Executive Summary
2001 Mississippi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Note: All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Health status

•  23% report that their general health is fair or poor

•  46% report that their general health is very good or excellent

Health care access

•  19% report that they have no kind of health care coverage

Cigarette smoking

•  25% report that they are current cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes and now smoke every day or some days)

Diabetes

•  9% report that they have been diagnosed with diabetes

Hypertension awareness

•  31% report that they have been told that they have high blood pressure by a health care professional

•  24% report that they are taking medication for high blood pressure

Cholesterol awareness

•  71% report that they have ever had their cholesterol checked

•  67% report that they have had their cholesterol checked within the past five years

Immunization

•  29% report that they have had a flu shot in the past twelve months

Body weight and weight control

•  61% report that they are overweight ( BMI ≥25)

•  32% report that they have a healthy weight

Mammography screening

•  75% of women age 40 and older have had a screening mammogram and a clinical breast examination during their lifetime

•  59% of women age 50 and older have had a screening mammogram and a clinical breast examination within the past two years

Pap smear screening

•  96% of women age 18 and older have had a Pap smear during their lifetime

•  86% of women age 18 and older have had a Pap smear within the past three years

Physical activity and exercise

•  55% report that they do not meet moderate physical activity recommendations

•  33 % report that they had no exercise in the past 30 days

Colorectal Cancer Screening

•  39% of respondents age 50 and older report that they have ever had a proctosigmoidoscopy

•  31% of respondents age 50 and older report that they have ever had a home blood stool test

Arthritis

•  36% that they have chronic joint symptoms or have been diagnosed with arthritis

Asthma

•  9% report that they have ever had asthma

Prostate Cancer Screening

•  57% of males age 40 and older report that they have ever had a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test

Disability

•  19% report that their activities are limited because of health problems

•  7% report that they have health problems that require the use of special equipment