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March 2005

NOTE: Information provided on each source is taken from or paraphrased from the source Web page(s).

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/

Prior to the mid-1980s, while national estimates of health risk behaviors among U.S. adult populations had been periodically obtained through surveys conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), these data were not available on a state-specific basis. This deficiency was viewed as critical for state health agencies that have the primary role of targeting resources to reduce behavioral risks and their consequent illnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed standard core questionnaire for states to use to provide data that could be compared across states. The BRFSS, administered and supported by the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, is an ongoing data collection program. By 1994, all states, the District of Columbia , and three territories were participating in the BRFSS.

The BRFSS, the world’s largest telephone survey, tracks health risks in the United States . Information from the survey is used to improve the health of the American people.

Monitoring the Future (MTF)

http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/

MTF is an ongoing study of the behaviors, attitudes, and values of US secondary school students, college students, and young adults. Each year, approximately 50,000 8th, 10th and 12th grade students are surveyed (12th graders since 1975, and 8th and 10th graders since 1991). In addition, annual follow-up questionnaires are mailed to a sample of each graduating class for a number of years after their initial participation. Classrooms are selected using a multi-stage random sampling procedure. The self-administered surveys are completed in the selected schools’ classrooms.

National Center for Health Statistics:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm

The above link includes additional links to the following, which are administered by the NCHS:

• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES):

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm

  The NHANES is a population-based survey of people of all ages. The survey has two components: an in-home interview and a health exam performed in a mobile exam center. Survey questions relate to health and nutrition while mobile examinations include physical examinations and laboratory tests (e.g. height, weight, blood pressure, balance, fitness test, hearing test, vision test, urine collection, blood draw, digital photographs of skin, etc.)

• National Health Care Survey (NHCS):

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhcs.htm

  The NHCS is actually a “family” of surveys that includes a cadre of health care provider survey data and health care facility records data. Above link has additional links to the following:

• National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
• National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
• National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery
• National Hospital Discharge Survey
• National Nursing Home Survey
• National Home and Hospice Care Survey
• National Employer Health Insurance Survey

• National Health Provider Inventory
• National Health Interview Survey (NHIS):

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm

  The NHIS began in July 1957 and its main objective is to monitor the health of the United States population through the collection and analysis of data on a broad range of health topics. Data are collected during in-home interviews with people 17 years of age and older. Respondents also provide information on those people within the household who are less than 17 years of age.

• National Immunization Survey ( NIS ):

  http://www.cdc.gov/nis/

  The NIS began in 1994 to monitor recommended childhood immunization among children between the ages of 19 to 35 months (living in the US at the time of the interview). The survey is a list-assisted random-digit-dial telephone survey.

  The National Adult Immunization survey began in 2003 to monitor influenza and pneumonia vaccinations among adults 50 years of age and older. The survey is a list-assisted random-digit-dial telephone survey

• National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG):

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm

  The NSFG began in 1973. During the first five cycles, (1973, 1976, 1988, 1995) only women (15-44 years of age) were included in the sample. Data were collected via in-person interviews. The primary purpose of the Cycles 1-5 was to provide reliable national data on marriage, divorce, contraception, infertility, and the health of women and infants in the US.

  Cycle 6, conducted in 2002, included both men and women (15-44 years of age). Data were collected via in-person interviews.

• State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS):

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/slaits.htm

  The SLAITS collects important health care data at State and local levels, which supplements current national data. Data are collected via random-digit-dial telephone interviews

• National Vital Statistics System (Vital Statistics):

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss.htm

  The Vital Statistics are the oldest example of intergovernmental data sharing in Public Health. These data are provided through contract between the NCHS and the vital registration systems operated in various jurisdictions, which are legally responsible for vital events. These data include:

• Births
• Deaths
• Marriages
• Divorces
• Fetal/Infant deaths

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)

http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/srv_prams.htm

PRAMS is a surveillance project of the CDC and state health departments. PRAMS collects state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences prior to, during, and immediately following pregnancy.

Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)

http://seer.cancer.gov/

The SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States . SEER began collecting data on cases on January 1, 1973 , in Connecticut , Iowa , New Mexico , Utah and Hawaii and the metropolitan areas of Detroit , MI , and San Francisco-Oakland , CA . In 1974-1975 Atlanta, GA, and the 13-county Seattle-Puget Sound area were added. In 1978 ten primarily black rural counties in Georgia were added and in 1980 American Indians living in Arizona were added. Three additional geographic areas participated in the SEER program Prior to 1990: New Orleans , LA (1974-1977, rejoined 2001); New Jersey (1979-1989, rejoined 2001); and Puerto Rico (1973-1989). The National Cancer Institute also funds a cancer registry that, with technical assistance from SEER, collects information on cancer cases among Alaska Native populations residing in Alaska . In 1992, the SEER Program was expanded to increase coverage of minority populations, especially Hispanics, by adding Los Angeles County and four counties in the San Jose-Monterey , CA . In 2001, the SEER Program expanded to include Kentucky and Greater California.

Virginia Atlas of Community Health

http://www.vahealthycommunities.com

The Virginia Atlas of Community Health, developed by the Virginia Center for Health Communities, has just been updated to help you with research, instructional support and so much more.

• Includes over 100 indicators of population, education, economy, housing, health, insurance status, public safety, and ambulatory sensitive conditions.
• Generate reports of an array of locality and ZIP code level indicators.
• Create thematically colored maps of up to two variables that allow you to quickly evaluate the health of your community down to your ZIP code.

The entire ZIP Code level indicator database has been updated for calendar year 2002. When you visit the site to create maps or ZIP Code reports you will be asked which data year you are interested in. You can select 2001 or 2002.

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)

http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm

The YRBSS was developed in 1990 to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States . These behaviors, often established during childhood and early adolescence, include

• Tobacco use
• Unhealthy dietary behaviors
• Inadequate physical activity
• Alcohol and other drug use
• Sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection
• Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence

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