Vital and 

Health Statistics 

Advance Data 

From Vital and 

Health Statistics: 

Numbers 201–21 O 

Series 16: 

Compilations of Advance Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics 

No, 21 

Data in this report from health and demographic surveys present statistics by age and 

other variables on ambulatory medical care; AIDS knowledge and attitudes; health 

care coverage; and health practices among adults. Estimates are based on the 

civilian noninstitutionalized populations of the United States, These reports were originally 

published in 1991 and 1992, 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 

Public Health Service 

Centers for Disease Control and PreventIon 

National Center for Health Statistics 

Hyattsville, Maryland 

July 1995 

DHHS Publication No, (PHS) 95-1880 

SERVICES 
‘right information 

tenal appearing in this reporl is in the public domain and may be 

juced or mpied without permission; citation as to source, however, is 

ciated. 

ested citation 

ml Center for Health Statistics. Advance data from vital and health 

its; numbers 201 –21 O. National Center for Health Statistics. Viii Health 

6(91 ) 1a!c,-
National Center for Health Statistics 

Jack R. Anderson, Acting Director 

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Acting Deputy Director 

Jacob J. FeldmW Ph.D., Associate Director for Analysis, 

Epidemiology, and Health Promotion 

Gail F. Fisher, Ph.D., Associate Director for Planning and 

Extramural Programs 

Peter L. Hurley, Associate Director for Wtal and Health 

Statistics Systems 

(Vacant), Associate Director for International Statistics 

Stephen E. Nieberding, Associate Director for 

Management 

Charles J. Rothwell, Associate Director for Data 

Processing and Services 

Monroe G. Sirken, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research 

and Methodology 
Contents 

! 

Characteristics of Persons With and Without Health Care Coverage: United States, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Children’s Exposure to Environmental Cigarette Smoke Before and After Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

National Ambulatory Medical Care Suwey: 1989 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes for October–December 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Exposure to Alcoholism in the Family: United States, 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes of Black Americam United States, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

MDS Knowledge and Attitudes of Hispanic Americamx United States, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Office Vkitx to Pediatric Specialists, 1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Offi@Vlsih tohtetists. 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1990 Summary: National Hospital Discharge Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No. 201 

No. 202 

No. 203 

No. 204 

No. 205 

No. 206 

No. 207 

No. 208 

No. 209 

No. 210 

... 

Ill 
Number 201 . June 18, 1991 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

Characteristics of Persons With and Without Health Care 

Coverage: United States, 1989 ~ 

by Peter Ries, Division of Health Interview Statistics 

Persons with no health care 

coverage 

In 1989 an estimated 33,9 million 

persons in the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United 

States (13.9 percent) were reported 

to lack health care coverage. This 

point-prevalence estimate represents 

an average for 52 weeks of household 

inte’i-views conducted by the U.S. 

Bureau of the Census for the 

NationaI Health Interview Survey 

(NHIS). It is a measure of a person’s 

coverage status at the time of 

interview, not at any time prior to the 

interview. Noncoverage was relatively 

higher for younger persons, males, 

persons who are not white, those with 

low incomes, persons 18 years of age 

and over who were unemployed or 

had less than 12 years of education, 

residents of the South and West 

Regions of the country, and residents 

of central cities in metropolitan 

statistical areas (MSA’S). 

Table 1 shows that more than 

20 percent of persons in the 

following groups lacked coverage: 

Unemployed workers 18 years of age 

and over (38.3 percent), persons 

living below the poverty level 

(32.5 percent), members of famiIies 

with low annual incomes 

(27.7 percent for $5,000-$9,999, 

27.1 percent for less than $5,000, and 

24.3 for $10,000-$19,999), young 

adults 18-24 years of age 

(27.4 ,percent), and black persons 

(20.2 percent). In contrast, the lowest 

proportions of those without health 

care coverage were among persons 

65 years of age and over 

(1.2 percent) and members of 

families with an annual income of 

$50,000 or more (3.6 percent). 

Because of Medicare, most 

persons without any form of health 

care coverage are under 65 years of 

age (an estimated 33.6 million 

persons, or 15.7 percent of those in 

this age group). In terms of both age 

and sociodemographic characteristics, 

more than 40 percent of the persons 

in some of the resulting subgroups 

Iacked coverage. These included 

persons 18-44 years of age who were 

unemployed or were members of 

families with an annual income of 

$5,000-$9,999; those 2544 years of 

age who had family incomes of less 

than $5,000 per year or were beIow 

the poverty level; and young adults 

18-24 years of age with less than 

12 years of education. 

Figure 1 shows the proportion of 

persons of all ages and of those under 

65 years of age without health care 

coverage by family income. For all 

ages combined, the estimates of 

noncoverage range from 27.7 percent 

for those in families with an annual 

family income of $5,000-$9,999 to 

3.6 percent for members of families 

with an annual income of $50,000 or 

more. The estimates for persons 

under 65 years of age range from 36.9 

to 3.7 percent for the corresponding 

inc~me groups. 

The estimate reported above of 

the number of persons without health 

care coverage is similar to the 

corresponding estimates of two recent 

large-scale V.S. Government surveys. 

The NationaI .MedicaI Expenditure 

Survey of 1987 reported pointprevalence estimates for different 

periods of the year of 34-36 million 

persons without health care coverage 

(l). The preliminary estimate from 

the March 1990 Current Population 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Public Health Service 

Centers for Disease Control 

National Center for Health Statistics CDC 

Manning Feinleib, M.D., Dr. P.H,, Director 
2 Advance Data No. 201 ● June 18, 1991 

Table 1. Percent of persons without health care coverage, by age and soclodemographlc characteristics United States, 1989 

Under 65 yeara 

Under 18 16-24 25+4 4$64 65 yeara 

.%ciodemographic characteristic All ages Total yeara yeara years years and over 

Allpersons notcovered2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Female. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Race 

I$,hfie, ., . . . . ...,,.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Family income 

Lessthan $5,03S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

S5.000-$9,999 . . ...?... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

S10,00G$19,9K4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

S20,000-$34,992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

S35,00LH49,993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

S50,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Poverty status 

In poverfy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Not in poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Employmentstatus3 

Currentlyemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Not in laborforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Education3 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Region 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Place of residence 

MA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Central ity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notcentralchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Not MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

13.9 15.7 14.9 

15.1 16.7 15.1 

12.7 14.6 14.7 

!2.8 14.5 14.0 

20.2 21.9 18.9 

19.7 20.4 18.9 

27.1 31.3 25.5 

27.7 36.9 31.6 

24,3 30.1 30.2 

10.6 11.6 10.9 

5.8 6.0 4.0 

3.6 3.7 2.3 

32.5 36.0 32.5 

10.3 11.5 9.6 

13.9 14.3 .,, 

38.3 39.2 . . . 

10.8 18.5 . . . 

20.8 30.1 . . . 

14.4 16.8 . . . 

8.4 9.2 . . . 

9.6 11.0 9.9 

9.6 10.8 

17.5 19.7 2:: 

17.1 18.9 16.7 

13.7 15.3 14.4 

17.2 19.4 18.2 

11,4 12.7 12.1 

14.7 17.1 16.5 

Percent’ 

27.4 15.5 10.5 1.2 

31.3 17.6 9.6 1.3 

23.7 13.6 11.2 1.2 

26.3 14.4 9.4 1.0 

34.3 22.5 17.5 2.5 

27.S 20,7 17.5 *6.4 

27,3 42.4 35.5 ●I ,5 

43,5 43.5 32.2 1.6 

37.5 32.0 21.3 1.1 

22.1 11,8 6.8 1.0 

18.4 5.8 3.9 ●0.6 

12.9 3.7 1.9 ●1.6 

35.9 42.2 35.9 2.3 

23.5 11.7 7.6 1.1 

26.6 13.6 9.0 1.5 

44.5 40.B 26.5 

26.0 21.2 12.6 1.2 

42.1 35.5 19.9 1.5 

29.e 16.8 8.5 0.7 

16.0 9.0 5.8 1.3 

22.0 10.9 6.6 1.7 

22.3 10.6 7.6 0.8 

30.9 19.2 13.4 1.1 

32.7 19.7 13,1 1.6 

27.4 15.2 9.a 1.3 

30.0 20.1 12.9 1.6 

25.4 12.1 8.0 1.1 

27.6 17.0 12.6 1.1 

this group. Persons classified as not 

beingcovered under anyofthe four 

plans were classified as not having 

health care coverage. AIl other 

persons were classified as being of 

unknown coverage status and were 

excluded in calculating the percents 

shown in this report. Numbersof 

persons in acategory with orwithout 

coverage were calculated by 

multiplying the percents wither 

without coverage by the population 

estimates shown in table Iofthe 

technical notes. The following four 

sections highlight the characteristics 

‘Percent calculatec excluding the9.7miltion persons forwhom coverage status Wnotdetemined. 

:lnclude~ ~er~on~ Mth unknown scciodemographic characterisfb. 

‘Excludes persons under 16 years of age. 

NOTE MSA is metropolitan statistical ares. 

Survey indicates that 33.4 milIion 

persons had no health care coverage 

in 1989 (2). The sociodemographic 

characteristics of persons without 

health care coverage in those surveys 

are similar to those shown in table 1 

ofthis report. 

Understanding the reasons for 

the similarities and differences in the 

results from these three surveys 

would require a detailed comparison 

of the procedures and definitions 

used ineach, and the possible effect 

of comparing estimates from different 

years, The procedures used in NHIS 

are briefly summarized in the 

technical notes. Health care coverage 

as used in this reportis definedon 

the basis ofpersons’ coverage status 

under four types ofplans: Private 

health insurance, Medicare, public 

assistance (overwhelmingly Medicaid), 

and militaryor Veterans’ 

Administration (military-VA) health 

benefits. Persons covered by anyone 

of these four plans were classified as 

having health care coverage. In 

addition, a relatively small numberof 

persons who indicated an unspecified 

form of coverage were included in 
--

Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 3 

as unknown. Plans covering only one 

t}pe of condition (such as cancer or 

injuries) are not included in this 

definition of private coverage. 

Persons covered by Medicare 

About 12.6 percent (an estimated 

30.7 million persons) of the civilian 

noninstitutionaIized population were 

covered by Medicare in 1989, Table 3 

shows that coverage was 94.3 percent 

for persons 65 years of age and over 

and 1.4 percent for those under 

65 years of age. Among the older 

persons, the proportion covered was 

less than 90 percent for only three of 

the groups shown in the table: 

Persons other than white or black 

(78.1 percent), currently employed 

persons (87.7 percent), and members 

of families with an annual income of 

.S50,000 or more (88.3 percent). 

Among all of the other groups 

included in the table, coverage was 

greater than 90 percent, with the 

lowest percent of coverage among 

40 Under 65 years 

35 

30 All ages 

25 N 

\ 

-“ 

520

: 

2 

15 

10 

5 

o! , , 

Less than $5,1Y30- $10,000- $20,000- $35,000- $50,000 

$5,eo9 $9,ee9 $19,999 $34,999 $49,999 or more 

Family income 

‘Excludes Perama with unknown coverage status. 

Fiaure 1.Percent of persons without health care coverage, by age and family income: 

Ufited States. 1989 

of persons covered by each of the 

types of plans. 

Persons with private health 

insurance coverage 

About 76.1 percent (an estimated 

185.3 miIlicm persons) of the civilian 

noninstitutionalized population were 

covered by private health insurance in 

1989. Table 2 shows that the 

estimates do not greatly differ for 

persons under 65 years of age 

(75.9 percent) and those 65 years of 

age and over (77.2 percent). 

However, in general, these represent 

different ~pes of plans: For the 

younger group pri~rate plans are the 

primary form of coverage, whereas 

for the older group most plans were 

purchased to supplement Medicare 

coverage. 

Within sociodemographic 

categories, the proportion of persons 

covered was relatively high for white 

persons (79.3 percent), those not 

‘oelo\v the poverty line (84.5 percent), 

currentIy employed persons 

(S3.6 percent), tho}e with more than 

12 years of education (8!3.2 percent), 

residents of the Northeast 

(81.3 percent) and hfidwest 

(81.7 percent) Regions, and persons these groups being 90.7 percent for 

living outside of central cities in black persons. 

MSA’S (82.0 percent). Regarding persons under 65 years 

Figure 2 shows the proportion of of age, onIy four groups had more 

persons covered by private health than 4 percent covered by Medicare: 

insurance by family income and age. Adults (18 years of age and over) 

Clearly the percent of persons who were not in the labor force 

covered was directly related to the (7.4 percent), adults who had less 

amount of their family incomes, the than 12 years of education 

range for all ages being from (5.0 percent), persons 45-64 years of 

30.5 percent for less than .$5,000 to age (4.3 percent), and members of 

94.9 percent for $50,000 or more. families with an annual income of 

However, the relationship is not S5,000-$9,999 (4.1 percent). 

nearly so strong for persons 65 years Coverage under Medicare was 

of age and over (from 42.1 for the determined by asking the coverage 

lowest to 86.7 percent for the highest status of all family members. 

income group) as it is for those under Respondents were asked to show the 

65 years of age (28.7 to 95.2 percent Medicare card of persons covered to 

beiing the corresponding estimates). the interviewer, who determined 

Private coverage is dete~ined in whether they were covered by Part A, 

the survey”by first identi~ing all plans Part B, or both. Persons were 

that pay all or part of hospital or classified as covered by Medicare if 

doctor bilk for any member of the they were covered by either Part A or 

family and then determining each B or both. 

person’s status in relation to each of 

these plans. Persons are classified as 

covered if they are covered by one Persons with public assistance 

plan or more; they are classified as health care coverage not covered if they are not covered by 

any of the plans. Persons not meeting 

either of these criteria are classified 

A estimated 15.1 million persons 

in the civilian noninstitutionalized 
4 Advance Data No. 201. June 18, 1991 

Table 2. Percent of persons with private health Insurance coverage, by age and soclodemographlc characteristics: United States, 1989 

Under 65 yeara 

Under 78 

Sociodemographic characteristic All ages Total years 

Allpersons coveredz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76.1 75.9 71.8 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76.3 76.1 71.9 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.8 75.7 71.7 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79,3 79.1 76.3 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.6 57,8 51.6 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64.2 65.1 56.2 

Family income 

Lessthan$5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.5 26.7 15.0 

S5.000-S9,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.8 26.0 19,5 

S10.000-$19,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.1 57.4 51.3 

$20.000-S34,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84.4 84.2 82.9 

S35,00G$49,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.7 91.9 92.6 

S50,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94.9 95.2 96.5 

Poverty status 

In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.3 26.3 21.4 

Notin poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64.3 84.6 85.0 

Employmentstatus3 

Currently employad 83.6 83.5 . . . 

Unemployed. . . . 46.4 47.6 . . . 

Notin labor force . 67.8 61.4 . . . 

Less than 12 years 58.4 54.3 . . . 

12years . . . . . . . 76.5 77.5 . . . 

Morethan12yeara 88.2 68.2 . . . 

Northeast . . . . . 81.3 81.9 78.9 

Midwest . . . . . . . 61.7 81.5 79.1 

South . . . . . . . . . 71.7 71.4 65.9 

West . . . . . . . . . 71.7 71.2 67.6 

MA . . . . . . . . . . 76.7 76.5 72.1 

Centrality. . . . 68.4 67.8 60.1 

Notcentralcitj. . 82.0 82.0 79.7 

NotMSA . . . . . . . 74.0 73.8 70.8 

‘Percent calculated excluding ths 8.6 million psrsons for whom coverage sts!us was not determined. 

zl”cl”de~ pemo”s with unknown sociodemographk chara~eristice. . 

‘Excludes persons under 18 years of sge. 

NOTE: MSAiametropotitan statistical area. 

population of the United States 

(6.2 percent) were covered by public 

assistance health care programs in 

1989. Table 4 shows that 

proportionately far more persons 

under 18 years ofage(ll.l percent) 

than adults had this form of coverage. 

Anong persons under 18 years, 

60.9 percent ofthose in families with 

an annual income of lessthan $5,000 

and 50.3 percent in families in the 

$5,000-$9,999 income range had 

public assistance health care 

coverage. For those Iiving below the 

poverty level, the corresponding 

estimate is46.3 percent. Among the 

other age groups shownin the table, 

persons 65 yearsof age andover had 

the highest proportion ofpersons 

eligible for this form ofcoverage 

(6.2 percent). 

Disregarding age, the highest 

proportions ofeligible persons were 

females, persons who are not white, 

persons with low family incomeor 

family income below thepover~ 

level, persons not currently employed, 

those with less than 12 yearsof 

education, and persons living in the 

central citiesofMSA’s. 

