The 1980 National Natality Survey and National Fetal Mortality Survey--methods used and PHS agency participation.

Seven Public Health Service agencies collaborated with the National Center for Health Statistics in designing, funding, and analyzing the 1980 National Natality Survey (NNS) and 1980 National Fetal Mortality Survey (NFMS). The 1980 NNS-NFMS were nationally representative surveys based on samples of 9,941 live birth vital records and 6,386 fetal death vital records, which were weighted up to reflect U.S. estimates of 3,612,258 live births and 19,202 fetal deaths at 28 weeks' gestation or more. Four types of potential respondents who were associated with the sampled deliveries (married mothers, hospitals, attendants at delivery, and other medical providers of radiation procedures) were mailed eight-page questionnaires. The aim of the questionnaires was to expand our knowledge of the relationships of social, demographic, maternal health, infant health, and radiation characteristics to live births and late fetal deaths. The methods used in the NNS-NFMS are described in detail since seven other articles and the editorial in this issue are based on these surveys. The availability of other NNS-NFMS data is also discussed.