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