Confidentiality Brochure

NSFG

FOR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
ABOUT HOW NCHS PROTECTS
THE INFORMATION YOU
PROVIDE, CONTACT:
Confidentiality Office, NCHS
3311 Toledo Road
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Telephone:
1-888-642-4159
E-mail:
NCHSconfidentiality@cdc.gov

FOR ANY QUESTIONS
REGARDING NCHS OR NSFG,
CONTACT:

OMB ATTACHMENT G5

NCHS AND NSFG
The National Center for Health Statistics first
conducted the National Survey of Family Growth
in 1973. For nearly 50 years, the NSFG has been a
major source of information on U.S. trends in
pregnancies, marriages and other relationships, use
of contraception and other factors related to fertility,
family formation, and health. NSFG data are used to
help understand health and health behaviors in the
United States, plan health services and health
education programs, and conduct statistical
research.
NCHS data are made available in published reports
and data files after identifying information has been
removed.
For more information about NCHS,
the visit NCHS website:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs

National Center for Health Statistics

For more information on NSFG, visit
the NSFG website:

Telephone:

https://www.cdc.gov/nsfg.htm

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
TTY:
1-888-232-6348
Online request form:
https://www.cdc.gov/info

OMB No. 0920-0314
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS

How the National
Survey of Family
Growth Keeps
Your Information
Confidential

NSFG

NCHS and NSFG

OMB ATTACHMENT G5

OMB No. 0920-0314

Protecting the public’s privacy ... no idle pledge

OUR PROMISE
Since its first survey in 1957, the National
Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has maintained
the highest standards and a very strong record in
protecting the privacy of people in its surveys. Our
promise to protect the privacy of everyone remains
our top priority. We believe this record is an important
reason why so many take part in NCHS surveys.

THE LAW
Information collected in the National Survey of Family
Growth (NSFG) is used only for statistical purposes.
NCHS will not share or release information that
identifies you or your family.
We take your privacy very seriously. All information
that relates to or describes identifiable characteristics
of individuals, a practice, or an establishment will be
used only for statistical purposes. NCHS staff,
contractors, and agents will not disclose or release
responses identifiable form without the consent of
the individual or establishment in accordance with
section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 242m) and the Confidential Information
Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA)
(Title III of the Foundations for Evidence-Based
Policymaking Act of 2018 (Pub. L No.
115-435, 132 Stat. 5529 §302)).
In accordance with CIPSEA, every NCHS employee,
contractor, and agent has taken an oath and is
subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of up to
$250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY
identifiable information about you.

NCHS protects information stored on NCHS
computers. Measures include passwords,
firewalls, and other means to block people from
getting these data. NCHS complies with the
Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015.
This law requires the federal government to
protect federal computer networks from
cybersecurity risks like hacking, internet attacks,
and other security weaknesses.

THE PLEDGE
Anyone working on this study must sign an affidavit
—a legal document making them subject to the
Privacy Act, the Public Health Service Act, and other
laws.

THE PENALTIES

People who break these laws can be fined up to
$250,000, lose their job, or go to jail.

WE TAKE YOUR
PRIVACY VERY
SERIOUSLY!

OTHER WAYS WE PROTECT
YOUR PRIVACY
Those working for NCHS must also follow special
rules for handling private information. These
rules are meant to ensure that the privacy of the
people taking part in NSFG is fully respected.
• NCHS removes any information that could
reveal who you are. Names and addresses are
never on anything NCHS releases or shares.
• We also conceal specific information about
your household and other details about you
that could lead to anyone being identified.
• The answers you give us are used for statistical
research only. This means that your answers
will be combined with other people’s answers
in a way that protects everyone’s identity. As
required by federal law, only those NCHS
employees, our contractors, and our specially
designated agents who will only use your
personal information for statistical activities.
• Your answers will be shared only after all
information that could identify you or your
family has been removed.
• Computers are password protected and data
are encrypted for added security.