16-24 25-44 45X4 65years 

years years years and over 

Percent’ 

64.4 79.0 82.6 77.2 

65.1 78.9 83.5 78.1 

63.9 79.1 81.6 76.6 

67.4 81.4 65.0 80.8 

48.6 64.4 64.8 43.7 

56.6 70.0 71.4 48.5 

57.1 17.1 20.6 42.1 

34.9 25.0 33.4 64.3 

52.1 59.4 67.8 8~ .5 

72.6 65.7 89.3 85.9 

76.7 93.0 94.1 88.2 

65.6 95.7 96.8 86.7 

43.4 23.9 24.0 46.2 

71.6 85.6 68.f 82.3 

70.0 84.6 89.0 66.0 

42.1 44.7 64.4 81.5 

54.1 56.4 69.2 75.9 

42.2 48.6 64.8 67.0 

61.9 77.6 86.7 84.3 

80.7 66.7 91.2 88.6 

71.7 84.1 67.2 77.5 

70.0 64.1 66.8 82.7 

60.6 75.4 78.5 73.9 

57.2 74.2 79.4 75.6 

64.8 79.6 83.7 78.0 

59.7 71.9 76.7 72.6 

68.7 84.4 87.9 81.6 

63.1 76.8 78.8 75.2 

The 1989 NHIS questionnaire 

included several ques;ions related to 

eligibility for public assistance health 

care. hong these were questionson 

the receipt of Aid to Families with 

Dependent Children (AFDC) and 

Supplemental Security Income (SS1), 

whether the person had a valid 

Medicaid card, and whether he or she 

was covered by any public assistance 

program that paid for medical care. 

Coverage by public assistance is 

ascribed to the person if a positive 

response was obtained to any of these 

questions. Persons are classified as 
● 

● 

●

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 5 

c— 0 All ages 

~ Under 65 years 

B. . ● = .H 65 years and over .=- . . . ..m 

*.. ..* 

. 

4 

●“ 

m 

,~ 

Less trran $5,000- $10,000- $20.000- $25,000- $60,000 

$5,000 $9,999 $19,999 $s4s999 $49,999 or more 

Family income 

‘=cludee persons wlrh unknown coverage status 

Figure 2. Percent of persons with private health insurance coverage, by age and family 

lncomsx United States, 1989 

not covered if a negative response or 

no response was obtained for all four 

questions. 

Because the eligibility criteria for 

Medicaid coverage are defined by 

each of the States and because many 

people are not aware of the criteria 

used in their State, it is diffictdt to 

obtain point-prevalence estimates of 

this population based on a household 

survey using a national rather than a 

State sampling frame. Thus, extreme 

caution should be used in comparing 

the results described in this section 

with estimates from other sources of 

the number and characteristics of the 

Medicaid or pub~ic assistance 

population. Any such comparison 

should be focused on the criteria 

used to define this type of coverage 

and the procedure used to collect the 

data that serve as the basis of the 

estimates. 

Persons with military-Veterans’ 

Administration health care 

coverage 

An estimated 6.3 million persons 

in the civilian noninstitutionalized 

population (2,6 percent) were 

covered by military and/or Veterans’ 

Administration health care programs 

in 1989. Among the sociodemographic 

categories included in table 5, the 

proportion of persons covered was 

more than 3 percent for the following 

groups: Persons 45-64 years of age 

(4.5 percent) and 65 years and over 

(4.0 percent); males (3.3 percent); 

persons of other races–that is, not 

black or white (3.1 percent); 

members of families with an annual 

income of $20,000–$34,999 

(3.1 percent); persons 18 years of age 

and over not currently employed (3.1 

and 3.9 percent for the unemployed 

and for those not in the labor force, 

respectively); and persons living in 

the South (3.6 percent) and West 

(3.3 percent) Regions of the country. 

As was the case with public 

assistance health care plans, coverage 

for civilians under military or VA 

health ‘benefits is much more difficult 

to define than coverage under private 

health insurance or Medicare. This is 

especially so in the case of VA health 

benefits, which operate for most 

veterans and their eligible dependents 

under a system of priority eligibility. 

In this report persons are 

classified as covered by military-VA 

health benefits if it was determined 

that (a) they received a military or 

VA pension; (b) they were covered by 

CHAMPUS (Civilian Health and 

Medical Program of the Uniformed 

Services), CHAMPVA (Civilian 

Health and Medical Program of the 

Veterans’ Administration), or any 

other program that provides health 

care for military dependents or 

survivors of military persons; or 

(c) they received compensation for a 

disability from the VA. Other 

circumstantial criteria by which a 

person might qualify for military-VA 

health care benefits (such as 

advanced age or low income) were 

not used. 

Trends 

Although data on health care 

coverage have been collected by 

means of NHIS since the 1960’s, the 

questions related to public assistance 

and military-VA coverage were 

periodically changed until 1984. 

Because these types of coverage are 

included in the more general category 

of health care coverage it is not 

possible to show trends in coverage 

for the earlier periods. However, 

since 1984 the questions used to 

determine coverage have undergone 

only minimal changes. Thus, 

comparisons between the levels of 

coverage and noncoverage from 1984 

to 1989 are possible. 

The percent of persons with no 

health care coverage increased from 

13.0 percent in 1984 to 13.9 percent 

in 1989 (table 6). For persons under 

65 years of age the increase was from 

14.6 to 15.7 percent. Of all of the 

sociodemographic characteristics 

shown in table 1, the largest 

differential change occurred for 

family income groups. Figure 3 shows 

the ratio of the 1989 to the 1984 

estimates of noncoverage by income 

category. The largest increases were 

in the income range $10,000-$49,999, 

the ratio of increase being 1.7 for 

persons in families with an annual 

income of $35,000–S49,999. Some of 

this increase is only apparent, though, 
6 Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 

Table 3. Percent of persons with Medicare coverage, by age and soclodemographic characterlstica: Untted States, 1989 

Under 65 yeais 

Under 18 16-24 25=M 45-64 65 yeara 

Socjodemographic characteristic All ages ToteI yeara yeare yeara yeara and over 

Allpersons coveredz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Family income 

Less than S5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$5.000-s9,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$10,000-s19,999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$20,000-$34,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$35,000-s49,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$50,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Poverty status 

lnpove~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notin poverty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Employmentstetus3 

Currentlyemployed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Unemployed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notin laborforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Education3 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Region 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Place of residence 

MA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Central ity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Noncentral city. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Not MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12.6 1.4 0.2 

11.0 1.5 0.2 

14.0 1.2 0.2 

13.3 1.3 0.1 

9.4 2.1 0.5 

5.0 0.7 *0.8 

15.7 2.9 ●1.0 

27.5 4.1 “0.2 

20.7 2.3 ‘0.2 

9.7 1.1 ●0.2 

4.6 0.4 *0.1 

4.0 0.4 *0.2 

11.5 2.4 ‘0.4 

11.5 1.1 0.2 

3.3 0.3 ... 

2.8 ●0.6 ... 

46.1 7.4 ... 

34.1 5.0 ... 

14.4 1.5 ... 

9.5 0.8 ... 

14.3 1.3 *0.3 

12.3 1.2 ●0.1 

12.7 1.6 0.2 

10.9 1.2 ●0.3 

11.7 1.3 0.2 

12.5 1.8 0.3 

11.3 1.1 0.2 

15.5 1.7 *0.2 

Percent’ 

0.4 0.9 4.3 94.3 

0.5 1.0 4.9 93.4 

0.4 0.8 3.8 95.0 

0.4 0.8 4.0 94.9 

*0.5 1.7 7.5 90.7 

*0.I *2.3 78.1 

●0.3 3.1 13.3 95.0 

“0.9 4.1 15.1 95.4 

*0.7 1.6 8.3 96.2 

●0.5 0.6 3.7 94.4 

*0.1 1.3 91.4 

*0.1 M 0.9 88.3 

●0.5 2.6 13.1 94.1 

0.4 0.7 3.4 94.5 

●0.2 0.3 0.6 87.7 

●0.6 *0.4 ●1.2 93.5 

1.1 4.4 13.0 95.4 

0.9 2.7 9.0 95.1 

●0.3 0.8 3.3 84.9 

*0.3 0.5 2.0 92.5 

●0.3 0.9 3,7 93.5 

*0.4 0.8 3.9 96.0 

0.5 5.3 94.5 

●0.5 ;; 3.6 92.9 

0.5 0.8 4.1 93.7 

“0.4 5.0 93,0 

0.5 u 3.5 94.2 

●0.4 1.2 5.1 96.0 

References 

‘Percent calculated excluding the 6.9 million persona for whom coverage status was not determined. 

:lnc,ude~ ~emon$ with ““known sociodemograph ic chara~eris~ca. 

‘Excludespersonaunder18 yeersof age. 

NOTE:MSAis metropolitan ststLstical srea,

because inflation tends tomove 

families to higher income categories 

overtime without necessarily 

improving their health care coverage. 

Thus, higher income groups appearto 

be losing coverage. However, inflation 

is taken into account in the definition 

of poverty status, and the increase in 

noncoverage during this period was 

greater for those above the poverty 

level (10.8 percent) than it was for 

those below the poverty level 

(5.2 percent). This indicates that the 

increases noted above arenot solelya 

function ofinflation. 

The NHIS questions related to 

private health insurance coverage 

have changed little since 1974. 

Table 7showsthe proportionsof 

persons covered by private health 

insurance foreach of the survey years 

from 1974 to1989. There has beena 

slow decline in this type of coverage 

from 79.9 percent in1974to 

75.9 percent in 1989. 

Two previously published reports 

(3,4) include more extensive 

information onNHIS estimatesof 

health care coverage prior to 1989. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Short PF. Estimates of the uninsured 

population, calendar year 1987. Data 

Summary no2. Rockville, Maryland: 

Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research. 1990. 

U.S. Bureau of the Census 

Preliminary unpublished estimates 

from the Current Population Sumey. 

Washington. 1990. 

Ries PW. Health care coverage by 

sociodemographic and health 

characteristics: United States, 1984. 

National Center for Health Statistics. 

Vital Health Stat 10(162). 1987. 
Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 7 

Table 4. Percent of persons with public assistance coverage, by age and sociodemographlc characteristics United States, 1989 

Under 65 years 

Under 16 16-24 25-44 45-s4 65 years 

Sociodemographic characteristic All ages Total years yeara years years and over 

Percent’ 

Allpersons coveredz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 6.2 11.1 5.6 3.9 3.7 6.2 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 4.9 10.6 2.2 2.0 2.7 4.4 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5 , 7.5 11.3 8.8 5.6 4.6 7.6 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 7.6 4.2 2.9 2.7 4.6 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.8 l= 26.9 12.5 10.1 10.8 16,4 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.7 12.1 19.9 10.7 7.3 9.5 =.6 

Farnilyincome 

Lessthan$5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.8 38.4 60.9 13.0 39.7 37.7 34.2 

$5!000-s9!999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.5 34.3 50.3 18.7 28.4 22.8 12.0 

$10,000-s19,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.9 6.9 15.1 6.6 6.0 5.6 3.6 

$20,000-S34,999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 2.2 3.6 3.3 1.3 2.8 

S35,000-S49,999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 0.9 ●1.0 H 0.8 ●2.1 

$50,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 0.4 G “0.6 0.3 ●0.2 *1.5 

Povertyetatus 

In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.1 35.8 46.3 17.6 32.3 32.0 26.3 

Notinpoveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 2.1 3.3 2.7 1.3 I .a 3.5 

Employmentstatus3 

Currentlyemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 1.0 . . . 1.5 1.1 0.7 2.3 

Unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7 9.8 . . . 11.1 10.6 5.1 ●1.8 

Notln laborforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.1 14.4 . . . 15.9 17.9 10.6 6.9 

Education3 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.5 12.0 . . . 13.0 13.7 10.0 10.4 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 3.6 . . . 5.5 3.9 2.1 3.2 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 1.2 . . . 1.3 1.2 1.1 2.4 

Region 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1 5.2 9.2 4.2 3.6 3.6 4.4 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4 6.8 12.2 6.6 4.4 3.3 3.2 

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 5.7 10.1 4.8 3.4 3.6 8.5 

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3 7.2 12.9 6.9 4.3 4.1 6.3 

Place of residence 

MA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 6.0 11.2 5.2 3.5 5.6 

Centralc.~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.6 18.7 7.2 6.2 7.6 

Notcentralc.~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 ;; 6.4 3.7 1.8 4.2 

NotMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0 6.6 10.8 7.1 4.5 7.9 

'Pemons notadminiSered thesupplementwere ckssified ~notmmred. Wti2.0milfion personsforWmunknom res~nses were oMnMwere exduddin ~lwlating theperce~. 2,n~1”des~e,SonSwtih unknowniociodemographk characferiatica. 

s~clude~ persons under 18 yea= Ofa9e. 

NOTE M3A Is metropolitanstatisticalarea. 

4. Ries PW. Health care coverage by 

age, sex, race, and family incomrz 

United States, 1986. Advance data 

from vital and health statistics; no 

139. HyattsviIle, Maryland: NTational 

Center for Health Statistics. 1987. 

5. Adams PF, BensonV. Current 

estimates from theNationalHealth 

Interview Survey, 1989. 

National Center for Health Statistics. 

Vital Health Stat 10(176). 1990. 
a Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 

Table 5. Percant of persons with miiitary-Veterana’ Administration coverage, by age and soclodemographic charasteriatics: 

United States, 1989 

Under 65 yeara 

Under 18 1S-24 2544 45-64 65 years 

Soc/odemographic characteristic A// ages Total years yeara years years and over 

Allpersons coveredz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Famllyincome 

Lessthan $5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$5,000-$9,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$10,000-$19,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$20,00@-S34,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$35,000-$49,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$50,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Povettystatus 

In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notin poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Employment status3 

Currentlyemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Unemployed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notin laborforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Education3 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12yeare . . . . . . . . . . ...<. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Region 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Place of residence 

MA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Central ity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notcentralcity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

NotMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Percentl 

2.6 2.4 2.1 1.9 1.5 4.5 4.0 

3.3 2.6 2.2 1.0 1.5 6.3 8.7 

1.9 2.1 2.0 2.8 1.5 2.9 0.7 

2.5 2.3 2.0 1.6 1.4 4.5 4.1 

2.5 2.2 2.1 2.0 4.0 3.5 

3.1 ::; 2.7 ●3.8 2.2 5.7 *2.O 

1.5 1.4 ‘0.6 2.1 ●1.0 *3.2 *1.6 

1.6 1.4 ●0.6 ●0.9 ●1.0 3.9 2.2 

2.7 2.6 3.0 2.6 1.7 3.5 3.4 

3.1 2.9 2.7 2.2 1.9 5.6 5.6 

3.0 2.7 2.5 1.9 1.7 5.5 6.4 

2.3 2.1 1.2 1.5 1,1 4.8 5.5 

1.2 1.2 0.9 0.9 2.5 ●1.3 

2.8 2.6 2.4 z 1.6 4.6 4.5 

2.1 2,0 . . . 1.6 1.3 3.6 5.5 

3.1 3.0 ,.. ●1.5 2.6 6.3 ●6.2 

3.9 4,0 . . . z.e 2.5 5.6 3.6 

2.3 2.0 . . . 1.3 1.0 3.2 3.1 

2.8 2.7 ,.. 2.2 1.6 4.7 4.0 

2.9 2.6 . . . 2.0 1.6 5.2 5.9 

1.4 1.1 0.5 ●0.7 0.7 

1.4 1.2 0.9 *0.6 1.0 :: H 

3.5 3.4 3.2 2.1 

::: 3.0 2.7 2.6 1.9 H X 

2.5 2.3 2.1 1,9 1.5 4.4 4.1 

2.5 2.4 2.3 1,7 1.6 4.4 3.6 

2.5 2.3 2.0 2.0 1.4 4.5 4.2 

2.6 2.4 2.0 2.0 1.6 4.6 3.8 

‘Persons not administered the supplement were classified as not covered, About 2.0 million persons for whom unknown responses were obtained w.era excluded in calculating the percents, 

21ncludes perSonS with unknown socicdemographic ctkmmiatics. 

3~xc,u,ja~persons undar 18 Yea= of age. 

NOTE MSA is metropolitan ststktical area. 
---

Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 9 

Table 6. Percent of persons without health care coverage, by family incomfx Table 7. Percent of persons with private 

United States, 1984 and 1989 heatth care coverage United States, 

1974-69 

Family inoome 1984 19s9 

Year Percent’ 

Percent’ 

Allincomes2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.0 13.9 1974. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1976. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

79.9 

76.9 

Lessthan $5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.8 27.1 ~97a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79.3 

$5,00GS9,S99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.0 27.7 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79.4 

$lo,ooG$19,9ee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.4 24.3 1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76.1 

$20,000-S34,98S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 10.6 19s4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76.7 

$36,000-s49,98!3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 5.8 19S6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76.6 

$50,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 3.s 1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.9 

‘ Escludes persons wilh unknown coverage status. 

