MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE The MEC Proxy Questionnaire was administered in the mobile examination center (MEC) to the parents or guardians of children aged 2 months-11 years. This was the only questionnaire in the MEC for children 2 months to 7 years; children 8-11 years were administered the MEC Youth Questionnaire, as well. Topics of the Proxy Questionnaire were medicine, and vitamin and mineral usage, selected health conditions, WIC program participation, and the infant food frequency for children. The Home Examination also included the food frequency for infants (2-11 months). For analysis of items from the MEC Proxy Questionnaire, MEC examination weights (WTPFEX6) should be used, while MEC+home examination weights (WTPFHX6) should be used for the analysis of combined MEC and Home Examination questionnaire items. For more information on the use of sample weights in NHANES III data analysis, refer to the NHANES III Analytic and Reporting Guidelines (U.S. DHHS, 1996b). Analysts should be aware of missing data for this questionnaire. Due to a training miscommunication, interviewers did not administer this questionnaire to children 8-11 years of age at several survey locations during Phase 1. Therefore, it is possible that missing data for children in this group may introduce bias in analyzing the questions in Section A (MPPQA2, MPPQA3, and MPPQA4) and Section B (MPPB1, MPPB2, and MPPB4). Data processing and editing were performed to ensure consistency of responses within the sections of the questionnaire. A note has been provided for a variable that was standardized. The note references a question, by section and number, from the questionnaire which can be found in Plan and Operation of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994 (NCHS, 1994; U.S. DHHS,1996b). NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION A. MEDICINE, VITAMIN, AND MINERAL USAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1848 CHECK ITEM. REFER TO AGE OF SP. MPPA1 1961 1 Less than 1 year (MPPB1) 5787 2 1-5 years (MPPA3) 3286 3 6+ years (MPPA2) 20277 Blank I would like to begin by asking you a few questions about your child's recent use of medicines, vitamins, and minerals. 1849 Has - taken or used any antihistamine MPPA2 medicines in the past 2 days? (Antihistamines are medicines taken for symptoms like sneezing, and a runny or itchy nose.) 229 1 Yes 2786 2 No 257 8 Blank but applicable 14 9 Don't know 28025 Blank 1850 Prescription medicines are medicines MPPA3 that cannot be obtained without a doctor's or dentist's prescription. Has - taken any prescription medicines during the last 24 hours? 908 1 Yes 7829 2 No 333 8 Blank but applicable 3 9 Don't know 22238 Blank 1851 Has - taken any vitamins or minerals MPPA4 during the past 24 hours? 1620 1 Yes 7099 2 No 334 8 Blank but applicable 20 9 Don't know 22238 Blank NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION B. SELECTED CONDITIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now I would like to ask a few questions about -'s health. 1852 Is - now or in the past 3 months has - MPPB1 been on treatment for anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood"? (Include diet, iron pills, iron shots, and transfusion as treatment.) 261 1 Yes 10413 2 No 355 8 Blank but applicable 5 9 Don't know 20277 Blank 1853-1854 How many infections such as colds, flu, MPPB2 diarrhea, vomiting, pneumonia, and ear infections has - had in the past four weeks? 5883 00 None 4793 01-10 355 88 Blank but applicable 3 99 Don't know 20277 Blank 1855 CHECK ITEM. REFER TO AGE AND SEX OF SP. MPPB3 527 1 Female 8-9 years (MPPB4) 7748 2 Less than 6 years old (MPPB5) 2759 3 Other (MPPD1) 20277 Blank 1856-1857 How old was - when her periods or MPPB4 menstrual cycles started, or haven't they started yet? 474 00 Haven't started yet (MPPD1) 3 08-09 (MPPD1) 50 88 Blank but applicable (MPPD1) 30784 Blank NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION B. SELECTED CONDITIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next are a few questions about the WIC program. 1858 Did - receive benefits from WIC, that MPPB5 is, the Women, Infants, and Children Program, in the past 12 months? 2395 1 Yes 5234 2 No (MPPC1) 105 8 Blank but applicable 14 9 Don't know (MPPC1) 23563 Blank 1859 Is - now receiving benefits from the WIC MPPB6 program? 1801 1 Yes 587 2 No 1 8 Blank but applicable 6 9 Don't know 28916 Blank 1860-1862 How long (did - receive/has - been See note MPPB7S receiving) benefits from the WIC program? (months) 2380 001-060 6 777 Less than one month 9 999 Don't know 28916 Blank NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION C. INFANT FOOD FREQUENCY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1863 CHECK ITEM. REFER TO AGE OF SP. MPPC1 5787 1 1 year or older (MPPD1) 1961 2 Under 1 year 23563 Blank In this section, I would like to ask whether or not - has eaten certain foods or drunk certain beverages during the past month. In the past month, did - eat or drink any of these foods or beverages? Include baby food as well as strained and regular table foods. 1864 Cereal MPPC2A 1682 1 Yes 245 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1865 Fruit MPPC2B 1581 1 Yes 346 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1866 Yellow and orange vegetables MPPC2C 1376 1 Yes 551 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1867 Green vegetables MPPC2D 1302 1 Yes 624 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 1 9 Don't know 29350 Blank NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION C. INFANT FOOD FREQUENCY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1868 Meat MPPC2E 1062 1 Yes 865 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1869 Egg yolk or eggs MPPC2F 739 1 Yes 1188 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1870 Combination meat/vegetable dinners MPPC2G 972 1 Yes 955 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1871 Yogurt, cottage cheese and other MPPC2H cheeses 782 1 Yes 1145 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1872 Bread, rolls, crackers, and biscuits MPPC2I 1195 1 Yes 732 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1873 Desserts MPPC2J 1127 1 Yes 799 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 1 9 Don't know 29350 Blank NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION C. INFANT FOOD FREQUENCY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1874 Breastmilk MPPC2K 365 1 Yes 1562 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1875 Formula MPPC2L 1541 1 Yes 386 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1876 Cow's milk (regular milk) MPPC2M 578 1 Yes 1348 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 1 9 Don't know 29350 Blank 1877 Fruit juices such as apple juice MPPC2N and orange juice 1552 1 Yes 375 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank 1878 Drinks such as Koolaid, fruit MPPC2O punch and HI-C 499 1 Yes 1428 2 No 34 8 Blank but applicable 29350 Blank NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION D. RESPONDENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1879-1880 CHECK ITEM. MARK ONE BOX. INDICATE MPPD1A MAIN RESPONDENT'S RELATIONSHIP TO SP. 9529 01 Mother or adoptive mother 730 02 Father or adoptive father 33 03 Sister or brother 221 04 Grandparent or great grandparent 15 06 Close family friend or sitter 38 07 Foster parent 12 08 Step-parent 79 09 Aunt or uncle 9 10 Other relative 9 11 Guardian 359 88 Blank but applicable 20277 Blank NHANES III Examination Data File ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Positions Item description SAS name Counts and code Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1881-1884 Interviewer number MPPEXMNR 972 4001 706 4002 913 4003 1860 4004 3811 4005 2506 4006 220 7002 21 7007 25 7073 20277 Blank NOTE MPPB7S: Number of months received WIC This variable was created from the two-part question (quantity and unit) B7 using the conversion factor 12 months/year.