Behavioral Risk-Factor Prevalence Survey -- United States,
Fourth Quarter 1982
During the fourth quarter of 1982, five states (Alaska,
California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming) conducted
prevalence
surveys of major behavioral risk factors among their adult
populations
through random-digit-dialing telephone surveys, and a sixth (South
Carolina) conducted a similar survey through
person-to-person/household interviewing (Table 5). Four of these
states used a questionnaire with standard data items. Because
Illinois and South Carolina used different questionnaires, some of
the
data items are not comparable to data items for other states.
These
self-reported data were adjusted for the demographic
characteristics
of their respective states and weighted according to the
respondent's
probability of selection (Illinois data were not weighted or
adjusted
because of differences in data tabulation procedures).
The data presented here are consistent with findings from
similar
state-based behavioral risk-factor surveys conducted in the first
three quarters of 1982 (1-3). These surveys represent 26 states
and
the District of Columbia; their demographic and regional
distinctions
are confirmed by the present data (Table 5).
From 1980 through 1982, 36 states and the District of Columbia
completed behavioral risk-factor surveys, which are useful in
monitoring the health status of residents of these states. Because
the behaviors reported here are so closely linked with the 10
leading
causes of premature death in the United States, these behavioral
factors are useful indicators of chronic disease and injury
morbidity
and mortality. From these surveys, CDC has expanded the concept of
behavioral risk-factor assessment into a state-based "surveillance
system" in which 19 states and the District of Columbia collect
these
kinds of data on a monthly basis. This system is expected to
expand
and become a surveillance data resource for the public health
community. Results from this system will be reported in future
MMWR
articles.
Reported by P Hefley, Div of Public Health, Alaska Dept of Health
and
Social Svcs; P Terry, Adult Health Section, California Dept of
Health
Svcs; D Patterson, Div of Education and Information, Illinois Dept
of
Public Health; C Becker, Office of the Deputy Secretary for Public
Health, Pennsylvania Dept of Health; Daniel Lackland, Special
Projects
Section, South Carolina Dept of Health and Environmental Control; M
Futa, Div of Prevention and Environmental Svcs, Wyoming Div of
Health
and Medical Svcs; Div of Nutrition, Center for Health Promotion and
Education, CDC.
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