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EXPLANATORY NOTES
DATA COLLECTION 12 Trained ABS interviewers conducted personal interviews with selected residents in sampled dwellings. One person aged 18 years and over in each dwelling was selected and interviewed about their own health characteristics including a 24-hour dietary recall and a physical activity module. An adult, nominated by the household, was interviewed about one child (aged two years and over) in the household. Selected children aged 15-17 years may have been personally interviewed with parental consent. An adult, nominated by the household, was also asked to provide information about the household, such as the combined income of other household members. Children aged 6-14 years were encouraged to be involved in the survey, particularly for the 24-hour dietary recall and physical activity module. For further information, see Data Collection in the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001). 13 All selected persons were required to have a follow-up phone interview at least eight days after the face to face interview to collect a further 24-hour dietary recall. For those who participated, pedometer data was reported during this telephone interview. SURVEY DESIGN 14 Dwellings were selected at random using a multistage area sample of private dwellings for the NNPAS. The initial sample selected for the survey consisted of approximately 14,400 dwellings. This was reduced to approximately 12,400 dwellings after sample loss (for example, households selected in the survey which had no residents in scope of the survey, vacant or derelict buildings, or buildings under construction). Of those remaining dwellings, 9,519 (or 77.0%) were fully or adequately responding, yielding a total sample for the survey of 12,153 persons (aged two years and over). NATIONAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SURVEY 2011-12, approached sample, final sample and response rates
15 Of the 12,153 people in the final sample, 98% provided the first (Day 1), with the missing 2% of Day 1 dietary recalls being imputed. The second 24-hour dietary recall (Day 2) had 7,735 participants (64% of the total). The Day 2 24-hour dietary recall participation was slightly higher among older respondents, and sex did not appear as a factor in participation. 16 More information on response rates and imputation is provided in the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001). 17 To take account of possible seasonal effects on health and nutrition characteristics, the NNPAS sample was spread randomly across a 12-month enumeration period. Between August and September 2011, survey enumeration was suspended due to field work associated with the 2011 Census of Population and Housing. WEIGHTING, BENCHMARKING AND ESTIMATION 18 Weighting is a process of adjusting results from a sample survey to infer results for the in-scope total population. To do this, a weight is allocated to each sample unit; for example, a household or a person. The weight is a value which indicates how many population units are represented by the sample unit. 19 The first step in calculating weights for each person was to assign an initial weight, which was equal to the inverse of the probability of being selected in the survey. For example, if the probability of a person being selected in the survey was 1 in 600, then the person would have an initial weight of 600 (that is, they represent 600 others). An adjustment was then made to these initial weights to account for the time period in which a person was assigned to be enumerated. 20 The weights are calibrated to align with independent estimates of the population of interest, referred to as 'benchmarks', in designated categories of sex by age by area of usual residence. Weights calibrated against population benchmarks compensate for over or under-enumeration of particular categories of persons and ensure that the survey estimates conform to the independently estimated distribution of the population by age, sex and area of usual residence, rather than to the distribution within the sample itself. 21 The NNPAS was benchmarked to the estimated resident population living in private dwellings in non-Very Remote areas of Australia at 31 October 2011. Excluded from these benchmarks were persons living in discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as a small number of persons living within Collection Districts that include discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The benchmarks, and hence the estimates from the survey, do not (and are not intended to) match estimates of the total Australian resident population (which include persons living in Very Remote areas or in non-private dwellings, such as hotels) obtained from other sources. For the NNPAS, a seasonal adjustment was also incorporated into the person weights. 22 Survey estimates of counts of persons are obtained by summing the weights of persons with the characteristic of interest. Estimates of non-person counts (for example, number of organised physical activities) are obtained by multiplying the characteristic of interest with the weight of the reporting person and aggregating. RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES 23 All sample surveys are subject to sampling and non-sampling error. Estimates derived from models, including the NCI method, are also subject to prediction error and simulation variance. 