21ncludes unknown income. 

1.8 r 

1.01 , 1 * , * * 

Le&et&n s6,00c- SIo.000- $20.oow S35,000- F;) 

S%eeo $19,9se $34,999 M9.99@ 

Family income 

‘Sxdudes pereonswith unknown coverage slatrm. 

Figure 3. Ratio of 1989 to 1984 percents of persons withoutheanh care coverage, by 

farnllyIncomw United States 

‘ 13Cludes persons with unknown coverege sretus. 

. . . 

0.0 

z 

* 

# 

Symbols 

Data not available 

Category nonapplicable 

Quantity zero 

Quantity morethan zero butless 

than O.05 

Quantity more than zero but less 

than 500 where numbers are 

rounded to thousands 

Figure does not meet standard of 

refiability or precision (estimate has 

relative standard error of more 

than30 percent) 

Figure suppressed to comply with 

confidentiality requirement 
10 Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 

Technical notes family members and unrelated 

individuals. The total noninterview 

The estimates shown in this rate was about 5.1 percent. ‘The 

report are based on data obtained in weights of interviewed persons in the 

household interviews in a continuing segments containing sample 

nationwide survey. Each week a households for which data were not 

probability sample of households is obtained were inflated to compensate 

interviewed by personnel of the U.S. for household nonresponse. 

Bureau of the Census to obtain M persons 17 years of age and 

information about the health and over were asked to participate in the 

other characteristics of the civilian interview. When this was not possible, 

noninstitutionalized population of the proxy responses were accepted from 

United States. family members meeting the NHIS 

During 1989, interviews were respondent rules. All information on 

conducted in approximately 45,711 persons under 17 years of age was 

households containing about 116,929 

obtained from adult family members 

or guardians. 

The appendixes of Vital and 

Health Statistics, Series 10, No. 176 

should be consulted for a more 

detailed discussion of the sample 

design and weighting procedures 

(appendix I) and for a copy of the 

questionnaire used during 1989 (5). 

Because the estimates shown in 

this report are based on a sample, 

they are subject to sampling error. 

The standard error is a measure of 

the sampling error. Approximate 

Table 1. Number of persons, by age and aociodemographic charaoterlstics: United States, 1989 

Sociodemographic characteristic 

All persons’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Family income 

Lessthan $5,000, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$5,000-$9,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$10,000-$ 1,9,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$20,000-$34,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$35,000-$49,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$50,0000 rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Poverty status 

In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notinpoverly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Employment status2 

Currently employed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notin labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Educationz 

Lessthan 12 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

More than 12 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Region 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Place of residence 

MA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Centrality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Noncentral city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Not MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ljnclude~per~~n~~ith unknown sociodemographic charactedstics. 

‘Excludes persons under 18 years of age. 

NOTE: MSAismetropditans tatist!calaraa. 

Under 65 years 

Under 18 18-24 2544 45-84 85 years 

.4 ages Total years yeare yeara yeara and over 

Number in thousands 

243,532 214,313 64,003 25,401 78,795 46,114 29,219 

118,006 

125,523 

105,866 

106,447 

32,752 12,396 

31,251 13,005 

38,646 

40,147 

22,070 

24,044 

12,143 

17,076 

205,312 179,000 51,549 20,666 66,543 40,022 26,312 

29,891 27,437 9,959 3,562 9,204 4,712 2,453 

8,329 7!675 2,495 952 3,046 1,360 454 

9,367 6,067 2,702 2,404 1,866 1,063 1,300 

16,819 12,506 4,745 2,009 3,452 2,300 4,312 

41,040 33,036 10,640 4,659 11,216 6,483 8,002 

56,718 51,476 15,776 5,239 20,617 9,843 5,242 

39,450 37,635 11,159 3,435 15,319 7,722 1,616 

40,752 39,065 10,329 3,596 14,960 10,199 1,668 

26,053 23,465 10,569 4,293 5,963 2,619 2,588 

195,674 174,027 48,595 16,704 67,414 39,313 21,647 

117,227 113,372 . . . 17,654 84,307 31,411 3,855 

4,714 4,601 . . . 1,370 2,376 853 113 

57,566 32,337 . . . 6,377 12,111 13,650 25,251 

39,606 26,963 . . . 5,307 10,218 11,436 12,646 

66,583 59,142 . . . 10,829 30,052 16,261 9,420 

69,363 62,662 . . . 9,042 37,870 15,949 6,507 

48,930 42,013 11,332 5,046 15,838 9,796 6,916 

59,540 52,623 15,764 6,274 19,142 11,422 6,917 

83,148 73,225 22,415 6,686 26,516 15,606 9,923 

51,913 46,452 14,472 5,391 17,299 9,290 5,461 

189,660 168,473 49,588 20,177 63,021 35,687 21,388 

74,410 65,553 19,209 6,846 24,339 13,368 6,648 

115,450 102,910 30,379 11,531 38,662 22,316 12,540 

53,672 45,840 14,415 5,224 15,775 10,427 7,631 

...<... . . . .. .—..——. .... 
Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 11 

standard errors for estimated 

percents in this report are determined 

using the formula 

“7 

where SE is the standard error, p is 

the estimated percent, and y is the 

estimated base of the percent. The 

bases of the percents are shown in 

table I. 

The approximate standard error 

of a difference between percents is 

given by the formula 

SE(X1-X2) = ~’E(x1)2+ S’(x,)’ 

where xl and X2are the two percents 

being compared, xl -X2 is the 

difference between them, and SE(XI) 

and SE(X2) are the standard errors of 

the two percents. 

For economy of space only the 

percents of persons with no health 

care coverage or of persons covered 

by one of the four plans discussed are 

shown in this report. The percents for 

the complementary group (that is, 

persons with health care coverage, 

persons not covered by priyate health 

insurance, and so on) may be 

obtained by subtracting the reported 

estimate from 100.0 percent. It 

should be noted that the percents 

were obtained by excluding the 

unknown cases. The number of 

excluded unknown cases is shown in a 

footnote to tables 1-5. The percents 

of unknown coverage are 3.5 percent 

for private health insurance, 

2.9 percent for Medicare, 1.0 percent 

for public assistance, 1.0 percent for 

military-Veterans’ Administration 

health benefits, and 4.0 percent for 

any health care coverage. These 

percents do not include the 

5.1 percent survey nonresponse noted 

above. Respondents representing 

about 6 million persons not 

administered the questions on public 

assistance and military-Veterans’ 

Administration benefits were 

classified as not covered by these two 

plans. The estimated frequencies 

mentioned in the text are the product 

of the percents showmtimes the 

population shown in table I. 

.. . . 
;2 Advance Data No. 201. June 18,1991 

Suggested citation 

Ries P. Characteristics of persons with and 

without health csre coverage: United States, Copyright information 

1989, Advance data from vitai and health 

statistics; no 201, Hyattsviile, Maryland: This report may be reprinted withoutfurther 

Nationai Center for Health Statistics. 1991. permission. 

.-
Number 202 . June 18, 1991 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

Children’s Exposure to Environmental Cigarette Smoke 

Before and After Birth 

Health of Our Nation’s Children, United States, 1988 

by Mary D. Overpeck, National 

Introduction 

The effeets of environmental 

‘exposure to cigarette smoke for the 

preschooI chiId are primariIy the 

result of two phenomenz The 

mother’s prenatal smoking practices 

and the chiId’s subsequent family 

enviru,~mcfit (l). Because strong 

evidence exists that exposed infants 

and children are at higher risk for 

specific health and developmental 

problems (2,3), the vulnerability of 

some children may be increased 

according to differences in exposure 

to cigarette smoke among various 

demographic and socioeconomic 

groups. 

The pattern of cigarette smoking 

in the United States has shifted over 

the years among sex, race, 

educational, and socioeconomic 

groups (2,4-6). Although overall 

prevalence rates of smoking have 

declined among men and women over 

the past decade, smoking has 

decreased at a slower rate among 

Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and Abigail J. Moss, 

Division of Health Interview Statistics 

women. UntiI recently, smoking 

initiation was increasing for the least 

educated young females. Also, the 

onset of smoking for females is 

occurring at younger ages. In 1987, 

26 percent of women 18-24 years of 

age and 31 percent of those 25-44 

years of age smoked (7). About twice 

as many women these ages with Iess 

than a high school education smoked 

as did college graduates (31 

compared with 15 percent). 

Forty-one percent of those smoking 

during these childbearing years 

smoked about a pack a day an 

additional 11 percent of women 

18-24 years and 21 percent of women 

2544 years smoked more than this 

amount. 

As a result, differential risk of 

exposure for children may have. 

changed because of smoking patterns 

among persons with higher than 

average birth rates and those who 

spend more time with the developing 

child (8,9). This report describes 

differences in exposure, both 

prenatally and postnatally, by 

demographic and socioeconomic 

characteristics for U.S. chiIdren 

5 years of age and under. Their 

respondent-assessed heaIth status 

according to exposure and selected 

characteristics is also shown. 

Background 

Maternal smoking during 

pregnancy and its adverse effects on 

infant heaRh have been the subject of 

numerous research studies over the 

last three decades (2). Considerable 

evidence has been amassed to 

indicate that cigarette smoking during 

pregnancy increases the risk of 

various adverse prenatal 

consequences and postnatal health 

conditions in infants. Prenatal 

exposure from a mother who smokes 

may cause intrauterine growth 

retardation, Iow birth weight, preterm 

delivery, and other complications of 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Public Health Service 

Centers for Disease Control 

National Center for Health Statistics CENTERS 

CDC FOR DISEASE CONTROL 

Manning Feinleib, M.D., Dr. PJ-L, Director 
2 Advance Data No. 202. June 18.1991 

pregnancy and delivery. Recent revealed multiple adverse health 

estimates suggest that elimination of outcomes among children up to 

smoking during pregnancy could 3 years of age whose mothers smoked 

reduce about 5 percent of perinatal while pregnant (27). Prenatal 

deaths (10-12). In a prospective maternal smoking was associated with 

study, it was demonstrated that subsequent poorer health and with 

nonsmoking mothers exposed to higher levels of restricted-activity 

environmental tobacco smoke for at days, bed days, hospitalizations, and 

least 2 hours a day had an increased number of chronic conditions. A large 

relative risk of 2.17 for delivering a part of what was being measured, 

baby of low birth weight (less than however, may have been potential 

2.500 grams) (13). adverse effects from sidestream 

Morbidity in older children, at smoke in the household after the 

least through the preschool years, children were born. Unfortunately, 

aiso has been found to be higher for questions about the presence of 

children whose mothers smoked household smoke foIlowing birth were 

during pregnancy than for those not included in the 1981 CHS. 

whose mothers did not smoke during To sort out the different stages of 

this period (3). A number of studies exposure to smoke for the young 

have found increases in lower child, the 1988 NHIS on Child Health 

respiratory tract infections (bronchitis (NHIS-CH) contained an expanded 

and pneumonia) in smokers’ children set of cigarette smoking questions 

under 2 years of age, with the about children’s potential exposure 

strongest associations shown for both before and after birth. In 

maternal smoking (14-16), Other particular, questions were included 

smdies have found increased about the cigarette smoking practices 

respiratory-related hospitalizations, of the sample child’s mother during 

}vheezing, asthma, middle ear her pregnancy as well as the presence 

infections, febrile seizures, and of cigarette smokers in the household 

reduction in physical growth (17-24). following the child’s birth. 

Behavioral and cognitive This report compares the rates of 

abnormalities affecting mental exposure to smoke at various stages 

development also have been from the prenatal period to the time 

associated with maternal smoking of the survey. Exposure estimates are 

during pregnancy (25,26). The shown according to the following 

associations with prenatal maternal demographic, socioeconomic, and 

smoking have held in all of these health status indicators: Race, 

studies when controlled or stratified Hispanic origin, family income, 

by socioeconomic and demographic poverty status; maternal education, 

factors related to poor health, With place of residence, and respondentsome of these findings, however, the assessed heakh status. 

effects of prenatal maternal smoking Table 1 shows the number and 

may be confounded with children’s percent of children 5 years of age and 

exposure to environmental smoke under in the United States by 

after birth. whether they were ever exposed to 

In 1981, the National Health cigarette smoke and the period(s) of 

Interview Survey (NHIS) Child exposure. Estimates of children’s 

Health Supplement (CHS) included exposure to smoke during the 

one question on prenatal maternal prenatal period and the sources of 

smoking. Competing priorities that exposure are shown in table 2. 

established for that survey dictated In table 3, the estimates shown are 

that the focus of the question be by exposure to household smoke since 

limited to obtaining data on the birth. Table 4 shows the percent of 

effects of low birth weight and children assessed in fair or poor 

intrauterine growth retardation. health, according to selected exposure 

Subsequent analysis of data from periods. Table 5 contains population 

this cross-sectional representative denominators needed to derive 

sun’ey of U.S. children, however, various estimated frequencies for the 

percentage estimates presented in 

tables 1-4. 

Data and methods 

In 1988 the National Center for 

Health Statistics, in collaboration with 

the National Institute of Child l-Iealth 

and Human Development and the 

Health Resources and Services 

Administration and as part of its 

ongoing NHIS, collected detailed 

information about the health of 

children. The National Health 

Interview Survey is a continuous, 

cross-sectional survey representing 

the household population of the 

United States. Each year, basic health 

and demographic information is 

collected in NHIS by means of 

face-to-face interviews with a sample 

of about 122,000 family members in 

about 47,000 families. In addition to 

the basic questionnaire, questions on 

one or more special topics are also 

included. Interviews are conducted by 

interviewers employed by the U.S. 

Bureau of the Census. Topics covered 

in the 1988 NHIS-CH include child 

care, marital history of the child’s 

parents, geographic mobility, ~ 

circumstances of the pregnancy and 

birth, injuries, impairments, acute 

conditions, chronic conditions, passive 

smoking, sleep habits, school 

problems, developmental problems, 

and use of health care services. 

For each family interviewed in 

NHIS during 1988, one child 17 years 

of age and under was selected to 

receive the child health questionnaire 

according to a probability determined 

by birth order. About 20,000 children 

from birth through 17 years of age 

were represented. The overaIl 

response rate for NHIS-CH was 

about 91 percent. 

The questions about children’s 

potential exposure to cigarette smoke 

were asked only for sample children 

5 years of age and under. This age 

limit was selected to limit recall 

problems and confounding from 

multiple exposures. Because some of 

the information being obtained 

referred to the mother’s smoking 

practices during pregnancy, the 

accuracy of reporting was expected to 
Advance Data No. 202. June 18, 1991 3. 

Table 1. Number of children 5 years of age and under and percent distribution by exposure to smoke before and after birth, according to 

selected characteristics: LJnlted States, 1988 

All aqosures to smoke 

Number of 

ch!ldren Never Total Both 

in exposed ever prenatal Prenatal Postnata/ Continuous 

mmctansfic thousands’ To&r: to smoke expoaedz and postnatal only only exposure 

Aflchlldren3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Race 

White. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Hispanic origin 

Non-Hispanic.. . . . . . . . ...< . . . 

Hqanlc. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 

Mexican-&nekan.. . . . . . . . . . 

Famltyinoome 

Leasthan$lO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$10J300-324,9W. .. . . . . . . . . . . 

325,000-$39,999 . . . . . . . . . . 

S40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . :: 

Poverty status 

Inpoverty . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notinpoverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Mothersa education 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . 

12year8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :: 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Place of residence 

MA., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Centralctty . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notcentralcity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

NotM8A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Assessed heafth status 

Excellent,verygood, orgti . . . . . 

