Notes

Question Text: "Would you say that in general your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?".   *2019 data is not included in the average estimated prevalence. No data is available for 2019.

Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]

Data Interpretation Issues

Data from the survey should be considered representative of all non-institutionalized adults in households with telephones. Data were collected using a random sample of all possible telephone numbers. Prior to analysis, data were weighted to represent the population distribution of adults by sex, age group, and area of residence. As with all surveys, some error results from nonresponse (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions) and measurement (e.g., social desirability or recall bias). Error was minimized by use of strict calling protocols (up to 15 calls were made to reach each household), good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision. Starting in 2011, BRFSS protocol requires that the NJBRFS incorporate a fixed quota of interviews from cell phone respondents along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting or "raking". The new weighting methodology incorporates additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting process. These methodological changes were implemented to account for the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the land line sample (which resulted in part from the increasing number of U.S. households without land line phones). Comparisons between 2011 and prior years should therefore be made with caution. (More details about these changes can be found at [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6122a3.htm].)

Definition

Percentage of adults in designated subgroup who reported good, very good, or excellent general health

Numerator

Weighted number of survey respondents in designated subgroup who reported good, very good, or excellent general health

Denominator

Weighted total number of survey respondents in designated subgroup except those with missing, "Don't know/Not sure," and "Refused" responses

Other Objectives

'''Revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective OA-5''': Reduce the percentage of non-institutionalized persons 65+ years and older reporting fair or poor health status to 21.5% for all races/ethnicities, 17.1% among Whites, 29.3% among Blacks, and 44.7% among Hispanics. '''Original Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective OA-5''': Reduce the percentage of non-institutionalized persons 65+ years and older reporting fair or poor health status to 25.0 percent.

How Are We Doing?

In 2020, 88.4% of New Jersey adults aged 18 and older reported good, very good or excellent general health status.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

In 2020, the percentage of New Jersey and U.S. adults aged 18 and older who reported good, very good or excellent general health status was similar (88.4% vs. 86.8%).