Overview
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.
Questionnaire
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.
Data
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
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
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
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