beginning data analysis.
Question IMQ011 in NHANES 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012 is comparable to question IMD010 in NHANES 2003-2004, and question IMQ010 in NHANES 2001-2002 and NHANES 1999-2000.
Beginning in 2011, males ages 9-59 years are asked about whether they have had one or more doses of the HPV vaccination, the number of doses they received and the age when they received their first dosage. Although females ages 9-59 years have been asked about the HPV vaccination since 2007, they are now asked about which vaccine they had (Gardasil or Cervarix) and also how old they were when they received their first dosage. The introduction to the initial question that is asked to females on whether they have received one of more doses of the HPV vaccine has changed slightly. The variable name has remained the same for consistency between survey cycles.
Although these data were collected as part of the household questionnaire, if they are merged with the MEC exam data, exam weights should be used for analyses.
Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines (https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/analyticguidelines.aspx) and the on-line NHANES Tutorial (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/tutorials/) for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.