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), history of sexually transmitted diseases. Youths aged 14-19 were administered a limited subset of questions asked of adults 20-59 years.

Eligible Sample

Sample persons aged 14-59 years were eligible. Several questions in this section are age and gender specific. Only data for youths aged 14-19 years are included in this release. Mentally impaired individuals, participants needing a proxy informant, or who were unable to comprehend English or Spanish were not asked these questions.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

These questions were administered as part of the NHANES Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI) conducted in a private room in the MEC in either English or Spanish without the presence of an interviewer. 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.  

Analytic Notes

Wording of some of the questions differed slightly between the 1999 and 2000 surveys. In the 1999 version, 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 14 YEARS - 19 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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 817 817
2 No 729 1546 SXQ275
7 Refused 10 1556 SXQ275
9 Don't know 4 1560 SXQ275
. Missing 113 1673

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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
9 to 19
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
10 to 19 Range of Values 796 796
1 Less than 10 years of age 18 814
777 Refused 3 817
999 Don't know 0 817
. Missing 856 1673

SXD035 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXD035
English Instructions:
BOX 1. CHECK ITEM SXD.035: IF SP 18-19 YEARS AND SURVEY PROTOCOL YEAR=2000, GO TO SXQ.100. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ.040.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ040 - #sexual intercourse partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ040
SAS Label:
#sexual intercourse partners/lifetime
English Text:
During your life, with how many people have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number. ENTER # OF PEOPLE.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 1000 Range of Values 609 609
77777 Refused 0 609
99999 Don't know 0 609
. Missing 1064 1673

SXQ050 - Condom used during last intercourse

Variable Name:
SXQ050
SAS Label:
Condom used during last intercourse
English Text:
The last time you had sex, did you or your partner use a condom?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 380 380
2 No 227 607
7 Refused 1 608
9 Don't know 1 609
. Missing 1064 1673

SXQ060 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ060
English Instructions:
BOX 2. CHECK ITEM SXQ.060: GO TO BOX 11.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 53 Range of Values 109 109
77777 Refused 0 109
99999 Don't know 0 109
. Missing 1564 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 45 Range of Values 109 109
77777 Refused 0 109
99999 Don't know 0 109
. Missing 1564 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 12 Range of Values 109 109
77777 Refused 0 109
99999 Don't know 0 109
. Missing 1564 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 2 Range of Values 109 109
77777 Refused 0 109
99999 Don't know 0 109
. Missing 1564 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 90 Range of Values 96 96
77777 Refused 1 97
99999 Don't know 1 98
. Missing 1575 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 90 Range of Values 98 98
77777 Refused 0 98
99999 Don't know 0 98
. Missing 1575 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 9 Range of Values 98 98
77777 Refused 0 98
99999 Don't know 0 98
. Missing 1575 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 4 Range of Values 98 98
77777 Refused 0 98
99999 Don't know 0 98
. Missing 1575 1673

SXD230 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXD230
English Instructions:
CHECK ITEM SXD230: IF SP IS FEMALE AND HAS NEVER HAD MALE PARTNER (CODED '00' IN SXQ100), GO TO SXQ260. IF SP IS FEMALE AND TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNERS IN SXQ.120 AND SXQ150 IS ONE OR LESS, GO TO SXQ260. IF SP IS MALE AND TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNERS IN SXQ.190 AND SXQ220 IS ONE OR LESS, GO TO SXQ260. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ240.
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS

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 partners 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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 4 Range of Values 58 58
0 None 27 85 SXQ260
77777 Refused 0 85 SXQ260
99999 Don't know 0 85 SXQ260
. Missing 1588 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 50 Range of Values 58 58
77777 Refused 0 58
99999 Don't know 0 58
. Missing 1615 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 3 3
2 No 204 207
7 Refused 0 207
9 Don't know 0 207
. Missing 1466 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 4 4
2 No 203 207
7 Refused 0 207
9 Don't know 0 207
. Missing 1466 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 4 4
2 No 203 207
7 Refused 0 207
9 Don't know 0 207
. Missing 1466 1673

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 14 14
2 No 193 207
7 Refused 0 207
9 Don't know 1 208
. Missing 1465 1673

SXQ275 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ275
English Instructions:
BOX 11. CHECK ITEM SXQ275: IF SP MALE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ280. OTHERWISE, GO TO END OF SECTION.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Circumcised 493 493
2 Uncircumcised 251 744
7 Refused 16 760
9 Don't know 19 779
. Missing 894 1673