Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently released Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System- Local Data, 2011, which highlights health risk behavior statistics for local geographic areas compiled through data from the 2011 Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. More than 20,000 adult Kansans participated in the 2011 survey, comprising a sample large enough to provide reliable information for 43 of the state’s 105 counties and for the 16 Public Health Preparedness Regions.

"BRFSS data help public health professionals measure Kansans health behaviors, conditions and concerns at the state and the local level," said Robert Moser, M.D., Secretary and State Health Officer, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). "These data are important when we consider where to focus our public health efforts and to help us emphasize the benefits of prevention."

BRFSS provides data on a wide range of health issues including information related to access to health care, chronic and infectious diseases, clinical preventive services, environmental quality, infant and child health, injury and violence, maternal health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, obesity, oral health, reproductive and sexual health, substance abuse and tobacco use.

The Kansas BRFSS is a random digit-dial telephone survey conducted among adults age 18 years and older residing in a private residence with a landline and/or cellular telephone. KDHE’s Bureau of Health Promotion has conducted the Kansas BRFSS survey continuously since 1992. The data are used extensively for monitoring the contributors to disease and premature death; tracking health status and assessing trends; measuring knowledge, attitudes and opinions; providing measures for program evaluation; and conducting program planning.

The local level data website www.kdheks.gov/brfss/Expansion_2011 is designed for use by local and regional public health officials, community leaders and decision makers in identifying health conditions and behaviors related to chronic and communicable diseases, disability and injury. The information is unique to each county and/or region and provides counties and regions the ability to compare their data with state statistics. Data from 2011 onward cannot be compared to previous years as the BRFSS data collection and analysis methods changed beginning in 2011.