Summary Health Statistics for the U.S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 1997

Series 10, No. 204. Summary Health Statistics for the U.S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 1997. 100 pp. (PHS) 2002-1532.
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This report presents data from the 1997 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) by health topics such as health status and limitations of activity, injuries and poisonings, health care access and utilization, and health insurance coverage. Estimates are classified by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, poverty status, income, education, place of residence, region of residence, and, where appropriate, health insurance coverage. Companion reports present more detailed health measures for children and adults.

Highlights:

In 1997, nearly 40% of Americans reported having “excellent” health, whereas almost 10% reported having either “fair” or “poor” health.

The data on health insurance coverage showed that 16% of the U.S. population did not have any health insurance coverage in 1997. Thirty-three percent of Hispanics, 19% of non-Hispanic black persons, and 12% of non-Hispanic white persons were uninsured in 1997.

The estimates on health insurance coverage by poverty status, in addition to race and ethnicity, showed that 45% of “poor” Hispanics and 43% of “near poor” Hispanics under age 65 years were uninsured, while among persons aged 65 years and over, 7% of “poor” Hispanics were uninsured.

Summary Statistics from the National Health Interview Survey, 1997: Health Measures for the Population of the United States is available on the NCHS Web site.

This page last reviewed January 15, 2008