America's Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2008
Health Figures
Figure HEALTH1: Percentage of infants born with low birthweight by mother's race and Hispanic origin, 1980–2006
NOTE: Data for 2006 are preliminary. Race refers to mother's race. Although state reporting of birth certificate data is transitioning to comply with the 1997 OMB standard for race and ethnic statistics, all data in the figure have been mapped back to the 1977 OMB standard to present consistent categories over time. Trend data for births to Hispanic and to White, non-Hispanic, and Black, non-Hispanic, women are affected by the increasing number of states in which an item on Hispanic origin is included on the birth certificate.
SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.
Figure HEALTH2: Death rates among infants by race and Hispanic origin of mother, 1983–2004
NOTE: Data are available for 1983–1991 and 1995–2004 only. Infant deaths are deaths before an infant's first birthday.
SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Linked File of Live Births and Infant Deaths System.
Figure HEALTH3: Percentage if children ages 4–17 reported by a parent to have serious emotional or behavioral difficulties by gender, 2001–2006
NOTE: Children with serious emotional or behavioral difficulties are defined as those whose parent responded "yes, definite" or "yes, severe" to the following question on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): "Overall, do you think that (child) has difficulties in any of the following areas: emotions, concentration, behavior, or being able to get along with other people?" Response choices were: (1) no; (2) yes, minor difficulties; (3) yes, definite difficulties; (4) yes, severe difficulties. These difficulties may be similar to but do not equate with the Federal definition of serious emotional disturbances (SED), used by the Federal government for planning purposes.
SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.
Figure HEALTH4: Percentage of children ages 5–17 with activity limitation resulting from one or more chronic health conditions by gender, 1999–2006
NOTE: Children are identified as having activity limitation by asking parents (1) whether children receive special education services and (2) whether they are limited in their ability to walk, care for themselves, or participate in other activities. "Activity limitation indicated by participation in special education" only includes children identified solely by their use of special education services. "Activity limitation indicated by all other limitations" includes limitations in self-care, walking, or other activities; children in this category may also receive special education services. Chronic health conditions are conditions that once acquired are not cured or have a duration of three months or more.
SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.
Figure HEALTH5: Percentage of children ages 6–17 who are overweight by gender, selected years 1976–2006
NOTE: Overweight is defined as body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BMI-for-age growth charts. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.
SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Figure HEALTH6: Percentage of children ages 0–17 with asthma, 1997–2006
NOTE: Children are identified as having asthma by asking parents, "Has a doctor or other health professional EVER told you that your child has asthma?" If the parent answers YES to this question, they are then asked (1) "Does your child still have asthma?" and (2) "During the past 12 months, has your child had an episode of asthma or an asthma attack?" The question "Does your child still have asthma?" was introduced in 2001 and identifies children with current asthma.
SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.