Fairorpoor . . . . . . . . . . . . ..c ,, 

Percent dtiribution 

19,008 100.0 49.9 (0.9) 50.1 (0.9) 27.6 (0.9) 1.2 (0.2) 21.2 (0.7) 16.4 (0.8) 

15,5E4 100.0 50.7 (1.0) 49.3 (1.0) 26.1 (1.0) 1.2 (0.2) 19.8 (0.7) 16.7(0.8) 

2,759 100.0 40.3 (2.4) 59.7 (2.4) 28.8(1.9) 1.2 (0.5) 29.7 (2.3) 17.8(1.6) 

16,912 100.0 49.2 (1.0) 50.8 (1.0) 28.5 (0.9) 1.2 (0.2) 20.9 (0.8) 17.2(0.6) 

2,096 100.0 55.7 (2.4) 44.3 (2.4) 19.9 (1.9) 0.7 (0.3) 23.5 (2.1) 10.1 (1.4) 

1,006 100.0 60.2 (4.1) 39.8(4.1) 15.1 (2.7) 0.4 (0.3) 24.3 (3.3) 7.7 (1.8) 

2,683 100.0 32.3 (2.1) ~ y5] 42.2 (2-1) 1.1 (0.4) 24.2 (2.0) 27.0(1.9) 

5,434 100.0 43.4 (1.5) > 30.9 (1.4) 0.9 (0.3) 24.6 (1 .3) 19.2(1.3) 

4,862 100.0 54.9 (1 .7) 45:1 (1:7) 25.4 (1.4) 1.0(0.3) 18.5(1.2) 14.1(1.2) 

4,144 100.0 64.0 (1.8) 36.0 (1.8) 17.9 (1.4) 1.6(0.4) 16.5(1.3) 9.3(1.1) 

3,374 

14,573 

100.0 

100.0 

35.3 (2.1) 

53.5 (1 .0) 

64.7 (2.1) 

46.6 (1.0) 

36.7 (1.9) 

25.4 (0.9) 

1.1(0.5) 

1.2(0.2) 

26.8 (2.0) 

19.7 (0.8) 

23.5(1.7) 

14.7(0.8) 

3,279 100.0 32.9 (2.2) 67.1 (2.2) 43.0 (2.5) 0.4 (0.2) 23.4 (2.0) 30.0 (2.4) 

.3) 32.5 (1.3) 1.3(0.3) 22.9 (1.1) 19.5 (1.2) 8,012 

7,496 

100.0 

100.0 

43.2 (1.3) 

65.0 (1.2) 

58.8 (1 

35.0 (1.2) 15.2 (0.8)” 1.3(0.2) 18.3 (1.0) 7.1 (0.6) 

14,544 100.0 50.3 (1.0) 49.7 (1.0) 27.5 (1.0) 1.2(0.2) 20.8 (0.9) 16.4 (0.9) 

5,991 100.0 48.0 (1.3) 52.0 (1.3) 27.4 (1.5) 1.4(0.4) 23.1 (1.3) 16.5 (1.3) 

8,554 100.0 51.9 (1.4) 48.1 (1.4) 27.7 (1.2) 1.0(0.2) 19.3(1.1) 16.3(1.1) 

4,464 100.0 48.5 (2.0) 51.5 (2.0) 27.7(1.7) 1.1 (0.4) 22.5 (1.1) 16.5 (1.5) 

18,193 100.0 50.3(0.9) 49.7 (0.9) 27.4 (0.8) 1.2 (0.2) 21.0 (0.7) 16.4 (0.7) 

594 100.0 37.1 (5.1) 62.9 (5.1) 33.7 (4.0) 0.0 (0.0) 29.1 (5.5) 17.5(3.1) 

‘ExcludeschildrenWhOSelotalexposure Iosmokeisunknown. 

2imIu~eSOXp0SW Children wbse petiti ofexpureistmknwm. 

%cI.desallotherracas, .nkn~nfmiryinmme, “nkmPe~sw~s, .nkn~”edu~ti~nofmomsr, md.nknownsaaessad 

NOTESCPOVEftySahIS iSd@ta~\nedinfhe ~ational HeeRhl”tem.W ~umybyjamjlysize, n“~~er~f~fidren, andfs~i~i-e 

eSnSUS. M8A & MetKOpOIit8n slatist!cal arm. figures in parentheses are standard errors of eStiMaISS. 

decrease as the interval between the 

pregnaney and the time of interview 

increased. Obtaining data on the 

older child presents the problem of 

documenting increasing outside 

exposure to the child compounded 

with the concern that children 

themselves may actually begin to 

smoke in the elementa~ school years. 

The questions about mothers’ 

srno~ng behavior during pregnaney 

were asked only of biological mothers 

who were still living in the household 

and available to respond at the time 

of the interview. Data presented in 

this report ar; Iimitcd to those 

children for ~vhorn prenatal maternal 

smoking kforrniit ion was available. 

About 11.5 pcrccnt of otherwise 

eligible sample children 5 years of age 

and under are excluded from this 

analysis because the biological mother 

was not available for interview. Also 

excluded from this analysis are an 

additional 2 percent of eligible 

sample children for whom no smoking 

exposure information was available on 

the NHIS-CH questionnaire. For this 

report, the final NHIS-CH passive 

smoking sample includes 5,356 sample 

children representing 86 percent of 

U.S, children 5 years of age and 

under. Comparison of sample 

children by the demographic and 

socioeconomic descriptors used in this 

report shows no differences indicating 

response bias as a result of these 

exclusions. 

heafthatatua. 

~Singl~7~va~ ~vebdefined bythe lJ.!3.Bureauofihe 

The estimates presented in this 

report are weighted to produce 

representative national estimates of 

U.S. noninstitutionalized children 

5 years of age and under, less the 

sample exclusions just described. This 

weighted national estimate represents 

about 19 million children. U.S. 

population totals for all 

noninstitutionalized children these 

ages are provided in table 5 for data 

users interested in approximating 

total U.S. estimates. 

Initially, mothers were asked 

whether they smoked at all during the 

year before the child’s birth. 

Subsequent questions included 

whether they continued to smoke 

during the entire pregnancy or 
4 Advance Data No. 202 ● June 18, 1991 

Table 2. Number of children 5 years of age and under and percent distribution by whether exposed to smoke before birth, according to 

selected characteristics: United States, 1988 

Number of Not Exposed before birth 

children exposed Mother 

in before Mother and others Potential 

Characteristic thoussnds’ Total birth smoked smoked exposure 

Percent distribution 

Allchildrenz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,849 100.0 49.4 (0.9) 28.8 (0.9) 20.8 (0.8) 21.6 (0.8) 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,448 100.0 49.9 (1.0) 29.3 (1 .0) 21.7 (0.9) 20.7 (0.6) 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,728 100.0 41.5 (2.4) 30.0 (1.9) 18.6 (1.7 28,4 (2.3) 

Hispanic origin 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,799 100.0 46.6 (1.0) 29.6 (0.9) 21.6 (0.9) 21.5 (0.6) 

Hispanic, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,050 100.0 56.5 (2.3) 20.6 (1 .8) 13.8 (1 .9) 22.5 (2.4) 

Mexican-American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 987 100.0 59.5 (3.7) 15.4 (2.7) 9.9 (2,6) 24.7 (3.4) 

Family income 

Lessthan $10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,679 100.0 32.1 (2.1) 43.3 (2.0) 31.5 (1.9) 24.5 (1.8) 

S10.00G-S24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,372 100,0 44.1 (1.6) 31.8 (1 .4) 23.3 (1.3) 23.8 (1.4) 

$25.000-S39,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,833 100.0 53.3 (1.6) 26.5 (1.5) 19.6 (1 .3) 20.1 (1.3) 

$40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,109 100.0 62.9 (1.7) 19,5 (1.4) 12.7(1.2) 17.4 (1.3) 

Poverty status 

In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,344 100.0 35.9 (2.1) 37a (1.9) 27.9 (1.7) 26.0 (1.8) 

Not in poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,456 100.0 53.0 (1.0) 26.6 (0.9) 18.9 (0.6) 20.2 (0.8) 

Mother’s education 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,249 100.0 33.0 (2.1) 43.5 (2.6) 34.6 (2.3) 23.2 (1.9) 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,964 100.0 41.7 (1.4) 33.8 (1.3) 24.4 (1.2) 24,3 (1.2) 

Morethan 12years. ,....,. . . . . . . . . . . . 7.416 100.0 65.3 (1 ,2) 16.5 (0.8) 10.4 (0.6) 18,0 (0.9) 

Place of residence 

MA, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,406 100.0 50.3 (1.0) 28.7 (1.0) 20.8 (1 .0) 20.7 (0,9) 

Central ity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,920 100.0 48.8 (1.5) 28.6 (1.5) 20.7 (1.3) 22,2 (1,6) 

Noncentral city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,487 100.0 51.4 (1,4) 28.7 (1.2) 20.9 (1.1) 19.7 (1 ;2) 

Not MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,443 100,0 46.5 (2.1 ) 26.8 (1.8) 20.8 (1,.6) 24.5 (1.1) 

Assessed health status 

Excellent, very good, or good. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,054 

Fairer poor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 574 

100.0 50.1 (0.9) 26.6 (0.8) 

100.0 33.0 (4.6) 33.6 (4.0) 

20.7 (0.8) 

26.3 (3.a) 

21.1 (0.7) 32.4 (5,6) 

‘Excludes children whose exposure lo smoke before bmhls unknown. 

z{nc[u~e~all~the~[a~e~, unknown tamilyi"cOme, un~nwnpoveq em~, unkn-edu~tion Ofmother, andunknOwn assessed heanhsmtus. 

NOTES;Exposure before birrh includes children expossd by mothers”directsmoking aewell se possible exposure from mothers’ contacts who smoked. Pwerty status is determined in the Nafional 

Health ImarviewSurvey by family size, number of chkken, and famlfy income using 19S7 pweriy levels defined by the U,S. Bureau of the Census. MSA is metropolitan statistical area. Figures in 

parentheses are standard errors of estimates, 

stopped during the first 3months or 

Iaterand the average daily numberof 

cigarettes smoked. An additional 

question about potential exposure 

involved the frequency with which the 

mother was in contact with friends, 

coworkers. or family mcrnbcrswho 

smoked during thepre:nancy. 

To assess a child’s exposure to 

cigarette smoke afterbirth, the 

mother’s current smoking status ~vas 

determined. Ifshewas nota current 

smoker. the interval since she had last 

smoked wasascertaincd. Other 

questions lverc used tcr determine 

~vhcther an! houscho]d member had 

smoked rcgularl! since the child’s 

birth. If so, dcterminntiorrs were 

made as to(a) whether any 

household member currently smoked 

and (b) whether it had been more or 

less than 12 months since anyone in 

the household had smoked. A 

facsimile of the NHIS-CH 

questionnaire items is provided in 

Current Estimates from the National 

Health Interview Survey, 1988 (28). 

Results 

Exposure status 

Figure 1 shows the distribution of 

U.S. children 5 yenrs of age and 

under by whether they were ever 

exposed to cigarette smoke and the 

proportion exposed before and after 

birth. About one-half of U.S. children 

5 years of age and under have ever 

been exposed to cigarette smoke. For 

this report, the estimates of children 

overexposed include children whose 

mother smoked at any time during 

the pregnaney or afterward and 

children who lived in a household 

where someone ever smoked regularly 

since their birth. More than 

one-fourth of all young children, on 

the average, were exposed to passive 

smolie both before and afterbirth. 

A higher proportion of black 

children (60 percent) than white 

children (49 percent) were ever 

emosed. with most of the difference , 
Advance Data No. 202 ● June 18, 1991 5 

Table 3. Number of children 5 Years of age and under and Percent distribution by whether exposed to household smoke since birth, 

according to selected characteristics United States, 1988 

.ExDoaed since birth Number of Not 

children 

in 

Characteristic thousands’ 

exposed Currant Former 

since smoker in smoker in 

Total birth Tofai2 housahold house!mld 

Percent di~tbution 

Allchildren3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Htspanic origin 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Hlspanlc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Mexicat-f+rnerlce n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Family income 

Lessthan $10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$10,00&S24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$25,000-$39,988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

S40,0000r more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Poverty status 

Inpovetty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notinpove~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Mother’s education 

Lessthan 12yeara . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 

12yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 

Morethan 12yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Place of residence 

MA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Centrality.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notcentralcity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

NotMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Assessed health status 

Excellent,verygood, Osgood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Fairorpoor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

19,019 

15,575 

2,759 

16,923 

2,096 

1,006 

2,685 

5,4S6 

4,871 

4,149 

3,376 

74,562 

3,279 

8,014 

7,505 

14,550 

5,994 

8,556 

4,469 

18,204 

584 

100.0 51.1 (0.9) 46.9 (0.9) 

100.0 51.9 (1.0) 48.1 (1.0) 

100.0 41.5 (2.4) 58.5 (2.4) 

100.0. 50.4 (1 .0) - 4%6 (1.0) 

100.0 56.4 (2.6) 43.6 (2.6) 

100.0 60.7 (4.1) 39.3 (4.1) 

100.0 33.4 (2.1) 66.6 (2.1) 

100.0 44.3 (1.5) 55.7 (1 .5) 

100.0 55.9 (1.7) 44.1 (1.7) 

100.0 65.7 (1.6) 34.3 (1 .8) 

100,0

100.0 

36.4 (2.1) 

54.8 (1.0) 

63.6 (2.1) 

45.2 (1 .0) 

100.0 33.3 (2.2) 66.7 (2.2) 

100,0 44.5 (1.4) 55.5 (1.4) 

100.0 66.3 (1.2) 33.7 (1.2) 

100.0 51.5 (1.0) 48.5 (1.0) 

100,0 49.4 (1.4) 50.6(1.4) 

100.0 52,9 (1.4) 47.1 (1.4) 

100.0 49.7 (1.9) 50.3 (1.9) 

100,0 

100.0 

51.5 (0.9) 37.1(5.1) 

46.5(0.9)

62.9(5.1) 

42.4 (0.9) 6.1 (0.4) 

41.6 (1.0) 6.1 [0.4) 

51.3 (2.4) 6.7 (: .2) 

43.2 (1.0) 6.0 (0.4) 

35.8 (2.5) 6.9 (1 .2) 

31 .a (3.8) 6.5 (:”.6) 

57.7 (2.3) 6.7 (1 .1) 

48.8 (1.6) 6.3 (0.7) 

38.3 (1.6) 5.4 (0.7) 

29.5 (1.5) 4.6 (0.9) 

55.7 (2.3) 7.6 (1 .0) 

39.2(1.0) 5.6 (0.4) 

61.2(2.1) 5.1 (0.8) 

47.9 (1.4) 7.3 (0.6) 

27.6(1.1) 5.4 (0.6) 

42.2 (1.1 ) 5.9 (0.4) 

43.6(1.5) 6.3 (0.6) 

41.1 (1.4) 5.6 (0.6) 

43.1 (1.7) 6.6 (0.6) 

42.0(0.9) 6.0(0.4) 

55.7 (5.3) 6.7 (2.4) 

l~~”d~~ ~hildren whose expesufe to arnoke in the home afier ~nh * ufiknzln~uds~ children e~p~sedsince birlh whose period of exposureis unkn~. 

Sltiudesallother ~ws,un~wn~miy j“~me,unkn- ~e~~~~u$,”nkn- ed~~~n~fm~ther, ,sndimkncwrseese~~ heaithststua. 

NOTES Poverly status is determined in the National Hearth Interview Survev by family size, number of children. and fsmiiv inceme uslrm-..1W7 oovertv levels defined bv the U.S. Bureau of the 

Census. MSA IS matropoliin atafiaticslarea. Figuresin parenthesesaresw-daid arroiaof estimates. 

occurring inthe postnatal period 

(table 1). Children of Hispanic origin 

were less likely ever to be exposed to 

smoke than were non-Hispanic 

children (44and51 percent, 

respectively). Mexican-American 

children were the least likely tobe 

exposed prenatally, but their 

“postnatal only” exposure was similar 

to that of children of other origins. 

Differentials in exposure levels 

were also found among children by 

various income categories and 

according tomother’s education. 

About two-thirds of young children in 

families with incomes of less than 

$10,000 were ever exposed to smoke, 

compared with36 percent of children 

whose family income was $40,000 or 

more, almost a twofold risk. Similarly, 

the overall rate of exposure to passive 

smoke declined aslevelofmother’s 

education increased, from67 percent 

of children whose mother did not 

complete high school to35 percent of 

those whose mother had 1 year or 

more of college. Differences were 

significant at the 0.05 level between 

each level of income, poverty, and 

maternal education. 

Table 1 also contains exposure 

estimates according to one NHIS 

health status measure: Respondentassessed health status. Respondentassessed health status for children is 

reported by the household respondent 

for NHIS, usually a parent. The 

question is used to determine 

whether the child’s overall health is 

considered excellent, very good, good, 

fair, or poor. 

A higher percent of children in 

fair or poor health than other 

children were ever exposed to smoke; 

almost two-thirds of all children 

reported to be in fair or poor health 

were exposed to cigarette smoke 

either before or after their birth, 

compared with about one-half of all 

children whose overall health was 

reported to be excellent, very good, 

or good. 

