The New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey is a telephone survey that is partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a component of the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS monitors major behavioral risk factors and chronic conditions associated with disability and death among adults. In accordance with BRFSS protocol, only adults aged 18 and over who live at home (i.e., not in dormitories, jails, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) can participate in the survey. (Note that the New Jersey Department of Education maintains a separate reporting system with respect to health risks and related behaviors among youth in New Jersey. )

The New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey has been in operation since 1991. In 1991 through 1995, approximately 125 interviews were completed per month. The monthly sample size approximately doubled in 1996 and again in 2001, and reached nearly 1,000 in 2003.

BRFSS survey results are used to monitor selected public health objectives related to disease prevention and healthy behaviors. To learn about public health objectives in New Jersey see Healthy New Jersey 2000 and Healthy New Jersey 2010. To learn about national public health objectives, see Healthy People 2010.

The generic BRFSS questionnaire is designed by a working group of state BRFSS coordinators and CDC staff. It has two main parts: 1) a required core component, consisting of fixed core, rotating core, and emerging core questions, and 2) a set of optional modules. The fixed core is a standard set of questions asked yearly by all participating states and territories. The rotating core is made up of two distinct sets of questions required in alternating years. The emerging core questions typically focus on issues of a "late breaking" nature and are part of the core component for at least one year.

The questionnaire used in the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey is customized on an annual basis by supplementing required and optional modules from the BRFSS questionnaire with a set of state-designed questions approved by CDC.

Prevalence Estimates for health risks in each state are available from the CDC for 1995 and later years. These estimates can be stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, and education.

Trend Statistics for selected risk factors in each state are available from the CDC for 1990 and later years. These estimates can be stratified by age and sex.

Summary Prevalence Tables generated by CDC for New Jersey are available for a selected set of core questions and optional modules. Additional summary data are available upon request from the Center for Health Statistics.

Technical Information about BRFSS and Annual Survey Data are available from the CDC for 1990 and later years. The data files are provided in both ASCII and dBASE formats.

New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Reports

Health Status: 1991- 1994

Substance Abuse: 1991- 1994

Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity: 1991- 1994

Injury Prevention Practices: 1991- 1995

AIDS/HIV Awareness: 1991-1996

Cancer Screening: 1991-1996

Routine Health Exams : 1991-1997

Use of Clinical Preventive Services:
Immunization and Hormone Replacement Status of Older Adults: 1996-1999

Arthritis in New Jersey: 1996-1998

Beginning in July 2001, New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey reports have been incorporated into the Topics in Health Statistics series.

For more information about the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey or the BRFSS contact:
BRFSS Coordinator
Center for Health Statistics, Room 405
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
Telephone: 609-984-6702
Fax: 609-984-7633
e-mail