The 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey (NMIHS) was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). This study examines child health status and development, use of federal programs, child safety, child injury, child care, pediatric care, maternal health, socio-demographic characteristics, acute and chronic illness, and health insurance. Furthermore, the 1988 NMIHS examines factors related to poor pregnancy outcomes, such as adequacy of prenatal care, inadequate or excessive weight gain during pregnancy, maternal health behaviors such as smoking, drinking and drug use, and pregnancy and delivery complications. This study is a national sample of live births, fetal deaths, and infant deaths in 1988. Furthermore, this study includes a supplementary sample of Hispanic live births, fetal deaths, and infant deaths in Texas, and a supplementary sample of live births for urban American Indians. These studies assess longitudinal outcomes for mothers and children between 1988 and 1991.

The 1988 NMIHS obtains information in the following substantive areas: