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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                         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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                         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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                        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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                        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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                        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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                             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                        
                                                                                
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                            MEC PROXY QUESTIONNAIRE                             
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                              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.