States keep different types of statistics including the availability and percentage of residents that have some type of health insurance coverage. States, such as New Jersey, generate these types of statistics from yearly population surveys of insurance coverage. Individuals that complete these surveys are asked to provide information about their health insurance coverage for the prior year. The health insurance statistics collected also include individuals that are older than age 65 and on Medicare.
Health Coverage
New Jersey has various types of statistics for the types of health characteristics among the residents of New Jersey. The most current statistical data provided by the state are the years 2002 through 2007 with data going back to 1995. Statistical data includes health insurance coverage by age, such as those under the age of 25, by race and ethnicity as well as those on various state programs, such as Medicaid.
Health Statistics
The state provides a report of various health insurance topics that includes demographic and economic health coverage characteristics. Topics can also include injuries such as fatal poisonings, suicide and pedestrian deaths. Other topics include maternal and child health. Maternal and child health includes sub-topics such as cesarean sections multiple births, low birth weights and the infant mortality rate for the state. Highlights include the number of uninsured under the age of 19 has decreased from 299,274 in 2006 to 288,300 in 2007.
Risk Factor Surveys
The state of New Jersey conducts telephone surveys of adults, which tracks various types of risk factors that can lead to serious illness or even death. This survey is funded partially by the state as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data collected from these telephone surveys includes prevalence estimates, trend statistics and technical information. One finding from the survey indicated that 97 percent of people age older than the age of 65 had health care coverage in 2003.
Youth Risk Behavioral Survey
This survey is used to monitor various health risk factors and medical conditions, such as obesity and asthma that affect children and young adults. The CDC as well as states such as New Jersey conducts the surveys. The survey monitors six categories that include injury and violence behaviors, tobacco use, alcohol use, sexual behaviors, unhealthy eating behaviors and any physical inactivity that occurs. Statistical data is available on the Healthy Youth section of the CDC web site (see Resources).
Department of Education Student Health Survey
The Department of Education has a survey that tracks information about the health of the youth in the state of New Jersey. The student health survey is conducted every odd-numbered year in which high school students documented behaviors related to violence, safety, sexual behaviors as well as eating habits and exercise. One finding of the survey indicated 24 percent of students were diagnosed with asthma in 2007. This is an increase or 4 percent from students in 2005. Another finding indicated that the percentage of students taught about HIV or AIDS dropped from 96 percent in 2005 to 86 percent in 2007.
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