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Community Health Assessment 1996 (BRFS) 

  
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1996 DuPage County Community Health Assessment
        (Behavioral Risk Factor Survey)

April 1996

Executive Summary
Adult Data
Child Data

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

From January 1996 through April 1996, Information Transfer Systems, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, conducted the DuPage County Community Health Assessment Survey for the DuPage County Health Department, which collaborated in a partnership with the following community hospitals: Central DuPage Hospital, Glen Oaks Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, Edward Hospital, Hinsdale Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital.

The results of the survey are based on interviewing, by telephone, a representative sample of households in DuPage County. Within each randomly selected household with telephones, a randomly selected adult, 18 years of age or older, was selected to complete the interview. As is noted in a subsequent section which details the survey methodology and the results of the sampling and interviewing process, there is substantial evidence that the quality of the resulting survey data is extremely high.

The sampling design required the completion of 2,000 randomly selected adult interviews within each of 2,000 random selected telephone households. In each household with one or more children, a random child was also selected as the topic of the interview. However, for children, an adult "proxy" respondent was interviewed since it is generally not appropriate to interview children directly by phone. More will be said about this proxy respondent in the section covering child data.

Because of the need to insure that a probability sampling design rather than a non-probability quota design was followed, the sample was randomly distributed into replicates of 8 numbers, which were released into field and finalized. This raised the possibility that more than 2000 interviews would be completed; however, as it turned out, exactly 2000 households were interviewed, with data on 2000 adults and 763 children.

This report references data tables and chart data, provided separately. The same numbering scheme is used for both.

As is noted in the Methodology section at the end of this report, the accuracy of all estimates provided (within this report and its associated tables) can be assessed by evaluating the sampling error statistic which is associated with almost all estimates reported. Sampling error is reported as plus or minus a specific percentage. By adding and subtracting this percentage from the estimates or findings reported, it is possible to specify the "confidence interval" which indicates the range of confidence associated with each survey estimate or finding. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were used. In general, subgroups or geographic areas (for example, hospital service areas based on about 75% of their cases) with smaller sample sizes have greater sampling error, which translates into broader (worse) confidence intervals for their respective estimates (percentages and proportions).

The findings presented and the associated data tables mirror the approach used by many states in their presentation of Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) data. For each key survey variable measured, detailed data including the survey finding or estimate as well as the associated sampling error for that estimate are broken down according to age, gender, race, education and income groups.

As noted in the Sampling and Survey Methodology section, the findings and data presented are based on "weighted" data. The sampling weight includes adjustments for differential probabilities of selection (which are part of the random selection process of selecting telephone households and adult respondents), and a post-stratification adjustment to ensure that the overall data are generalizable to the county and its sub-areas and key subgroups.

It is worth noting it is our customary practice to compare findings from each community survey we conduct to findings from state-level data. Such an approach often is beneficial since it allows local communities to determine the extent to which they have health and risk status problems that indicate community-wide or subgroup differences from the broader state population that deserve particular attention. The data source against which we traditionally compare community data is the most recent behavioral risk factor survey data (BRFS) collected statewide through a grant from the CDC. Unfortunately, the most recent data available from the state of Illinois BRFS provided to ITS by the DuPage County Health Department was from 1991. Evaluation of the 1991 report from the state-wide BRFS proved it to be an inadequate source for data comparisons due to a number of factors.

First, comparing 1996 county-wide findings to 1991 state-wide findings is highly prone to identifying spurious differences due to the substantial difference in the timing when the two surveys were conducted. Specifically, there is significant evidence from federal level survey data (such as the National Health Interview Survey and BRFS surveys conducted by other states) that the health and risk factor status of the population has changed, typically in the direction of improvement since 1990, due to the combined efforts of public health and improved medical care.

Additionally, the form of data presentations presented in the 1991 Illinois BRFS do not lend themselves to comparisons with the DuPage data since the BRFS report does not provide information concerning the variability associated with survey estimates. In general, to make such comparisons it is necessary to have sampling error estimates for each topic of interest for both sources of data so that it is possible to determine whether the "confidence intervals" associated with estimates overlap. Where overlap can be identified, it is appropriate to state that differences between the two data sources are not "significantly different". Unfortunately, the 1991 Illinois BRFS report provides no information about sampling errors associated with the variables they measured, making it impossible to determine whether or not differences in estimates (or rates) identified are statistically significant.

Given these important limitations associated with the 1991 BRFS report for Illinois, it is not only inappropriate, but indeed, impossible to make valid comparisons between these two data sources.

What follows below are brief highlights of the results of the present project. As such, they present a broad-brush overview and by no means tell the whole story. More important is the fact that the data collected need to be carefully evaluated by all of the organizations associated with the survey project. It is only by understanding the communities and constituencies from whom these data were collected, that they can be properly interpreted and best put to use for such important purposes as region-wide, jurisdiction-wide, and county-wide planning, policy making, resource allocation decision-making, and for program evaluation purposes.

Key findings discussed in the report below include, but are not limited to:

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ADULT DATA
DATA # VARIABLE DESCRIPTOR ESTIMATE 95% C.I.
1-1 Fair Or Poor Perceived Health Status 6.2% ±0.9
1-2 Days Physical Health Not Good in Last 30 Days 2.2 ±0.2
1-3 Days Mental Health Not Good in Last 30 Days 2.1 ±0.2
1-4 Days Activity Restricted Due to Physical or Mental Health in Last 30 Days 1 ±0.1
2-1 Have Untreated Problems or Conditions 10% ±1.1
2-4 Have Unmet Need For Social or Family Services 3.2% ±0.6
3-1 No Health Care Coverage 6.2% ±0.9
4-1 No Routine Checkup for More Than One Year 24.1% ±1.6
4-3 Have Not Seen Health Care Provider For Any Reason For More Than One Year 12.8% ±1.2
4-4 No Usual Source of Health Care 10.7% ±1.1
4-6 Fair Or Poor Rating of Usual Source of Health and Medical Care 3.6% ±0.7
4-8 Cost Prevented Respondent From Visiting Doctor in Past 12 Months 6.5% ±0.9
5-1 No Dental Visit for More Than One Year For a Routine Checkup 21% ±1.5
5-3 No Dental Visit for More Than One Year For Any Reason 20% ±1.5
5-4 Cost Prevented Respondent From Visiting Dentist in Past 12 Months 8.2% ±1
6-1 Days Per Week Of Moderate Exercise 3.8 ±0.1
6-2 Fair or Poor Reported Level of Physical Fitness 12.5% ±1.2
6-3 Healthy Weight 70.4% ±1.7
6-4 Underweight 6.2% ±0.9
6-5 Overweight 22.4% ±1.6
6-7 Health Professional Gave Advice about Weight in Last 12 Months 10.3% ±1.1
7-1 Blood Pressure Checked Within 2 Years 94.6% ±0.8
7-2 Last Blood Pressure Diagnosis Was High 7.6% ±1
7-3 Ever Told Blood Pressure Was High 18.9% ±1.4
7-4 No Treatment Required for High Blood Pressure 41.9% ±4.1
7-5 Supposed to Take Medication for High Blood Pressure 52.1% ±4.2
7-6 Supposed to Follow Diet for High Blood Pressure 17.7% ±3.2
7-7 Supposed to Exercise for High Blood Pressure 16.1% ±3.1
7-9 Sometimes/Rarely/Never Takes Medication To Control High BP 1.7% ±1.5
7-10 Sometimes/Rarely/Never Follows Diet To Control High BP 28.4% ±9.2
7-11 Sometimes/Rarely/Never Follows Exercise Program To Control High BP 30.4% ±9.8
8-1 Cholesterol Ever Checked 78.6% ±1.6
8-2 Cholesterol Checked Within 5 Years 75.8% ±1.6
8-3 Last Cholesterol Diagnosis Was High 21.9% ±1.8
8-4 Ever Told by Health Professional Cholesterol Was High 21% ±1.5
8-5 No Treatment Required for High Cholesterol 52.8% ±3.9
8-6 Supposed to Take Medication for High Cholesterol 17.1% ±3
8-7 Supposed to Follow Diet for High Cholesterol 37% ±3.8
8-8 Supposed to Exercise for High Cholesterol 19.1% ±3.1
8-10 Sometimes/Rarely/Never Takes Medication To Control High Cholesterol 2.9% ±3.2
8-11 Sometimes/Rarely/Never Follows Diet To Control High Cholesterol 23.7% ±5.6
8-12 Sometimes/Rarely/Never Follows Exercise Program To Control High Cholesterol 30.9% ±8.7
9-1 Breathing Problems 8.9% ±1
9-2 Asthma During The Last 12 Months 4.7% ±0.8
9-3 Currently Not Being Treated for Asthma 28.4% ±7.7
9-5 Chronic Lung Disease During The Last 12 Months 3.3% ±0.7
9-7 Currently Not Being Treated for Chronic Lung Disease 67.6% ±9.8
9-9 Chest Discomfort During The Last 12 Months 7.6% ±1
9-10 Currently Not Being Treated for Chest Discomfort 65.1% ±6.3
9-12 Chest Discomfort While Exercising 34.3% ±6.3
9-13 Chest Discomfort Even When Not Exercising 55.8% ±6.6
9-14 Bone or Joint Pain During The Last 12 Months 36% ±1.8
9-15 Arthritis or Rheumatism During The Last 12 Months 18.5% ±1.4
9-16 Currently Not Being Treated for Arthritis or Rheumatism 74.2% ±3.7
9-18 Bone or Joint Pain During The Last 12 Months 22.3% ±1.5
9-19 Currently Not Being Treated for Bone or Joint Pain 73.6% ±3.4
9-21 Back Problem, Disk Problem, or Sciatica During The Last 12 Months 17% ±1.4
9-22 Currently Not Being Treated for Back or Disk Problem or Sciatica 68.5% ±4.2
9-24 Unlikely to Use Sunscreen or Sun Block 39.6% ±1.8
9-25 Have Had Three or More Bad Sunburns 30.3% ±1.7
10-1 Sad, Blue or Depressed in Past 30 Days 2.3 ±0.2
10-2 Worried, Tense or Anxious in Past 30 Days 4.8 ±0.3
10-3 Not Enough Rest or Sleep in Past 30 Days 7.1 ±0.3
10-4 Healthy and Full of Energy in Past 30 Days 18.8 ±0.4
10-5 Currently Being Seen for Mental Health Related Problem 3.7% ±0.7
11-1 Smoked 100 Cigarettes In Entire Life 47.2% ±1.8
11-2 Smoked Every Day/Some Days Last Year 51.8% ±2.7
11-3 Current Smokers 22.7% ±1.5
11-4 Former Smokers 24.4% ±1.6
11-5 Heavy Smokers 4.2% ±1.6
11-6 Number of Years Since Quit Smoking 12.8 ±0.8
11-7 Number of Cigarettes Now Smoked Per Day: Smoke Every Day 19.1 ±0.9
11-8 Number of Days Smoked Cigarettes in Past 30 Days 15.6 ±1.2
11-9 Number of Cigarettes Smoke Per Day: Smoke Some Days 5.5 ±0.6
11-10 Advised To Quit Smoking in Past Year 49.2% ±4
11-11 Current Smokeless Tobacco Users 1.4% ±0.4
11-12 Number of Smokers in Household Over 16 Years Old 0.5 ±0
11-14 Hours Per Day of Passive Smoking 3 ±0.2
12-1 Consumed Any Alcohol in Past Month 68% ±1.7
12-2 Days In The Past Month Any Alcoholic Beverage Was Consumed 7.8 ±0.4
12-3 How Many Drinks When Drank 2.4 ±0.1
12-4 Heavy Drinking 4.8% ±0.8
12-5 Binge Drinking 19.4% ±1.5
12-6 Driven Drunk 2.8% ±0.6
12-7 Ridden With Drunk Driver 5.4% ±0.8
12-8 Driven Drunk or Ridden With Drunk Driver 6.7% ±0.9
13-1 Drug Abuse in Past 12 Months 1.7% ±0.5
14-1 Ever Had Clinical Breast Exam 91.8% ±1.4
14-2 Had "Appropriate" Clinical Breast Exam Screening 79.3% ±2.1
14-3 No Monthly Breast Self-Examination 46.2% ±2.5
14-4 Ever Had Mammogram: All Women 47.8% ±2.5
14-5 Ever Had Mammogram: Women 40 Years of Age and Over 81.3% ±2.7
14-6 "Appropriate" Mammography Screening 57.6% ±3.4
14-8 "Appropriate" Breast Screening 51.6% ±3.4
14-9 Ever Had Pap Test 95.7% ±1
14-10 Had Pap Test Within Previous 3 Years 84.4% ±1.8
14-12 Ever Had a Hysterectomy 13.6% ±1.7
14-13 Current Pregnancy Status 3.7% ±1.1
15-1 Age When First Had Sexual Intercourse 18.3 ±0.2
15-2 Number of Different Partners Have Had Sexual Intercourse With 6.1 ±0.5
15-3 Number of Partners Have Had Sex With In The Past Year 1 ±0
15-4 No Use Of Birth Control During Last Sexual Intercourse 50% ±2.1
15-6 Contraceptive Foam, Jelly, or Suppository Used With a Condom 9.6% ±2.5
15-7 Latex Condom Used (Not Sheepskin or Lambskin) 94.8% ±2
16-1 Have Not Received Flu Shot During The Past 12 Months 81.7% ±1.4
16-2 Never Had A Pneumonia Vaccination 85.2% ±1.3
16-3 Did Not Have Tetanus Shot During Last 10 Years 35.1% ±1.8
17-1 Diet High in Cholesterol or Fat 71.7% ±1.8
17-2 Diet Low in Fruits and Vegetables 88.4% ±1.2
17-3 Sometimes/Rarely/Never Have 2 Balanced Meals Per Day 24.7% ±1.6
17-4 Eat Candy or High Sugar Snacks Every Day/Almost Every Day 32.3% ±1.7
17-5 Eat Fast Food More than 3 Times Per Week 9.9% ±1.1
18-1 House Not Tested For Radon 78.4% ±1.6
18-2 Never Heard of Radon 0.9% ±0.4
18-3 Importance of Having Clean Water Supplies 96.3% ±0.7
19-1 Sometimes/Seldom/Never Wear Seat Belts 13.4% ±1.3
19-2 Have Not Tested All Smoke Detectors in Home in Last 6 Months 23.6% ±1.6
19-3 Has No Fire Escape Plan 47.2% ±1.8
20-1 Exposed to Hazards or Safety Problems at Workplace 23.8% ±1.9
20-3 Work Days Missed Due To a Job Related Illness/Injury During Past Year 2.2 ±1
21-1 Loaded or Unloaded Firearms Kept in Home or Car 15.3% ±1.3
21-2 All Firearms Not Stored In A Locked Place 46.1% ±4.8
21-3 Ammunition Not Stored In A Locked Place 41.9% ±5.1
21-5 Have Carried a Loaded Firearm On Person During The Past 30 Days 3.3% ±1.7
22-1 Neighborhood is Somewhat or Very Unsafe 1.9% ±0.5
23-3 Few or No Healthy Alternatives to Drugs and Alcohol 30% ±1.9



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CHILD DATA
DATA # VARIABLE DESCRIPTOR ESTIMATE 95% C.I.
24-6 Children 17 Years Old Or Younger Living In Household 39.7% ±1.8
25-1 Fair Or Poor Perceived Health Status Of Child 1.8% ±0.8
25-2 Days Child's Physical Health Not Good in Last 30 Days 1.6 ±0.2
25-3 Days Child's Mental Health Not Good in Last 30 Days 1.2 ±0.2
25-4 Days Child's Activity Restricted Due to Physical or Mental Health in Last 30 Days 0.9 ±0.1
26-1 Child Has Untreated Problems or Conditions 4.5% ±1.2
26-4 Child Has An Unmet Need For Social Or Family Services 1.3% ±0.7
27-1 Child Has No Health Care Coverage 4.1% ±1.2
27-2 No Child Health Care Coverage for More Than One Year 50.9% ±16.1
28-1 Child Has Not Seen Health Care Provider For a Routine Checkup More Than One Year 9.4% ±1.8
28-3 Child Has Not Seen Health Care Provider For Any Reason For More Than One Year 3.6% ±1.1
28-4 Child Has No Usual Source Of Health Care 1.7% ±0.8
28-6 Fair Or Poor Rating of Usual Source of Child's Health and Medical Care 2.3% ±0.9
28-8 Cost Prevented Child From Visiting Doctor in Past 12 Months 2% ±0.8
29-1 No Child Dental Visit for Routine Checkup for Over 1 Year 20.2% ±2.6
29-2 No Child Dental Visit for Any Reason for Over 1 Year 7.5% ±1.9
29-4 Child Has Had Permanent Teeth Removed Due To Tooth Decay Or Gum Disease 2.9% ±1.4
29-5 Cost Prevented Child From Visiting Dentist in Past 12 Months 2.1% ±0.9
30-1 Days Per Week Child Gets Moderate Exercise 5.4 ±0.1
30-2 Fair or Poor Reported Level of Physical Fitness for Child 3.5% ±1.3
30-3 Overweight Child 15.6% ±3.8
31-1 Child Could Benefit From Talking With A Mental Health Professional 12.4% ±2.4
31-2 Adult or Child Has Seen Professional About Child's Problem 59.4% ±10
31-4 Child Always/Usually/Sometimes Physically Aggressive 24.5% ±2.9
31-5 Child Was Victim of Violent Attack in Past 12 Months 11.8% ±2.2
31-7 Child Was Suspended/Expelled During This Year 2.9% ±1.2
32-1 Child Currently Smokes Cigarettes 6.4% ±2.2
32-2 Age When Child Began Smoking Cigarettes 14.9 ±0.4
32-3 Child Currently Uses Smokeless Tobacco 0.4% ±0.6
32-4 Hours Per Day of Passive Smoking for Child 1.1 ±0.2
33-1 Child Has Consumed Alcohol During The Past Month 1.7% ±1.2
33-2 Age When Child Began Drinking Alcohol 15 ±0.9
34-1 Child Eats Foods High in Cholesterol or Fat 74.7% ±3
34-2 Child's Diet Low in Fruits and Vegetables 89.5% ±2
34-3 Child Sometimes/Rarely/Never Has 2 Balanced Meals Per Day 11.4% ±2
34-4 Child Eats Candy or High Sugar Snacks Every Day/Almost Every Day 54.1% ±3.2
34-5 Child Eats Fast Food More than 3 Times Per Week 9.5% ±2
35-1 Child Has Not Received a DPT Shot 2.4% ±1.6
35-2 Child Has Not Received a Polio Vaccine 2.2% ±1.5
35-3 Child Has Not Received a Measles or MMR Shot 7.7% ±2.8
35-4 Child Has Not Received a HIB Shot 19.9% ±4.4
35-5 Child Has Not Received a Hepatitis B Shot 10.2% ±3.3
35-6 Child Has Not Received All The Shots for Their Age Group 0.8% ±0.5
36-1 Health Professional Said Child Has Asthma 7.5% ±1.6
36-2 Number of Asthma Episodes During Past Year 3.7 ±2.1
36-3 Number of Asthma Attacks Resulting in ER Visit 0.3 ±0.2
37-1 Child Sometimes/Seldom/Never Uses A Safety Seat Or Seat Belt 9.9% ±1.8
37-2 Child Sometimes/Seldom/Never Wears a Bicycle Helmet 70.3% ±3.5
37-3 Child Has Been Tested for Lead Poisoning 32.7% ±2.9
37-4 Child Has Been Poisoned By Lead or Has a High Lead Level 2.9% ±2
38-1 Parent Has Participated in a Parenting Class 33.6% ±3.2
38-2 Parent Could Not Find a Parenting Class 20.1% ±3.4
38-3 Adult Sometimes/Rarely/Never Home After School 11.6% ±2.1


More information regarding the 1996 Community Health Assessment Survey is available through the DuPage County Health Department, Department of Planning, Education and Evaluation.

(630) 682-7979 x 7777

prepared by:

Information Transfer Systems, Inc.
209 E. Washington St. Suite 200
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
313-994-0003

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