24 Sampling error is the difference between estimates, derived from a sample of persons, and the value that would have been produced if all persons in scope of the survey had been included. For more information refer to the Technical note. Indications of the level of sampling error are given by the Relative Standard Error (RSE) and 95% Margin of Error (MoE). 25 In this publication, MoEs are provided for all estimates (unless noted otherwise) to assist users in assessing the reliability of these types of estimate. The estimate combined with the MoE defines a range which is expected to include the true population value with a 95% level of confidence. This is known as the 95% confidence interval. This range should be considered by users to inform decisions based on the estimate. 26 Non-sampling error may occur in any data collection, whether it is based on a sample or a full count such as a census. Non-sampling errors occur when survey processes work less effectively than intended. Sources of non-sampling error include non-response, errors in reporting by respondents or in recording of answers by interviewers, and occasional errors in coding and processing data. 27 Prediction error and simulation variance are forms of error which may occur when using a model such as the NCI method. Care was taken to ensure the input 24-hour dietary recall data was suitable for use in the model. Every effort is made to ensure an appropriate model specification is used through external literature research and statistical testing. For more information see Model Implementation below and Data Quality in the Users' Guide. 28 Where comparisons with ADG recommended intake have been made, any error in these guideline values will affect the quality of the resulting estimates. The ADG recommend a minimum number of serves of the five food groups, and daily allowance of unsaturated fats each day, depending on age and sex, for optimum nutrition and health. For more information see the Appendix of this publication and ADG on the NHMRC website. 29 Of particular importance to nutrition surveys is a widely observed tendency for people to under-report their food intake. This can include:
Analysis of the 2011-12 NNPAS suggests that, like other nutrition surveys, there has been some under-reporting of food intake by participants in this survey. Given the association of under-reporting with overweight/obesity and consciousness of socially acceptable/desirable dietary patterns, under-reporting is unlikely to affect all foods and nutrients equally. No respondents were excluded from the sample on the basis of low total reported energy intakes (low energy reporters were included in the input data set for usual nutrient intakes). For more information see Under-reporting in Nutrition Surveys in the AHS Users' Guide, 2011-13. 30 Another factor affecting the accuracy of the 24-hour dietary recall data is that most young children are unable to recall their intakes. Similarly, parents/carers of school-aged children may not be aware of a child’s total food intake, which can lead to systematic under-reporting. Young children were encouraged to assist in answering the dietary recall questions. See the Interviews section of Data Collection for more information on proxy use in the 24-hour dietary recall module. 31 Another source of non-sampling error specific to nutrition surveys is the accuracy of the nutrient and measures database containing thousands of foods used to derive the nutrient estimates. The databases used for the 2011-12 NNPAS were developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) specifically for the survey. A complete nutrient profile of 51 nutrients was created based on FSANZ’s latest available data and from this, intakes of 44 nutrients were reported in the NNPAS at the time when the survey results were first released. Not all data was based on directly analysed foods; some data was borrowed from overseas food composition tables, food label information, imputed from similar foods, or calculated using a recipe approach. See AUSNUT 2011-13 for more information. 32 Non-response occurs when people cannot or will not cooperate, or cannot be contacted. Non-response can affect the reliability of results and can introduce bias. The magnitude of any bias depends on the rate of non-response and the extent of the difference between the characteristics of those people who responded to the survey and those who did not. 33 The following methods were adopted to reduce the level and impact of non-response:
34 By careful design and testing of the questionnaire, training of interviewers, and extensive editing and quality control procedures at all stages of data collection and processing, other non-sampling error has been minimised. However, the information recorded in the survey is essentially 'as reported' by respondents, and hence may differ from information collected using different methodology. NCI MODEL IMPLEMENTATION 35 There are three NCI model forms that can be applied: one-part, correlated two-part and uncorrelated-two part (see Model Implementation: Data used and Model Specification in the User’s Guide for more information on model forms).The two-part model was used when 5% or more of intakes had zero amounts. It was therefore used for fresh or canned fruits, unsaturated fats, plain water, proportion of plain water over total beverages and most ADG food groups including, vegetables, fruits, lean meat and alternatives, and milk, cheese, yoghurt and alternatives. The correlated (rather than uncorrelated) two-part model was used for these food groups because there was evidence of correlation between probability and amount for these food groups in the 2011-12 NNPAS. The exception to this was vegetable intakes for children under nine years. For this group, the simpler uncorrelated form of the two-part model was used. This was because the correlated form could not run (failed to converge) for the main weight as well as certain replicate groups. 36 Other food types including grains, plain water and water from non-discretionary beverages and proportion of plain water and water from non-discretionary beverages over total beverages were modelled using the one-part model. The exception to this was plain water and water from non-discretionary beverages for children under nine years. For this group, the two-part correlated model form was used because their intake of plain water and water from non-discretionary beverages was similar to their plain water intake. Accordingly, the two-part correlated method was used for proportion of plain water and water from non-discretionary beverages over total beverages for children under nine years. 37 Proportion of plain water over total beverages and proportion of plain water and water from non-discretionary beverages over total beverages are distributions of usual ratios. For this publication, these ratios have been first calculated on an individual basis as the total plain water intake or total plain water and water from non-discretionary beverages divided by total beverage intake. This was done for both Day 1 and Day 2 for each respondent. The NCI method was then run on these ratios in a similar way to other food groups. The group usual distributions of these ratios, output from the NCI method, are therefore usual ratio of intakes, that is the usual daily intake ratio. For more information, see Modelling Ratio, in the User’s Guide. 38 In the NCI method, covariates are data items or variables that describe characteristics of the individuals within a group, which are relevant to their nutrient or food intake. Four covariates were used in this publication for all models: sex, age, weekend vs weekday, and sequence effect. The purpose of each of these covariates is outlined in Model Implementation: Data used and Model Specification in the User’s Guide. CONFIDENTIALITY 39 The Census and Statistics Act, 1905 provides the authority for the ABS to collect statistical information, and requires that statistical output shall not be published or disseminated in a manner that is likely to enable the identification of a particular person or organisation. This requirement means that the ABS must take care and make assurances that any statistical information about individual respondents cannot be derived from published data. ROUNDING 40 Estimates presented in this publication have been rounded. As a result, sums of components may not add exactly to totals. 41 All statistics are rounded to one decimal place in the data cubes. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 42 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated; without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act, 1905. 43 The ABS gratefully acknowledges and thanks the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA for giving permission to adapt and use their Dietary Intake Data System including the AMPM for collecting dietary intake information as well as other processing systems and associated materials. 44 FSANZ and the ABS jointly investigated and validated the use of the NCI method with the 2011-12 NNPAS. FSANZ was contracted to provide advice throughout the survey development, processing, and collection phases of the 2011-12 NNPAS, and to provide a nutrient database for the coding of foods and dietary supplements consumed including additional breakdowns to enable the ADG comparisons and the added sugars work. The ABS would like to acknowledge and thank FSANZ for providing their support, advice and expertise to the 2011-12 NNPAS. 45 The ABS gratefully acknowledges and thanks researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the USA and elsewhere for developing and making available the NCI method and corresponding SAS macros, and providing expert advice on the use of the method. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 46 Summary results from this survey are available in spreadsheet form from the 'Downloads' tab in this release. 47 Because the NCI method produces estimates of usual food intakes for groups and not individuals, usual intake data is not available at the unit record level. 48 Summary tables containing aggregated estimates of the prevalence of intakes below the NHMRC 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommended intake level are available in the ‘Downloads’ tab in this release. Information on how to aggregate estimates for different age and sex groups is in Summary Tables in the Users' Guide. RELATED PUBLICATIONS 49 Other ABS publications which may be of interest are shown under the 'Related Information' tab of this release. 50 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed on the ABS website. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the website which details products to be released in the week ahead. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.
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