Executive Summary
1996 Mississippi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Note: only responses to questions on general health, health risk behaviors for
chronic disease (including health care access), and screening behaviors are given here
Health status
- 21.0% report that general health is fair or poor
- 11.3% report that physical health was not good for more than 7 days during the past 30
days
- 9.0% report that mental health was not good for more than 7 days during the past 30 days
- 17.6% report that poor physical/mental health prevented usual activities for more than 7
days during the past 30 days
Cigarette smoking
- 23.2% report that they are current cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes
and now smoke every day or some days)
- 21.0% report that they are former cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes but
do not smoke now)
- 49.8% of current daily smokers report that they have quit smoking for 1 day or longer
during the past 12 months
- 52.4% of current daily smokers report that a health professional has advised them within
the past 3 years to quit smoking
Physical activity/exercise
- 39.5% report that they are physically inactive (HP 2000 Obj. 1.5)
- 64.7% report sedentary lifestyle (sedentary or irregular physical activity profile)
- 17.0% report frequent regular exercise (HP 2000 Obj. 1.3)
- 11.2% report regular intensive exercise (HP 2000 Obj. 1.4)
- 42.0% report that they are using physical activity/exercise to lose weight (or keep from
gaining weight)
- 29.9% report that a health professional has talked with them within the past 3 years
about physical activity or exercise
Diet, body weight, and weight control
- 33.5% of respondents are overweight (BMI >= 27.7 for men, 27.3 for women)
- 18.8% of respondents are obese (BMI >= 30)
- 70.1% report that they are dieting to lose weight (or keep from gaining weight)
- 42.0% report that they are using physical activity/exercise to lose weight (or keep from
gaining weight)
- 35.8% are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (because of obesity/overweight and lack
of physical activity/exercise)
- 28.8% report that a health professional has talked with them within the past 3 years
about their diet or eating habits
Diabetes
- Prevalence of self-reported diabetes (told by a doctor): 6.1%
- 35.8% are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (because of obesity/overweight and lack
of physical activity/exercise)
- 72.6% of persons with self-reported diabetes have had two or more visits to a health
care provider for their diabetes in the past year
- 57.7% of persons with self-reported diabetes have had at least four visits to a health
care provider for their diabetes in the past year
- 16.3% of persons with self-reported diabetes have heard of HgbA1c
- 60.3% of persons with self-reported diabetes and who have heard of HgbA1c have had two
or more HgbA1c checks by a health care provider in the past year
- 45.5% of persons with self-reported diabetes and who have heard of HgbA1c have had at
least four HgbA1c checks by a health care provider in the past year
- 35.3% of persons with self-reported diabetes have had two or more foot exams by a health
care provider in the past year
- 28.1% of persons with self-reported diabetes have had at least four foot exams by a
health care provider in the past year
- 55.1% of persons with self-reported diabetes have had a dilated eye exam within the past
year
- 69.8% of persons with self-reported diabetes have had a dilated eye exam within the past
two years
Hypertension awareness
- 29.2% report that they have been told by a health professional that they have high blood
pressure
- 87.1% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past year
- 93.1% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past 2
years
- 95.5% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past 5
years
Fruit and vegetable consumption
- Percent reporting that they eat fruits/vegetables 5 or more times per day: 18.3%
Preventive counseling services
- 28.8% report that a health professional has talked with them within the past 3 years
about their diet or eating habits
- 29.9% report that a health professional has talked with them within the past 3 years
about physical activity or exercise
- 52.4% of current smokers report that a health professional has advised them within the
past 3 years to quit smoking
Mammography screening
- 54.3% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
- 82.2% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two
years
- 60.6% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
- 82.1% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two
years
Pap smear screening
- 89.3% of women 18-65 years of age have had Pap smear screening within the past three
years
Health care access
- 14.1% report that they have no kind of health care coverage
- 14.9% report that there was a time during the past 12 months that they needed to see a
doctor but could not because of the cost