Executive Summary
1992 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

Cigarette smoking

• 24.5% report that they are current cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes and now smoke every day or some days)
• 20.4% report that they are former cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes but do not smoke now)
• 56.2% of current daily smokers report that they have quit smoking for 1 day or longer during the past 12 months

Physical activity/exercise

• 48.1% report that they are physically inactive (HP 2000 Obj. 1.5)
• 67.8% report sedentary lifestyle (sedentary or irregular physical activity profile)
• 14.2% report frequent regular exercise (HP 2000 Obj. 1.3)
• 9.5% report regular intensive exercise (HP 2000 Obj. 1.4)
• 54.1% report that they are using physical activity/exercise to lose weight

Body weight and weight control

• 29.7% of respondents are overweight (BMI 27.7 >= for men, 27.3 for women)
• 16.8% of respondents are obese (BMI >= 30)
• 77.2% report that they are eating fewer calories to lose weight
• 54.1% report that they are using physical activity/exercise to lose weight
• 33.7% are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (because of obesity/overweight and lack of physical activity/exercise)

Diabetes

• Prevalence of self-reported diabetes (told by a doctor): 6.6%
• 33.7% are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (because of obesity/overweight and lack of physical activity/exercise)

Hypertension awareness

• 27.9% of respondents report that they have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure
• 91.1% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past year
• 95.0% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past 2 years
• 97.3% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past 5 years

Cholesterol awareness

• 62.2% of respondents have ever had a blood cholesterol check
• 75.4% have had their blood cholesterol checked within the past year
• 91.4% have had their blood cholesterol checked within the past 2 years
• 97.0% have had their blood cholesterol checked within the past 5 years
• 29.8% of those tested report that they have been told by a health professional that they have high blood cholesterol

Mammography screening

• 58.9% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
• 76.8% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two years
• 61.7% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
• 80.0% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two years

Pap smear screening

• 89.2% of women 18-65 years of age have had Pap smear screening within the past three years

Health care access

• 18.8% report that they have no kind of health care coverage
• 15.7% 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