Executive Summary

2003 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

•  47% report that their general health is very good or excellent

Health care coverage

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

•  18% report that they could not see a doctor in the past twelve months because of cost

Cigarette smoking

•  26% report that they are current cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes and now smoke every day or some days)

Diabetes

•  11% 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

•  26% report that they are taking medication for high blood pressure

Cholesterol awareness

•  72% report that they have ever had their cholesterol checked

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

Immunization

•  33% report that they have had a flu shot in the past twelve months

Body weight and weight control

•  62% report that they are overweight ( BMI ≥25)

•  34% report that they have a healthy weight

Mammography screening

•  78% of women age 40 and older have had a screening mammogram and a clinical breast examination during their lifetime

•  58% of women age 50 and older have had a screening mammogram and a clinical breast examination within the past two years

Pap smear screening

•  95% of women age 18 and older have had a Pap smear during their lifetime

•  84% of women age 18 and older have had a Pap smear within the past three years

Physical activity and exercise

•  67% report that they do not meet moderate physical activity recommendations

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

Colorectal Cancer Screening

•  44% of respondents age 50 and older report that they have ever had a proctosigmoidoscopy

•  36% of respondents age 50 and older report that they have ever had a home blood stool test

Arthritis

•  31% that they have been diagnosed with arthritis

Asthma

•  11% report that they have ever had asthma

Prostate Cancer Screening

•  59% of males age 40 and older report that they have ever had a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test

Disability

•  23% report that their activities are limited because of health problems

•  9% report that they have health problems that require the use of special equipment

HIV/AIDS

•  44% report that they have been tested for HIV other than through a blood donation

•  5% report that they have participated in high risk behavior during the past twelve months

Alcohol Consumption

•  11% report that they are at risk from binge drinking

Eats fruits and vegetables at least five times per day

•  18% report that they eat fruits and vegetables at least five times per day

Falls

•  14% of those age 45 and older report that they suffered a fall in the past three months

Exposure to Sun

•  29% reported that they had a sunburn in the past twelve months

Residential Fire

•  10% reported that it had more than one year since their smoke alarms were tested