Available Data Sets (and how to use them)

Large data sets on public health are becoming increasingly available as our ability to collect and store data improves. These data sets can be very useful in understanding population health and identifying trends. These data sets contain a wealth of information on a variety of topics related to public health, including demographics, health status, risk factors, and access to care. In addition, there are many other data sets that focus on specific topics, such as immunizations, cancer incidence, or birth outcomes. These data sets can be very useful in understanding trends in public health and informing policy decisions.

National Center for Health Statistics

Through the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the CDC makes many public-use data files available. You can find a full list of data files here, but some of the most relevant to public health work are

• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

• National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

• National Vital Statistics System

• National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)

The CDC's WONDER system also makes it easy to search for and find data sets.

The Census Bureau

The Census Bureau makes their data accessible and easy to search--they also have a mapping feature.