Self-reported general health, physical distress, mental distress, and activity limitation by US county, 1995-2012.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metrics based on self-reports of health status have been proposed for tracking population health and making comparisons among different populations. While these metrics have been used in the US to explore disparities by sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic position, less is known about how self-reported health varies geographically. This study aimed to describe county-level trends in the prevalence of poor self-reported health and to assess the face validity of these estimates.

Methods

We applied validated small area estimation methods to Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to estimate annual county-level prevalence of four measures of poor self-reported health (low general health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, and frequent ac

SUBMITTER: Dwyer-Lindgren L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5406923 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature