Executive Summary

2008 Mississippi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

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

Health Status

  • 21% report that their general health is fair or poor
  • 47% report that their general health is very good or excellent

Healthy Days

  • 16% report seven or more days of poor physical health during the past month
  • 17% report seven or more days of poor mental health during the past month

Health Care Coverage

  • 19% report that they have no kind of health care coverage
  • 20% report that they could not see a doctor in the past twelve months because of cost

Cigarette Smoking

  • 23% 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

Immunization

  • 36% report that they have had a flu vaccination in the past twelve months
  • 24% report that they have ever had a pneumonia vaccination

Body Weight

  • 67% report that they are overweight ( BMI ≥25)
  • 33% report that they are obese ( BMI ≥30)
  • 33% report that they have a healthy weight

Breast Cancer Screening

  • 80% of women age 40 and older have had a screening mammogram and a clinical breast examination during their lifetime
  • 59% of women age 40 and older have had a screening mammogram and a clinical breast examination within the past two years
  • 59% of women age 50 and older have had a screening mammogram and a clinical breast  examination within the past two years

Cervical Cancer Screening

  • 95% of women age 18 and older have had a Pap smear during their lifetime
  • 81% of women age 18 and older have had a Pap smear within the past three years

Exercise

  • 33% report no leisure time physical activity in the past 30 days

Dental Health

  • 41% report that it has been more than one year since they have seen a dentist
  • 58% report that they have had at least one of their permanent teeth extracted

Asthma

  • 11% report that they have ever had asthma
  • 7% Report that they presently have asthma

Disability

  • 24% 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

  • 40%, age 18 to 64, report that they have been tested for HIV other than through a blood donation
  • 4% , age 18 to 64,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
  • 4% report that they are at risk from chronic drinking
  • 3% of those who drink report that they have driven a vehicle after having too much to drink in the past 30 days

Emotional Support and Life Satisfaction

  • 9% report that they rarely or never get the emotional support they need
  • 6% report that they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their lives

Cardiovascular Disease

  • 5% report they had been told that they have had a myocardial infarction
  • 4% report they had been told that they have coronary artery disease
  • 4% report they had been told that they have had a stroke

Seat Belt Usage

  • 89% report that they always or nearly wear seat belts

Prostate Cancer Screening

  • 63% of men age 40 and older report that they have ever had a PSA test
  • 43 % of men age 40 and older who have had a PSA test report that it has been more than two years since the last test

Colorectal Cancer Screening

  • 43% age 50 and older report that they have never had a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy
  • 79% age 50 and older report that they have not had a blood stool test in the past two years

Falls and Injuries from Falls

  • 17% age 45 and older report that they have experienced a fall in the past three months
  • 35% of those with a fall in the past three months reported suffering an injury from the fall

Anxiety and Depression

  • 13% report that they have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder
  • 17% report that they have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder