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