Although questions detailing the 

entire duration of smoking exposure 

before and after birth were not 

included as part of this survey, some 

approximation is possible to estimate 
----

6 Advance Data No. 202. June 18, 1991 

Table 4. Percent of children 5 years of age and under assessed in fair or poor health, by exposure to smoke and selected 

characteristics: United States, 1988 

Ever exposed 

Mother 

smoked Current Former 

,4/ Never during smoker In smoker hr 

Characteristic clrlldren’ exposed Tots/ pregnancy household household 

Percent of children 

Allchildren2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2(0.33) 2.4(0.34) 4.0 (o.5n 3.7 (0.50) 4.1 (0.64) 3.5(1.2q 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 (0.36) 2.2(0.36) 3.7(0.s3) 3.3 (0.49) 4.0 (0.72) 3.1(1.16) 

Black. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 (0.95) 3.1(1.0s) 5.1 (1.37) 6.1 (2.06) 5.0(1.42) 6.4 (4.91) 

Hispanic origin 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 (0.35) 2.1 (0.34) 3.6 (0.61) 3,6 (0.53) 4,0 (0,69) 3.3 (1 ,34) 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 (1.07) 4.1 (1.42) 5.0 (1.59) 5.2 (2.24) 5.3 (1.8S) 5.2(3.34) 

Mexican-American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 (1.72) 5.5 (2.32) 4.3 (2.31) 2.4 (2.14) 5.4(2.64) 0.0 (0.00) 

Family income 

Less than$lO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0 (1.52) 4.5 (1.55) 8.1 (2.20) 7.5 (1.63) 8.0 (2.52) 10.7 (4.76) 

$10,000-$24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 (0,56) 2.7 (0.73) 4.4 (0.85) 3.5 (0.95) 4.6 (0.92) 3.4 (2.10) 

$25,000-$39,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 (0.54) 2.4 (0.77) 2.9 (0.70) 3.2 (0.91) 3.3 (0.60) 0.0(0.00) 

$40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 (0.37) 1.1(0.37) 1.9 (0.81) 1.3 (0.94) 2.0 (0.94) 2.1 (2.05) 

Poverty status 

In povetty . . . . . . . . . . ..j... . . . . . . . . . 6.6 (1.30) 3.5 (1.12) 8,1 (1.95) 7.6(1.64) 8.0 (2.19) 9.8(4.44) 

Not in poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 (0.27) 2.0 (0.34) 2.9 (0.41) 2.7 (0,49) 3.2(0.45) 1.9 (1 .01) 

Mother’s education 

Less than 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 (1.28) 3.3 (1.19) 7.3 (1.62) 5.6 (1 ,23) 7.3 (1 .96) 10.6 (6.12) 

12yeam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 (0.47) 2.7 (0.73) 3.3 (0.57’) 3.7 (0,75) 3.6(0.65) 2,3 (1.16) 

More than 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 (0.28) 1.8(0.33) 2.0 (0.52) 1.6 (0.76) 1.9(0.53) 2.5 (1.m 

Place of residence 

MA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Central ity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Noncentral city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2.9 (0.38) 

2.9 (0,46) 

2.9 (0.56) 

1.9 (0.36) 

1.4 (0.46) 

2.2(0.63) 

3.9(0.s8) 

4.3 (0.62)

3.6(1.04) 

3.9 (0.59)

4.9(1.14)

3.2(0.66) 

4.1 (0,77) 

3.9 (0,86) 

4.2 (1.21) 

3.5(1.44) 

7.5 (3.21) 

0.4 (0.37) 

Not MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.0(0.66) 4.0(0.65) 4.1(0.95) 3.1(0.68) 4.4(1.04) 3.6 (2.55) 

1Excludes children whose total expasureto smoke Is unknown. 

21ncludesallolher races, unknown fsmiiylnwme, unknowrr rsOvertystStus,ar?dun~OWn aduCStionOftier. 

NOTES: Poverty status is determined in [he Naiionsl Health Inkmiew Surves by family size, number at chlldran, and famiiy Inwma using 1987 poverty levels defined by the U.S. Buraau of the 

Census. MSA is metropolitan statisticalaraa. Figures in parentheses are Standad arrore of estimates. 

the proportionof children at highest 

risk, that is, those continuously 

exposed from the prenatal periodto 

the time of interview. For this report 

children were classified as being 

“continuously” exposed to cigarette 

smoke if either (a) their mother’ 

smoked during the entire pregnancy 

and currently smokes or(b) their 

mother smoked during the entire 

pregnancy, a household member 

smoked regularly since their birth, 

and a household member currently 

smokes. 

Using this operational definition, 

about 16 percent ofU.S. 

children–one insix–have been 

exposed continuously, that is, 

prenatall ytotobacco smoke 

constituents and postnatallyto 

sidestream smoke in the household. 

About the same proportion ofblack 

and white children experienced 

continuous exposure tosmoke, but 

more non-Hispanic than Hispanic 

children were exposed continuously 

(17 percent and 10 percent, 

respectively). Children in families 

with incomes of less than $10,000 

were three times aslikely to be 

exposed from conception to the 

current time as were those with 

family incomes of $40,000 or more 

(27 and 9 percent). Children whose 

mother had not completed high 

school were fourtimesa slikelytobe 

exposed as those whose mother 

continued her education beyond high 

school (30and7 percent). 

Prenatal exposure 

In table 2estimates ofchildren’s 

exposure to smoke before birth are 

expanded. The criteria for classifying 

children’s exposure to cigarette smoke 

used for this table also differ from 

those used for figure land table L 

For most of the exposure status categories, shown in table 2, the data 

incorporate estimates for children 

whose mother was often in emtact 

with a smoker (such as friends, 

coworkers, or family members who 

smoked). 

Some of the four categories 

shown intabie 2arenotmutua11y 

exclusive. They are defined in the 

following way 

● “Not exposed before birth” 

includes children whose mother 

did not smoke at all during 

pregnancy and did not often 

come in contact with persons who 

smoked. 

● “Mother smoked” includes all 

children whose mother reported 

. . ... . 
Advance Data No. 202. June 18, 1991 7 

Table 5. Number of children 5 years of age 

and under, by selected sociodemographic 

characteristics and assessed health status 

United States, 1988 

Number in 

Characterktic thousands 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,107 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,828 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,336 

Hispanic origin 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,570 

Hispani c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,537 

Mexican-American. . . . . . . . . 1,229 

Family income 

UnderSIC.OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.046 

S1O,OO3S24999. . . . . . . . . . . 6,279 

$25,00&S39.999. . . . . . . . . . . 5.550 

$40,00Gormore . . . . . . . . . . . 4,905 

Poverly status 

In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,878 

Notinpo,.’erty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,906 

Mother’s education 

Lessthan12years. . . . . . . . . . 3,959 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,071 

Morethan,12 years . . . . . . . . . 8,604 

Place of residence, 

MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.924 

Central icy. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,038 

Notcentialc”~ . . . . . . . . . . . 9,886 

NotMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,183 

Assessed heatth status 

Excellent. verygood, or good. . . 21,198 

Fairorpmr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 664 

Itnclude. =1: ~~her races, unknown family income. unknown 

paverlyst,?ws, unknowneducationof mother, and unknown 

assessed neal:h status. 

NOTES: Poverly status ia determined inlhe Na!ional Health 

Interview %vey by family size, number of children, and family 

income using 1987 poveny Ieve!sdefmed bytha u.S. aureau 

of the Census. MSA is metropolitan statistical area. 

smoking at all during the 

pregnancy. ● “hfotherandothers smoked” 

refersto children whose mother 

smoked at all d.uring the 

pregnancy and also often camein 

contact ~vith someone who 

smoked., This category is asubset 

of the”preceding category (mother’ 

smoked), which includes these 

chiIdren aswell as childrenof 

mothers who smoked but did not 

come in contact frequently with 

other smokers. 

● “Potentiale xposure” includes 

children whose mother did not 

smoke at all during pregnancy but 

was often in contact \vith persons, 

such as friends, coworkers, or” 

family members, \vho smoked. 

Renetal only 

1.2 % 

Figure 1. Percent distribution of children 5 years of age and under by exposure to smoke 

before and after bitih: United States, 1988 

Children in this category, by sidestream smoke during pregnancy 

definition, are not included in any are also considered potentially at risk. 

of the preceding categories. 

About 29 percent of all children; 

regardless of race, were exposed 

prenatally to smoke as a direct result 

of their mother’s smoking. The 

percent of children of Hispanic origin 

exposed before birth as a 

consequence of their mother’s 

smoking was somewhat lower, about 

20 percent. Proportionately about 

twice as many youngsters from ‘the 

lowest family income category were 

exposed from their mother’s smoke 

(43 percent) as were ‘chiIdren whose 

family’s total earnings were $40,000 

or more “(2Opercent). The risk of: 

exposure prior to birth from mothers’ 

smoke was more than 2% times & 

great for children of mothers with 

less than a high school education 

Overall, about 22 percent of children 

were reported to have mothers 

exposed frequently to cigarette 

smoke, even though they were not 

smokers themselves, This estimate 

was somewhat higher for black 

children (28 percent, compared with 

21 percent of white children). 

Proportionately there were more 

children with nonsmoking mothers 

exposed to smoke among famiIies 

comprising the lowest income and 

matemrd education categories than 

among families with incomes of 

$40,000 or more and mothers with 

more than ,12 years of education. 

The proportions of children with 

potentiaI exposure, shown in table 2, 

are very similar to those of children 

exposed postnataIIy only by household 

(44 percent) as for those whose’ ‘ members, shown in table 1, 

mother had 1 year or more of college suggesting that household exposure 

(17 percent). may be the main potential source for 

On the average, more than pregnant nonsmoking mothers. 

one-fourth of the Nation’s children . 

were exposed to maternal smoke. Postnatal exposure However, this estimate rises to. 

50 percent when children whose Forty-two percent of all U.S. 

nonsmoking mothers were exposed to children 5 years of age and under 
8 Advance Data No. 202s June 18, 1991 

uere Curren[]y ]jk,ing in a household 

\vith a smoker (table 3). This 

estimate was highest among black 

children: On the average, one out of 

t\vo black children lived with someone 

\vho smoked, Only 6 percent of U.S. 

children lived in households where 

smoking had ceased since the child 

\vas born, Proportionately fewer 

Hispanic children than others were 

currently exposed in the home 

(36 percent). 

As with the estimates of children 

exposed to cigarette smoke prenatally, 

a disproportionately high number of 

children comprising the lower income 

and education categories were 

currently exposed to smoke in the 

home. Fif~-eight percent of those 

\vhose family income was less than 

S10,000 were living with a smoker, 

compared with 30 percent of children 

in families with incomes of $40,000 or 

more, a twofold risk. More than twice 

as many children having mothers with 

Iess than 12 years of education were 

currently exposed to household smoke 

(61 percent) as were children whose 

mothers reported completing 1 year 

or more of college (28 percent). 

A higher proportion of children 

in fair or poor health were reported 

to be living in households with a 

current smoker: 56 percent versus 

42 percent of those whose overall 

health was said to be good to 

excellent. 

The percent of children living 

with a household member who had 

quit smoking appears to be higher 

among those with incomes less than 

$10,000 or in poverty (9 and 

8 percent, respectively) than the 

overall average of 6 percent. These 

differences may be due to sampling 

variation. However, the level of 

current smokers is stilI highest in 

these categories. 

Exposure and assessed health 

status 

As previously mentioned. parents 

are asked to assess their children’s 

overall health as part of the basic 

JNHIS interview. Accordingly, about 

~ Percent Of a[l U.S. children 5 years 

of age and under are said to be in 

fair or poor health (table 4). The 

relative risk of fair or poor health was 

almost twice as great for children who 

lived in households with current 

smokers as it was for children who 

were never exposed –4.1 and 

2.4 percent, respectively. This 

approximate ratio. also is observed 

between the estimates for most of the 

smoking categories shown in table 4. 

However, the differences seen are not 

statistically significant at the 0.05 

level when the standard errors 

associated with these estimates are 

considered, 

Nevertheless, the estimates in 

table 4 are included in this report to 

show an apparent pattern suggesting 

that, for most children, fair or poor 

health appears to be associated with 

various exposures to cigarette smoke. 

Children currently exposed appear to 

be at somewhat greater risk than 

those formerly exposed, whether at 

home or prenatally. The children at 

least risk appear to be those who 

have never been exposed to cigarette 

smoke at all. The estimates presented 

in this table should be interpreted 

with caution, however, because 

sampling variability may account for 

the differences that are observed and 

other determinants of perceived 

health status have not been taken 

into account. 

Summary 

In this report, the differences 

found in exposure by family income, 

poverty, and total years of maternal 

education foIlow what is known about 

overall smoking rates in the U.S. 

population (l–6), Overall, about 

one-half of all U.S. children 5 years 

of age and under have been exposed 

to environmental cigarette smoke 

from prenatal maternal smoking 

and/or sidestream smoke from 

househoId members after their birth. 

Twenty-one percent were exposed 

only after they were born, and 

28 percent were exposed both from 

prenatal maternal smoking and 

subsequent household exposure, 

Sixteen percent were continuously 

exposed. 

The findings show that a large 

proportion of children at 

disadvantage from low’income and 

educational levels in “the household 

are also at increased risk of exposure 

to maternal and sidestream smoke, 

potentially adding to differentials in 

their heaIth risks. The differences in 

exposure by family income, poverty 

status, and total years of maternal 

education are consistent with current 

smoking patterns of the U.S. 

population during the childbearing 

years. Children 5 years of age and 

under in families ~vith the lowest 

income levels were almost twice as 

likely to have ever been exposed as 

those with the highest incomes 

(68 percent compared with 

36 percent). Almost twice as many 

children Iiving in households where 

the mother had not completed high 

school as in those where the mother 

had completed 1 or more years of 

college had ever been exposed 

(67 percent compared with 

35 percent). 

Black children were more likely 

to have ever been exposed than white 

children (60 and 49 percent, 

respectively). Non-Hispanic children 

were more likely to have been 

exposed than Hispanic children (51 

and 44 percent, respectively), with 

Mexican-American chiIdren the least 

likely to have been exposed 

(40 percent). 

The children least likely to have 

been continuously exposed since 

conception had mothers with more 

than 12 years of education 

(7 percent) or lived in households 

with family incomes of $40,000 or 

more (9 percent). Hispanic children 

were aIso less likely to be exposed 

continuously. Mexican-American 

children had one-half the risk of 

continuous exposure (8 percent) th? 

non-Hispanic children had 

(17 percent), because MexicanAmerican mothers were one-half as 

likely as others to smoke \vhile 

pregnant (16 percent compared wit 

30 percent). 

Patterns are similar for childre] 

currently living with smokers. Abou 

twice as many chirdren living in 

families \vith the least income as in 

families \vith an income of S40,000 

more were exposed (58 percent 

versus 30 percent). Children living 
Advance Data No. 202 ● June 18, 1991 9 

with mothers with less than 12 years 

of education were more than twice as 

likely to be living with a current 9. 

smoker (61 percent) as those with 

the most educated mothers 

(28 percent). However, 32 percent of 

Mexican-knerican children currently 

lived with a smoker, compared with 10. 

43 percent of non-Hispanic children. 

The differences found among 

educational, racial, and ethnic groups 

reinforce the concern about 

advertising targeted to the most 11. 

vulnerable populations (2,6,8,29). The 

focus of appropriately specific 

intervention should be intensified for 

the highest risk groups of parents and 12. 

parents-to-be. 

References 13. 

1. National Research Council Committee on Passive Smoking. Environmental tobacco smoke Measuring 14. 

exposures and assessing health effects. 

Washington: National Academy Press. 

1986. 

2. Office of the Surgeon General. 

Reducing the health consequences of 

smoking h“ years of progress. A 15. 

report of the Surgeon General. 

Washington: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services. 1989. 

3. Rush D, C~llahan KR. Exposure to 

passive cigarette smoking and child 16. 

development: A critical review. h~ 

.Acad Science 562:74-100.1989. 

4. Fiore MC, Novotny TE, Pierce JP, et 

al. Trends in cigarette smoking in the 

United States: The changing influence 17. 

of gender and race. JAMA 261:49-55. 

1989. 

5. Pierce JP, Fiore MC, Novotny TE, et 

al. Trends in cigarette smoking in the 

United States: Educational 

differences are increasing. .JAMA 

261:56-60.1989. 18. 

6. Escobedo LG, Anda RF, Smith PF, et 

al. Socioeconomic characteristics of 

cigarette smoking initiation in the 

IJnited States: Implications for 

smoking prevention policy. JAMA 

264:1550-5.1990. .

i. Schormbom CA, Boyd G. Smoking 

and other tobacco use, United States, 

1987. National Center for Health 

Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(169). 

1989. 

8. Ernster VL. Trends in smoking, 

cancer risk, and cigarette promotion: 

Current priorities for reducing 

19. 

~(). 

tobacco exposure. Cancer 621702-12. sample of children. Am Rev Respir 

1988. Dis 122697-707.1980. 

Prager Kj Malin H, Graves C, et al. 21. Weitzxnan M, Gortmaker S, Sabol A. 

Maternal smoking and drinking Racial, social and environmental risks 

behavior before and during for childhood asthma. Am J Dis Child 

pregnancy. In: Health, United States, 1441189-94.1990. 

1983. Washington: National Center 22. Kraemer MJ, Richardson MA, Weiss 

for Health Statistics. 1983. NS, et al. Risk factors for persistent 

Office of the Surgeon General. middle-ear effusions: Otitis media, 

Health benefits of smoking cessation. catarrhj cigarette smoke exposure and 

A report of the Surgeon General. atopy. JAMA 249:1022–5. 1983. 

U’ashington: Centers for Disease 23. Cassano PA Koepsell TD, Farwell 

Control. 1990. JR. Risk of febrile seizures in 

Institute of Medicine Committee to childhood in relation to prenatal 

Study the Prevention of Low maternal cigarette smoking and 

Birthweight. Preventing low alcohol intake, Am J Epidemiol 

birthweight, Washington: National 132462-73.1990. 

Academy Press. 1985. 24. Fox NL, Sexton M, Hebel JR. 

Sexton M, Hebel JR. A clinical trial Prenatal exposure to tobacco: L 

of change in maternal smoking and its Effects on physical growth at age 

effect on birth weight. JAMA three. Int J Epidemiol 19:66-71.1990. 

251:911-5.1984. 25. Naeye RL, Peters EC. Mental 

Martin TR, Bracken MB. Association development of children whose 

of low birth weight with passive mothers smoked during pregnancy. 

smoke exposure in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 64(5):601-7: 1984. 

Epidemiol 124:63342.1986. 26. Sexton M, Fox NL, HebeI JR. 

Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ, Prenatal exposure to tobacccx II. 

Shannon FT, Taylor B. Parental Effects on cognitive functioning at age 

smoking and lower respiratory ilIness three. Int J Epidemiol 19:72-7.1990. 

in the first three years of life. J 27. Moss AJ, Overpeck MD, Hendershot 

Epidemiol Community Health GE, et al. Prenatal smoking and 

35:180-4.1981. childhood morbidity. In Rosenberg 

Bland M, Bewley BR, Pollard V, MJ, ed. Smoking and reproductive 

Banks lvfH. Effect of children’s and health. Littleton, Massachusetts PSG 

parents’ smoking on respirato~ Publishing Co., Inc., 127-33.1987. 

symptoms. Arch Dis Child 53:100-5. 28. Adams PF, Hardy AM. Curreht 

1978. estimates from the National Health 

Coney JRT, Holand WW, Corkhill Interview Survey, 1988. National 

RT. Influence of passive smoking and Center for Health Statistics. Vital 

parental phlegm on pneumonia and Health Stat 10(173). 1989. 

bronchitis in early childhood. Lancet 29. Warner KE. Selling smoke Cigarette 

11:1031-7.1974. advertising and public health. 

Office of the Surgeon General. The Washington American Public Health 

health consequences of smoking Association, 43-57.1986. 

Chronic obstructive lung disease. A 30. Shah BV. SESUDAAIW StandarcL 

report of the Surgeon General. errors program for computing 

Rockville, Maryland: U.S. standardized rates from sample survey 

Department of Health and Human data. Research Triangle Park, h’orth 

Services. 1984. Carolina: Research Triangle Institute. 

Neuspiel DR, Rush D, Butler N~ et 1981. 

al. Parental smoking and post-infancy 

wheezing in children: A prospective 

cohort study. Am J Public Health 

79:168-71.1989. 

Bonham GS, Wilson RW. Children’s 

health in families with cigarette 

smokers. Am J Public Health 

71:29(L3. 1981. 

Weiss ST, Tager IB, Speizer FE, 

Rosner B. Persistent wheeze: Its 

relation to respiratory illness, 

cigarette smoking and level of 

pulrnonaxy function in a population 
10 Advance Data No. 202. June 18, 1991 — 

Technical notes 

Methods 

The estimates presented in this 

report are based on data from the 

National HeaIth Interview Survey 

(NHIS), an ongoing survey of U.S. 

households conducted bv the National 

Center for Health Statis~ics. Each 

week, a probability sample of the 

civilian noninstitutionalized 

population of the United States is 

interviewed by personnel of the U.S. 

Bureau of the Census. Interviewers 

obtain information about the health 

and other characteristics of each 

member of the households included 

in the NHIS sample. 

NHIS consists of two parts: (a) a 

basic health questionnaire that 

remains the same each year and is 

completed for each household 

member and (b) special topics 

questionnaires that vary from year to 

year and usually are asked of just one 

person in each family. In 1988, the 

special topics included acquired 

immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) 

knowledge and attitudes, medical 

device implants, occupational health, 

alcohol, and child health. These data 

sets can be linked to provide 

additional sources for analysis. 

The total sample interviewed for 

1988 for the basic health 

questionnaire consisted of 47,485 

households containing 122,310 

individuals. The total response rate 

was 95 percent. For the National 

Health Interview Survey on Child 

Health (NHIS-CH), one sample child 

17 years of age and under was 

selected from each family with 

children in that age range. Interviews 

were completed for 17,110 children 

17 years of age and under, 95 percent 

of those identified as eligible on the 

basis of the basic health 

questionnaire. The overall response 

rate for NHIS-CH was 91 percent, 

the product of the response rates for 

the basic and child health 

questionnaires. 

Because the estimates presented 

in this report are based on a sample 

of the population, they are subject to 

sampling errors. Standard errors of 

the estimates have been included in 

the tables. The standard errors for 

this report were calculated using 

SESUDAAN, a SAS-based software 

package designed to produce 

standard errors for estimates based 

on complex, multistage sample 

designs (30). Standard errors based 

on such survey designs are typically 

about 20 percent larger than those 

that would be obtained with a simple 

random sample of the same size. 

In this report, persons whose 

overall smoking exposure was 

unknown for certain items were 

excluded from both the denominators 

and numerators of percents and 

percent distributions. This exclusion 

of unknowns implicitly assumes that 

the response distribution for these 

persons is the same as that for 

persons for whom valid responses 

were provided. 

All differences cited in this report 

are statistically significant at the 0.05 

level. The t-test, with a critical value 

of 1.96, was used to test all pairwise 

comparisons. Lack of comment 

regarding the difference between any 

two estimates does not mean that the 

difference was tested and found not 

to be statistically significant. 

The results presented in this 

report were derived from a corrected 

version of the 1988 NHIS-CH data 

tape. The original NHIS-CH public 

use tape, released in 1990, does not 

contain information about prenatal 

exposure to smoke for about 

10 percent of eligible sample children 

because of an incorrect editing 

procedure. Persons interested in 

purchasing a revised version of the 

public use tape should request the 

corrected copy by writing the Division 

of Health Interview Statistics, 

National Center for Health Statistics, 

6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, 

Maryland 20782. 

Definition of terms 

Children’s exposure to cigarette 

smoke 

Never exposed – Mother did not 

smoke at all either during the 

pregnancy or after the child’s birth, 

and no household member has 

smoked regularly at any time since 

the child’s birth. 

Ever e.qmed– Mother smoked 

during some part of the pregnancy or 

after the child’s birth, or a household 

member has smoked regularly at any 

time since the child’s birth. 

Prenatal exposure only –Mother 

smoked during some part of the 

pregnancy but did not smoke after 

the child’s birth, and no household 

member has smoked regularly at any 

time since the child’s birth. 

Postnatal exposure only – Mother 

did not smoke at all during the 

pregnancy, and mother smoked after 

the child’s birth or a household 

member has smoked regularly at 

some time since the child’s birth. 

Prenatal and postnatal 

txposure – Mother smoked during 

some part of the pregnancy, and 

mother smoked after the child’s birth 

or a household member has smoked 

regularly at some time since the 

child’s birth. 

Continuous erposure – Mother 

smoked during the entire pregnancy, 

and mother reported smoking at time 

of interview or another household 

member smoked regularly since the 

child’s birth and reported smoking at 

time of interview. 

Prenatal exposure – Terms used 

only in table 2: 

Not exposed before birth – Mother 

did not smoke at a!l during the 

pregnancy and while pregnant 

was not often in contact with 

persons who did smoke, such as 

friends, coworkers, or family 

members. 

Exposed before birth (mother 

smoked) —Mother smoked during 

some part of the pregnancy. 

Exposed before birth (mother and 

others smoked) – Mother smoked 

during some part of the 

pregnancy and was often in 

contact with other persons who 

smoked, such as friends, 

coworkers, or family members. 

13posed before birth (potential 

=posure) —Mother did not smoke 

at all during the pregnancy but 
Advance Data No. 202. June 18, 1991 11 

while pregnant was often in Administration in 1964 and revised by (chiId’s) health is excellent, very 

contact with persons who did the Federal Interagenq Committees ‘mood, fair, or poor?” 

smoke, such as friends, in 1969 and 1980. The inde~ based 

coworkers, or family members. on money income only, is derived 

E+posed since birth –Mother or 

from the Department of Agriculture’s 

another household member 1961 economy food plan and reflects 

smoked since the child’s birth. the different consumption 

requirements of families according “-

Currem smoker in household- their size and composition. The 

Mother or another household poverty thresholds are updated 

member reported smoking at time annually to reflect changes in the 

of intemiew. Consumer Price Index. Because 

Former smoker in household- NHIS data ‘on family income are 

Mother or another househoId collected by income categories rather 

member smoked since the child’s than in specific amounts of money, 

the NHIS estimates of persons living birth, but no household member in poverty will vary slightly from the reported smoking at time of Current Population Survey estimates. interview. Mother’s education –The 

Not reposed since birth – Mother categories reflect the total number of 

did not smoke since the child’s years of regular school the child’s 

birth, and no other household mother completed. A regular school 

member smoked regularly at any is one that advances a person toward 

time since the child’s birth. an elementary or high school diploma 

or a college, university, or 

Demographic terms professional school degree. 

Race –The population is divided Place of residence – A person’s 

into three groups according to race — residence is classified according to 

white, black, and all other races. \vhether it is inside a metropolitan 

Persons are classified according to statistical area (MSA) or outside an 

the respondents’ reported racial hZSA. Generally speaking, an MSA 

identifications. In this report, those of consists of a county or group of 

all other races, although not shown as counties containing at least one ci~ 

a separate category, are represented having a population of 50,000 or more 

in the estimates of “a[l children.” plus adjacent counties that are 

Hisptmie origin –A person is metropolitan in character and are 

classified as Hispanic if the household economically and socially integrated 

respondent reports one of the with the central city. 

foI1o\ving groups as his or her Central ci~–The largest city in 

national origin or ancestry: Puerto an MSA is always a central city. One 

Rican, Cuban, Mexican, Latin or two additional cities may be 

American, or other Spanish. secondary central cities provided that 

Non-Hispmzic origin – Persons not their population is one-third or more 

classified as Hispanic are non- of the largest city, with a minimum 

Hispanic. This category includes population of 25,000, or that they 

persons whose Hispanic status is have at least 250,000 inhabitants. 

unknown. Nor central cify – This includes all 

Famiti income – This includes the of the MSA that is not part of the 

total of all income for the past central city itself. 

12 months received by members of Not in MS4 –This includes all 

the child’s family. Income from all other places in the country. 

sources is included, for example, 

\vages, salaries, rents from property, Health measures 

pensions, rind help from relatives. Respondent-assessed health Po\’erQ smws – Persons are 

classified as being in poverty or not in status —The categories related to this 

poverty according to the poverty health measure result from asking the 

index originated at the Social Securitv NHIS respondent, “Would you say 
12 Advance Data No. 202 ● June 18.1991 

Suggested citation 

Overpeck MD, Moss AJ. Children’s exposure 

to environmental ‘cigarette smoke before and 

after birth: Health of our Nation’s children, 

United States, 1988. Advance data from vital Copyright information 

and health statistics; no 202. Hyattsville, 

Maryland: National Center for Health This report may be reprinted without further 

Statistics. 1991. permission. 
Number 203 . July 1, 1991 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 1989 Summary 

by James E. DeLozier, 

Estimates presented in this report 

are based on data collected during 

the National ArnbuIato~ Medical 

Care Survey (NAMCS), a nationaI 

probability sample survey conducted 

by the Division of Health Care 

Statistics, National Center for HeaIth 

Statistics, Centers for Disease 

ControL 

During the 12-month period from 

March 1989 to March 1990, an 

estimated 692.7 million office visits 

were made to nonfederaIIy employed, 

office-based physicians in the United 

States. This represents an increase of 

about 56 million visits (8.8 percent) 

since 1985. Part of this increase is 

M. S., and Raymond O. Gagnon, Division of Health Care Statistics 

in terms of the number, percen~ and 

rate of office visits. Statistics are 

presented on physician, patient, and 

visit characteristics. 

Figure 1 is a facsimile of the 1989 

NAMCS Patient Record used by 

participating physicians to reeord 

information about their patients’ 

office visits. It will serve as a useful 

reference when reviewing suwey 

findings. 

Because the estimates presented 

in this report are based on a sample 

rather than on the entire universe of 

office visits, the data are subject to 

sampIing variability. The technical 

notes at the end of this report 

provide a brief description of the 

sample design, an explanation of 

sampling errors, and guidelines to 

judge the precision of the estimates. 

A detailed description of the 1989 

NAMCS sample design and suwey 

methodology is forthcoming. 

The physician sample for 

NAMCS was selected with the 

cooperation of the American MedicaI 

Association and the American 

Osteopathic Association. Their 

contribution to this effort is gratefully 

acknowledged. 

Data highlights 

Physician characteristics 

The distribution of office visits 

according to physician specialty is 

shown in tabIe 1 and figure 2 for the 

most frequently visited specialists. 

Visits to physicians specializing in 

general and family practice (GFP) 

accounted for 29.8 percent of office 

visits in 1989, not statistically 

different from the proportion of visits 

in 1985 (30.5 percent). This may 

indicate the end of a trend that has 

shown a steady decrease in the 

proportion of GFP visits from a high 

of 41.5 percent in 1974, the first year 

the NAMCS was conducted. This 

trend has paralleled the decline in 

the proportion of general and famiIy 

physicians during the same time 

period (l). Of the 13 most frequently 

visited specialists, only pediatricians 

showed a significant increase in the 

proportion of visits since 1985, 

increasing from 11.4 percent to 12.6 

percent of total visits. 

Patient characteristics 

Office visit data according to 

patient age, sex, and race are shown 

in tables 2 and 3. FemaIes accounted 

accounted for by the addition of ~ 

AIaska and Hawaii to the NAMCS in 

1989. The rate of office visits has 

been stable since 1975, with about 2.7 

visits per person per year. The rate 

was 2.8 for 1989; this is not a 

statistically significant increase but 

warrants further examination later in 

this report. 

This report provides an overview 

of the data from the 1989 NAMCS. 

These data should be considered 

provisional because finaI editing may 

resuIt in minor changes in the 

estimates. The use of office-based 

ambulatory care services is described 

;.O 5W7CC* .*= 

$ i U.S. DEPARTMENTOF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

g Public Health Service 

s 

.

% # 

Centers for Disease Control 

%.% National Center for Health Statistics %,sa > Manning Feinleib, M. D., Dr. P.H., Director 

CDC 
1

2

3

4

5

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2 Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 

An.rancm of Con fid.nlMky -All infwrn.rion which would permit identif@stkIn .f N1 Oopanment of HoIlsh d Hunwn SctvIcas 

indwlduc.1, a pr~ctice, or an es.tablishrne~ will be held confidential. will b+ USN O.IV by Cmswa far Dl%eJ8d Con5ral 

aerso”s toolh.rcm~.ged 

Derswu or 

in.nd 

med 

I.rthe 

for a“” 

putp.ses 

Mher D.tpose. 

eftheswvay .nd will not ba disctid OlrOl_lOd 

Nsdand 

Public 

Center 

Hm@O! 

for HUISII 

S@nico 

Sudstks A 

1. DATE OF VISIT PATlENT RECORD ~ NATIONAL AMBULATORY MEDICAL CARE SURVEY 

2.21P CODE 4, SEX 5m~;3R OR 6,amNlcrrY 

lDWHITE 

2 a SLACK 1 ❑ :~G& 

A34AIWAC3RC 

3 n ISLANOGI 

AMERICANINDIAW 2 •11%’ANK 4 ❑ ESKIMO/AW 

9 PATIENTS COMPIAINTIS]. SYMPTOM(S1, OR OTHER 100 PHYSICIANS DIAGNOSES 

gREASON(S} FOR THIS VISIT [In patient’s own words] 

c, MOST IMPORTANT a, PRINCIPAL 01AGNOS!WPR06LEM ASSOC@TEO WTTH ~M 9s. 

OMB No. 0920-0234 

@ilX3S 8-31+9 

(R-Is)61OSA 

8m~~w.~~~R 

nils Vlsrr BY 

ANOTHER 

PHYSICIAN? 

ID YES2CIN0 

+ IF YES, FOR THE CONDMON 

IN rrEM 10#? 

lD YES 2DN0 

b. OTHER b. OTHER SIGNIFICANT 

1 L NONE 7 ❑ BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK 13 ❑ ORAL GLUCOSE TOL. 

2 D PAP TEST 8 ❑ URINALYSIS 14 ❑ CHOLESTEROL MEASURE 

3 ❑ PELVIC EXAM 9 Q CHEST X-RAY 15 D HIV SEROLOGY 

4 ❑ BREAST PALPATION 10 ❑ OIGITAL RECTAL EKAM 16 ❑ OTHEfl BLOOO TEST 

5 ❑ MAMMOGRAM 11 ❑ PROCT/SIGMOIOOSCOPY 17 ❑ OTHER [SWUYJ 

6 D VISUAL ACUITY 12 ❑ STOOL BLOOO EXAM 

~ s. MEDICATION THERAPY [Raon%allnewormntinued medications omi&orprovidedat 

CURRENT OIAGNOSES 

q3* ~~h:;s:y:;:::::~mvid@ 

❑ NONE ❑ NONE 

❑ WEIGHT REDUCTION ❑ P& CHOTHERAPY 

❑ CISOLSSTEROLREDUCTION ❑ cORRECTIVE LENSES 

❑ SMOKING CESSATION ❑ AMBULATORY SURGERY 

❑ HIV TFIANSMISSION ❑ PHYS1OTHERAPY 

❑ SREAST SELF-EXAM D OTHER lSP@@I 

❑ OTHER 

thkvisk Usethesame 

bmndnarne or generic narneenmraion any Rxoroffimalicul nxord Imchide irmnun&ing andd~lizing agmts.] 

IF NONE, CHECK HERE ❑ ●✎NEW b, FOR OX 

MEOICATEON7 w STEM 10.? 

YES NO YEs NO 

1. ICI 2D ‘cl 20 

2. ICI 2D ‘n 20 

3, ‘o 20 ‘cl 20 

4. ‘cl 20 ICI ‘cl 

5. ‘o 20 ’13 20 

Pigure 1.1989 National Ambulatory Medicai Care Survey Patient Record 

I I G DISPOSITION THIS VISIT 

“ [Check all thaf app~] 

1 ❑ NO FOLLOW.UP PLANNEO 

acsua[ly 

2 ❑ RETURN AT SPECIFIEO TIME spent with 

physician] 

3 ❑ RETURN IF NEEDED, P.R.N. 

TELEPHONE FOUOWJJP 

4 ❑ PLANNEO 

5 ❑ REFERREo TO OTHER PHYSICIAN 

7 ❑ AOMIT TO HOSPITAL Minutes 

8 ❑ OTHER (SL=fl# 

. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRIN? 

for about 60 percent of all office visits visit rates, however, indicates that the 

and for a majority of the visits in each 

age group except the youngest. The 

annual visit rate was also higher for 

femaIes than for males in alI age 

groups except the youngest. For both 

sexes, the visit rates increased with 

age after 15 years of age. 

As noted earlier, the overall visit 

rate of 2.8 office visits per person for 

1989 is not statistically different from 

the rate for 1985 and prior years of 

2.7. An examination of age-specific 

rates for the oldest and youngest 

patents have increased (figure 3). 

From 1975 through 1989, the visit 

rate for patients 65 years of age and 

over increased from 4.3 to 5.Z and 

for patients under 15 years of age, it 

increased from 1.9 to 2.6 visits per 

year. Data for males and females 

separately show similar increases in 

visit rates for the youngest and oldest 

age groups. 

Visits by white persons accounted 

for about 85 percent of the office 

visits in 1989, a significantly smaller 

proportion of visits than the estimate 

of about 90 percent in 1985. Two 

factors account for some of this 

difference. First, the method of 

reporting race changed; the 1989 data 

shown in table 3 include an 

“unspecified” category that was not 

used in earlier NAMCS data. Prior to 

1989, unspecified responses to this 

item were randomly imputed a race 
Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 3 

Table 1. Number and percent distribution of Table 2. Number, percent distribution, and annual rate of office visits, by sex and age of 

office visits, by physician specialty and patienh United States, 1989 

professional identity: United States, 1989 

Number of Number of visits 

Number of visits in Percent per person 

Physician specialty and visits in Percent Sex and age thousands distribution per year’ 

pmfessiorrd iderrfity thousands distribution 

Allvis”b . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

Physician SpeCialty 

General and family 

practice . . . . . . . . . . 206,301 29.S 

Pediatrics . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 12.6 

internal medicine. . . . . . 78,816 11.4 

Obstetrics, and 

gynecology . . . . . . . . 58,381 8.4 

ophthalmology. . . . . . . 38,761 5.6 

Orthopedic surgery . . . . 35,148 5.1 

Darmatolcgy . . . . . . . . 26,319 3.8 

General surgery . . . . . . 25,379 3.7 

Psychiatry . . . . . . . . . . 16,616 2.4 

Otolaryngology. . . . . . . 15,956 2.3 

Cardiovascular disease. . 10,840 1.6 

Urological surgery. . . . . 10,157 1.5 

Neurology . . . . . . . . . . 6,105 0.9 

All other specialties . . . . 76,511 11.0 

Professional identi 

Doctor of medicine. . . . . 651,392 94.0 

Doctor of osteopathy . . . 47,310 6.0 

designation. Following that procedure 

in 1989 would have resulted in about 

87.5 percent of the visits being. 

accounted for by white persons. 

Second, the addition of AIaska and 

3.7% 3.s% 

NOTf2 GFP is general and famify practice 

IM Is internal medicine 

PED is pediatrics 

OBG is obstetrics and gynecology 

OPH is ophfhatmology 

ORS fe orthopedic surgery 

GS Is general surgery 

D is denrratifogy 

PSY is psychiatry 

OTO is otolaryngology 

Other is all other specialties 

Figure 2. Percent distribution of office 

visits by physician specialty: United States, 

1989 

Both sexes 

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 2.8 

Under 15years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137,502 19.9 2.6 

15-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66,6s6 9.7 1.9 

25-44 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192,593 27.8 2.4 

4W34yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145,160 21.0 3.1 

S5-74years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S3,692 12.1 4.7 

75yeara and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66,863 9.7 5.9 

Female 

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417,496 60.3 3.3 

Under 15years . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6s,130 9.4 2.5 

15-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,065 6.2 2.4 

25-14 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130,222 16.S 3.2 

45-64 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7,076 12.6 3.6 

65-74 yeara . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,560 7.2 5.0 

75yeare and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,435 6.1 5.9 

Male 

AJI ages..........,.,.....,.. . . . . . . 275,206 39.7 2.3 

Under 15years . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...’ j. . . . 72,364 10.4 2.6 

15-24 yeers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,ao3 3.4 1.4 

25-44 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,370 9.0 1.6 

45-84 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5s,084 8.4 2.6 

65-74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34,733 4.9 4.3 

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,453 3.5 6.6 

lRate~ are b=ed on e~mates Ofthe dvilisn noninatitutionafizedpopulationofthe United sts!es, as OfJUIY1! 19S9. 

Hawaii tothe1989 sample design 

contributed to both the decrease in 

the proportion of visits by white 

persons and the increase in the 

proportion of visits by Asians -and 

Pacific Islanders. The estimated 

2.7 percent of visits made by Asians 

and Pacific Islanders, shown in table 

3, is more than double the 1.2 percent 

found in 1985. 

Visit characteristics 

Prior vbit status-About 83 

percent of visits were by patients who 

had seen the physician before (table 

4). Furthermore, a majority of visits 

(61 percent) were made by patients 

who were returning for care of 

problems that had previously been, 

treated by the physician. These 

figures are substantially the same as 

those for 1985 and prior years of the 

NAMCS. 

Reason for visit – The data in 

tables 5 and 6 represent the principal 

reason for visiting the physician’s’ 

office as expressed by the patient or a 

patient surrogate. The principal 

reason is the problem, complaint, or 

reason listed first in item 9a of the 

Patient Record. These data have 

been classified and coded according 

to the Reason for Visit Classification 

for Ambulatory Care (RVC) (2). 

The RVC is divided into eight 

modules (or groups of reasons), as 

shown in table 5. Those reasons for 

visit classified as symptoms accounted 

for about 57 percent of all visits, with 

respirato~ and musculoskeletal 

symptoms each accounting for about 

11 percent of all visits. 

The 20 most common principal 

reasons for visit are shown in table 6 

and accounted for nearly 40 percent 

of all visits. Of these 20 reasons, 18 

also appeared in the list of the most 

Table 3. Number and percent distribution of 

office visits, by race: United States, 1989 

Number of 

visits in Percent 

Race thousands distribution 

All races . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

White .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587,976 84.9 

Another. . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,327 12.0 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,146 9.0 

Asian or Pacific Islander. . 18,948 2.7 

American Indian or 

Alaskan Native . . . . . . 2,233 0.3 

Unspecified . . . . . . . . . . . 21,399 3.1 
4 Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 

6 

m1975Kl 1960nInl19a5&j1962 

[ 

1% 

All ages Under 15 15-24 25-44 45-64 65 years 

years years years years and over 

Figure 3. Annual visit rate per person by patient age: United States, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 

frequent reasons for visit in 1981 and 

1985. 

Diagnostic and screening services– 

Information on various diagnostic and 

screening services that may be 

ordered or provided during an office 

visit is presented in table 7. The list 

of services included on the NAMCS 

Patient Record (item 12) is changed 

periodically to enable collection of 

data on a wide variety of tests and 

procedures. Services included for a 

particular survey year are determined 

by the needs expressed by data users, 

recommendations of advisors, and 

anticipated future health data needs. 

Some items in table 7 were new in 

Table 4. hfumberand percent distribution of 

office visits, by referral status and prior 

visit status: United States, 1989 

Number of 

Refem+l status and w“sifsin Percenf 

prior visit status thousands distribution 

Allvisits . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

Referral status 

Referred by another 

physician . . . . . . . 37,643 5.4 

Not referred by another 

physician . . . . . . . 655,059 94.6 

Prior visit status 

New patient , . . . . . . 114,655 16.6 

Old patient. . . , . . 577,847 83.4 

New problem, . . . . 155,640 22.5 

Old problem . . . . . 422,207 61.0 

the 1989 NAMCS. All other items 

were included in the NAMCS in 1985 

and/or prior survey years. Estimates 

of the percent of visits for those 

repeated categories are substantially 

the same as corresponding estimates 

in 1985. 

Among the new service categories 

are tests and procedures generally 

used for screening and early detection 

of disease. Noteworthy among these 

are breast palpation and 

mammograms ordered or provided at 

9.0 percent and 2.5 percent, 

respectively, of female visits. Digital 

rectal examinations were ordered or 

provided at 3.6 percent of visits and 

cholesterol measures also at 3.6 

percent of visits. 

Prh@al diagnosis – Data on the 

principal diagnosis rendered by the 

physician are presented in tables 8 

and 9. The principal diagnosis refers 

to the first-listed diagnosis in item 

10a of the Patient Record. These 

data were coded and classified 

according to the International 

Classification of Direases, 9th Revision, 

CZinical Modijkation (ICD-9-CM) 

(3). In tabIe 8, the diagnoses data are 

grouped into major disease categories 

as specified in the ICD-9-CM. The 

Supplementary Classification of the 

ICD-9-CM, which includes general 

medical, well child, and normal 

pregnaney exams, accounted for the 

largest proportion of visits (15.3 

percent). Diseases of the respiratory 

system represented the second largest 

proportion, with 13.7 percent of the 

visits. 

‘ The 20 most common diagnoses, 

listed in table 9 and categorized at 

the three-digit coding level of the 

Table 5. Numbar and percent distribution of office visits by patient’s principal reason for 

visit United Statea, 1989 

Number of 

w“sitain Percent 

Principal reason for visit and RVC code’ thousands distribution 

Atl visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

Symptom module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...5001-3999 394,876 57.0 

General symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... , . . . . . . . ..sooI-so99 46,493 6.7 

Symptoms referable to psychological and mental 

disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..sIoo-s1gg 16,060 2.6 

Symptoms referable to the nervous system 

(excluding sense organs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S200-S259 20,122 2.9 

Symptoms referable to the cardiovascular and 

Lymphatic aystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S26~299 4,057 0.6 

Symptoms referable to eyes and ears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5300-3399 47,493 6.9 

Symptoms referable to the respiratory system . . . . . . . . . . 8400-8499 76,662 11.1 

SyMptOmS referable to the digestive system . . . . . . . . . . . S50fj-.S639 31,544 4.6 

.@IptOtTrS referable to the genitourinary system. . . . . . . . . S640-6829 32,030 4.6 

Symptoms referable to the skin, nails, and hair. . . . . . . . . . S830-6899 43,240 6.2 

Symptoms referable to the musculoskeletal system. . . . . . . 5900-S999 75,156 10.9 

Disease module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. DOO1-D999 69,606 10.0 

Diagnostic, screening, and preventive module . . . . . . . . . . . X1 OO-X599 106,572 15.7 

Treatment module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..TIoc!-T8gg 64,487 9.3 

Injuries and adverse affects module , ..’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOO1-J999 25,583 3,7 

Teat resufta module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. RIoo-R700 7,527 1.1 

Administrative module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. AIoo-A140 6,326 1.2 

Otha# . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. U9U999999 13,725 2.0 

1Basedon “A RessonforVisitClassificationfor+lrnbulatoiyCare” (RVC),!4ta/srrdHedrh StsMics, Series 2, No. 78, Feb. 1979, 

zlnclude~ bjan~, pr~blern~, and complaints not elsetiere classified, entriesof ‘-none,”and illegibleentries. 

1989 
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 5 

Table 6. Number and percent distribution of office visits, by the 20 most common categories were new in the 1989 

principal reasons for vislk United States, 1989 IWMCS. Physicians were instructed to 

Number of check the appropriate eategory(ies) 

Rank 

Mast common principal reason for 

vMta in and RVC code’ 

n“aitsin 

thousands 

Percent 

disfribtion 

when the counseling was a “significant 

part of the visit” or when the patient 

General medi=l examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X1OO 27,909 4.0 was instructed to seek the sewice horn 

Cough . . . . . . . .( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S440 

Prenatal examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. X205 

~ 24,997 

24,056 

3.6 

3.5 another source. Cmmseliig concerning : 

Symptoms referable to the throat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S455 16,972 2.5 weight reduction (6.3 pereent of visits) 

Postoperative visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Tz135 

Well babyexamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..xI05 

Earache, orearinfecfion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..s355 

16,680 

14,831 

14,488 

2.4 

2.1 

2.1 

was the most frequent category listed. 

More common counseling topics, such 

Backsymptoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..sg05 

Skin rash................,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S860 

Stomach pain, cramps, andspaems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S545 

13,744 

12,325 

12,313 

2.0 

1.8 

1.8 

as xnedicd, social, and family counseling, 

were included in the “other” category 

Fever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..soIo 11 ,e34 1.7 (27.9 percent of visits). More detailed 

Vision dysfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..33o5 

Hypertension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. fj510 

Kneesymptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S925 

10,253 

10,055 

9,816 

1.5 

1.5 

1.4 

data in this area are being cdected in 

the 1991 NAMCS. 

Blood pressure test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..x320 

Headache, pairr in head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S210 

Headcold, upper respiratory infection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S4.45 

9,792 

9,609 

8,669 

1.4 

1.4 

1.3 

Ambulatory surgery was ordered 

or provided in 1,9 percent of visits, a 

Nasal congestion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..s400 8,647 1.2 significant decrease from the estimate 

Chest pain and related symptoms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S0S0 

Neck symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..sgoo 

All other reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

8,399 

8,112 

419,439 

1.2 

1.2 

60.6 

of 6.6 percent of visits in 1985. The 

reason for the decrease is not known 

lBasedon ''A ReasonforVst Ckssiflcafiontir%bulato~ Care'.(RVQ, Wta/8ndHe8/fhSi8tkficS,Seriea2, No.78, Feb. 197g. 

but is thcmght to be the result of a 

different interpretation of the 

Table 7. Number and percent of office visits, by diagnostic service and sex United Ststes, 

Diagnostic service 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Papteet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Pelvic exem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Breast palpationl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Mammogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Visual acuity, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Blood pressurecheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Urinalysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Chestxray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Di9ital recfalexamination1 .-. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Proctoscopy orsigmoidoscopy . . . . . . . . . . . 

Stool blood examination*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Oraiglucosetolerance’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Cholesterol measurel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

HIVseroIog/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Ofherbloodtest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

‘Categoryis newin the 1989 NAMCS. 

2HIV is humanimmunodefrciencyvirus. 

ICD-9-CM, accounted for35 percent 

of allvi?its. Essential hypertension 

was the most common diagnosis (asit 

wasin 1985and 1981), accounting for 

4 percent of all visits. Of the 20 

diagnoses listed in table 9, 18 also 

appeared in the list of the most 

frequent diagnoses in 1985. 

i’?zerapeuticservices-Selected types 

of therapy ordered or provided during 

the visit, including counseling and 

medications, are presented in table 10. 

These data are a summation of 

Number of 

vkita in Both 

thousands sexes Female Male 

Percent 

286,634 38.4 34.7 43.9 

32,788 4.7 7.8 

51,885 7.5 12.5 

37,928 5.5 9.0 0.1 

10,6S5 1.5 2.6 

45,192 6.5 5.9 7.5 

241,888 34.9 38.9 28.9 

87,716 12.7 14.8 9.4 

18,419 2.7 2.3 3.1 

25,071 3.6 4.1 3.0 

3,134 0.5 . 0.4 0.6 

15,576 2,2 2.4 2.1 

3,058 0.4 0.5 0.3 

24,828 3.6 3.6 3.5 

1,013 0.1 0.1 0.2 

86,210 12.7 13.1 12.1 

176,242 , 25.4 25.1 26.0 

information from items 13, 14, and 15 of 

the Patient Record. Medications 

(iicluding prescriptions and over-thecounter drugs, immunizations, and 

desensitizing agents) were utilized in 

60.2 percent of all office visit8. (More 

details on the medication data are 

presented below.) 

Counseling, broadly defined to 

include formal and informal counseling, 

advice, and patient education, was 

ordered or provided in about 

37.1 percent of the visits. The counseling 

question by the respondents rather 

than a real decline in the volume of 

ambulatory surgery. More detailed 

data on ambulatory surge~ are being 

edlected in the 1991 NAMCS, which 

may help explain these data. 

Medication therapy– In item 15 of 

the Patient Record, the physician was 

asked to “Record aI1 new or 

continued medicatioris ordered or 

provided at this visit. . . . Include 

immunizations and desensitizing 

agents.” As used in the NAMCS, the 

term “drug” is interchangeable with 

the term “medication,” and the term 

“prescribing” is used in the broad 

sense to mean ordering or providing 

any medication, either prescription or 

nonprescription. 

Data on the provision of 

medication by office-based physicians 

are highlighted in tables 11, 12, and 

13. Data on drug visits, visits during 

which at least one medication was 

provided or prescribed, are presented 

in table 11. As noted’ above, 

approximately 60 percent of all office 

visits resulted in the use of one or 

more drugs, chiefly for therapy but 

also as diagnostic or preventive 

agents. By special~, the percent of 

visits that were drug visits ranged 

from 82 percent for cardiovascular 

disease specialists to about 27 percent 

for orthopedic surgeons. 

1989 
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

6 Advance Data No. 203 ● July 1, 1991 

Table 8. Number and percent distribution of office visits, by principal diagnosk United Table 10. Number and percent of office 

States, 1989 visits by therapeutic service ordered or 

provided: United States, 1989 

Number of 

w“aitain Percent Number of 

Principal diagnosis and ICO-9-CM code’ tlzousamls distribution w“aitain 

therapeutic sem”ce thousands Percent 

‘Includes 

All diagnoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

Irrfectious andparasific diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .001-139 25,466 3.7 None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142,493 20.6 

Neoplasms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..140-23g 22,319 3.2 Medications’ . . . . . . . . . . 416,769 60.2 

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . 244,016 37.1 

and immunitydisorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...240-279 27,863 4.0 Weight reduction . . . . . . 43,853 6.3 

Menial disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..2xx319 25,386 3.7 Cholesterol reduction. . . . 21,533 3.1 

Diseases of thenervous system and sense organs . . ...320-389 74,557 10.8 Smoking cessation . . . . . 15,108 2.2 

Diseases of the circulatory system. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...390-459 56,014 8.1 HIVtransmission . . . . . . 1,044 

Diseases of the respiratory system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .460-519 94,593 13.7 Breast self exam. . . . . . . 15,779 2% 

Diseases of the digestive system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...520-579 26,743 3.9 Other counseling . . . . . . 193,272 27.9 

Diseases of the genitourinary system . . . . . . . . . . . . ..580-629 38,472 5.6 Psychotherapy . . . . . . . . . 22,182 3,2 

DseaSeS of the skin and subcutaneous tissue . . . . . . . . 660-70g 36,840 5.6 Corrective lenses. . . . . . . . 8,572 1.2 

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system Ambulatory aurgery . . . . . . 13,095 1.9 

and connective tissue ...,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...710-739 47,906 6.9 Physiotherapy. . . . . . . . . . 16,204 2.3 

Symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions . . . . . . . ...760-799 26,883 4.2 Other therapeutic senrice. . . 78,797 11.4 

Injury and poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..800-9W 55,936 6.1 

Supplementary classification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vr31-V82 

Another diagnosesz, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

105,S42 

11,210 

15.3 

1.6 

‘Includes prescription d!uga, Over-the.counter medica!lona, 

immunizations,and so forth. 

Unknown diagnoses3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,073 1.9 zper~nt based on famale visits On!Y. 

‘Based on the /nfemationa/ C/assikationo fDiseases,9 rhRewsion, C/inimf Modifi@fion (lC&WM). 

diseases of the blood and blood-forming organa (2&l-289); complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and tha puerperium application in more than one 

(630-676): congenital anomalies (74G759); and cerlsin conditions originating In the perinatal period (760-779). therapeutic category. In that event, 

3[ncludes bl~k diagnoses, nonwdable diagnoses, and illegible tia9n0ses. each drug was assigned to the 

category for which it is most 

frequently prescribed. Table 9. Number and percent distribution of office visits, by the 20 most common Antimicrobial agents constitute principal diagnoses: United States, 1989 

the largest therapeutic class, 

Number 

Rank and ICD-9-CM code thouaanda distribution mentions. More than a third of these 

Total . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

are from the penicillin group. 

Cardiovascular-renal and pain-relief 

Essential hypertension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..4oI 

Nonmalpregnancy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..V22 

General medical examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..v7o 

27,708 

23,578 

20,166 

4.0 

3.4 

2.9 

drugs were also prominent, with 14.9 

and 10.7 percent, respectively, of the 

.%ppurative andunspecified otitis media. . . . . . . . . . . . ..362 20,033 2.9 total mentions. More than a third of 

Acute respiratory infections ofmultiple or unspecified sites. . . . 465 

Health supervision ofinfant or child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .V20 

15,765 

15,669 

2.3 

2.3 the. cardiovascular drugs are 

Diabetes melliius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..25o 13,237 1.9 antihypertensive agents, and nearly 

Aflergic rhinitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...477 

Bronchitis, notspecified asacute orchronic. . . . . . . . . . ...490 

Acute pharyngitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...462 

11,631 

11,160 

10,956 

1.7 

1.6 

1.6 

half of the pain-relief drugs are 

antiarthritics. 

Chronicsinusitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...473 

Neuroticdisordere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..3oo 

Diseases ofsebaceous glands... . .,...............706 

8,700 

6,511 

6,146 

1.3 

1.2 

1.2 

The 20 generic substances most 

frequently provided or prescribed in 

Disorders of refraction and accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . 367 7,666 1.1 office visits are shown in table 13. In 

Spraine and strains ofbackexcept sacroiliac . . . . . . . . . ...647 7,614 1.1 this table, drug products containing 

Most common principal dia~nosis visita in

of 

Percent accounting for 16.7 percent of drug 

Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493 6,822 1.0 

77 Contact dermatMsandothereczema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692 6,542 0.9 more than one ingredient (combination 18 Cataract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...366 6,335 0.9 products) are included in the data for 19 Osteoarthrosis and allied disorders . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . ...715 6,259 0.9 

20 Chronic ischemic heart disease except angina pecroris. . . ...414 5,712 0.6 each ingredient. For example, 

All other reasons.........,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450,469 65.0 acetaminophen with codeine is 

'Baaed onthe/ntemafion8/ Classifi~fion of Oise~es, 9ti Rewsion, C/inica/Ma5irication (lCD-S-CM). included in both the count for 

acetaminophen and the count for 

Data on the number and percent every visit at which medication(s) was codeine. 

ofdrug mentions, that is, the total prescribed. The NAMCS drug data base 

number of medications listed in item Total drug mentions are permits classification by such 

150 fthe Patient Record, are also distributed according to major variables as specific product name; 

presented in tables 11, 12, and 13. therapeutic class in table 12. This generic class; entry form chosen by 

During office visits, there were about classifications adapted from the the, physician, that is, brand name, 

730.8 million drug mentions in 1989, therapeutic categories of the National generic name, or the desired therapeutic 

an average of 1.1 drug mentions for Drug Code, 1982 (4). It should be effect prescription status, that is, 

every visit or 1.8 drug mentions for noted that some drugs may have prescription or nonprescription 

federaIly controlled substance statuy 
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 7 

Table 11. Number and percent distribution of drug visits and drug mentions, by physician Table 14. Number and percent of office 

specialty United States, 1989 visits, by disposition: United States, 1989 

Number of Number of Percent Mrmber of 

drug visits Percent drug mentions Percent drug 

Physician specia/fy in fhou.sandsl distribution in Utouaands distribution visit# 

All specialties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416,789 100.0 730,756 100.0 60.2 

General and family practice . . . . . . . . 145,947 35.0 258.914 35.4 70.7 

Internal medicine.........,.. . . . 59,412 14.3 125,641 17.2 75.4 

Pediatrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5a,673 14.1 64,514 lf.6 67.1 

Obstetrics and gynecology. . . . . . . . . 25,989 6.2 34,736 4.8 44.5 

Dermatology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,261 4.1 32,237 4.4 65.6 

Ophthalmology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,462 3.7 23,896 3.3 39.9 

Orthopedic surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,628 2.3 12,587 1.7 27.4 

Cardiovascular disease. . . . . . . . . . . 8,891 2.1 25,585 3.5 82.0 

General surgery.....,.....,.. . 8,434 2.0 15,249 2.1 33.2 

Psychiatry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,119 1.9 13,351 1.8 48.9 

Otola~ngology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,861 1.9 12,601 1.7 49.3 

Urological surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,331 1.0 5,804 0.8 42.6 

Neurology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,676 0.9 6,578 0.9 60.2 

All other specialties . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,123 10.3 79,0s3 10.8 56.4 

‘Vkits at which one or more drugs ware prescribed, 

2Number of dmg ~s~ ~tided by “umberof officevisitsmuRipIiecIby 100. 

Table 12. Number and percent distribution Table 13. Number and percent of drug 

of drug mentions, by therapeutic mentions for the 20 most frequently used 

classificatiotx United States, 1989 generic substances: United States, 1989 

Number of Numberof Percent 

mentionsin Percent mentionsin oftotsi 

Therapeutic class’ thousands distribution Rank Generic substanceg thousandsl mentions 

Total mentions . . . . . . . . 730,756 100.0 

Antimicrobial . . . . . . . . . 122,046 16.7 

Cardiovascular-renal . . . . 109,235 14.9 

Pain relief . . . . . . . . . . . 78,216 10.7 

Respiratory tract . . . . . . . 71,564 9.8 

Hormones and related 

,agente . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,577 8.7 

Demtatologic . . . . . . . . . 47,960 6.6 

Psychopharmacologic . . . 38,236 5.2 

Metabolic and nutrient . . . 31,770 4.3 

Gastrointestinal . . . . . . . 29,770 4.1 

Ophthalmic . . . . . . . . . . 25,674 3.5 

Immunologic . . . . . . . . . 19,408 2.7 

Necrologic . . . . . . . . . . 14,118 1.9 

Hemotologic. . . . . . . . . . 10,114 1.4 

Other and unclassified . . . 69,04a 9.4 

‘Therapeutic class based onthes!andard drug classification 

used in the Na/ion8/ Dmg Ctie Direcfo~, 7982 EtMwr. 

composition status, that is, single or 

multiple ingredient; and therapeutic 

categoxy. A report that describes the 

method and instruments used to coIlect 

and process drug information for the 

NAMCS has been published (5). 

Future reports will present detailed 

drug data from the 1989 NAMCS. 

Disposition –Data on the visit 

disposition show that the majority of 

office visits involved some type of 

schedtiled followup (table 14). For 

about 65 percent of the visits, a return 

visit or telephone foIlowup was 

planned. Only 1 percent of the office 

visits resulted in admission to a 

hospital. 

Amoxicillin . . . . . . . . . 34,851 4.8 

Acetarrrinophen. . . . . . 23,760 3.3 

Erythromycin . . . . . . . 19,588 2.7 

Hydrochlorothiazide . . . 15,889 2.2 

Codeine . . . . . . . . . . 12,118 1.7 

Phenylephnne . . . . . . 11,638 1.6 

Ibuprofen . . . . . . . . . 11,568 1.6 

Aspirin . . . . . . . . . . . 10,916 1.5 

Phenylpropanolamine. . 10,641 1.5 

Trimethopnm . . . . . . . 10,302 1.4 

Naproxen . . . . . . . . . 10,295 1.4 

Sulfamethox.szole . . . . 10,201 1.4 

Furosemide. . . . . . . . 9,970 1.4 

Dioxin . . . . . . . . . . . 9,227 1.3 

Estradiol . . . . . . . . . . 9,051 1.2 

Chlorpheniramine . . . . 8,896 1.2 

Riboflavin . . . . . . . . . 8,878 1.2 

Viiamin.A . . . . . . . . . . 8,859 1.2 

Theophyliine . . . . . . . 8,776 1.2 

Ergocalciferol. . . . . . . 8,347 1.1 

‘Frequency of mention combines single-ingredient agenta with 

mentions of the sgent aa an ingredient in a combination drug. 

Duration of visit– Duration of 

visit refers to the amount of time a 

physician spent in face-to-face contact 

with a patient. This time is estimated 

and recorded by the physician and 

does not include time spent waiting 

to see the physician, time spent 

receiving care from someone other 

than the physician without the 

presence of the physician, or time 

spent by the physician in reviewing 

records and test results. In cases 

where the patient received care from 

a member of the physician’s staff, but 

did not actually see the physician 

visits in 

Disposition thousands Percent 

No followup planned . . . . . 66,377 9.6 

Return at specified time . . . 424,563 61.3 

Return if needed . . . . . . . . 160,282 23.1 

Telephone followup 

planned . . . . . . . . . ...” 24,962 3.6 

Referred to other physician . 20,071 2.9 

Returned to referring 

physician . . . . . . . . . . . 6,139 0.9 

Admit to hospital. . . . . . . . 7,163 1.0 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,536 2.2 

Table 15. Number and percent distribution 

of office visits, by duration of visik United 

States, 1989 

Number of 

visits in Percent 

Duration thousands distribution 

All durations. . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

O minutes’ . . . . . . . . . 15,464 2.2 

l-5 minutes. . . . . . . . 65,153 9.4 

6-10 minutea . . . . . . . 191,103 27.6 

11-15 minutes . . . . . . 215,017 31.0 

18-30 minutes . . . . . . 164,845 23.8 

31 minutes and over . . 41,100 5.9 

Mean duration: 15.9 minutes 

t Representa offica visits in which !here was no face-lo-face 

contact between the patient and the physician. 

during the visit, the duration of visit 

was recorded as “zero” minutes. 

Some 70 percent of the visits had a 

duration of 15 minutes or less (table 

15). The mean duration of all visits 

was 15.9 minutes. 

More detailed 1989 NAMCS data 

are forthcoming in the Wal and 

Health Statistics series. In addition, 

survey data wiII be avaiIable on 

computer tape from the National 

Technical Information Service at a 

nominal cost about July 1991. 

Questicm regarding.this report, 

future reports, or the NAMCS may 

be directed to the Ambulatory Care 

Statistics Branch by calling (301) 

436-7132. 

References 

1. Nelson C, McLemore T. The National 

Arnbulatow Medical Care Survey, 

United States, 1975-81 and 1985 

trends. National Center for Health 

Statistics. Vital Health Stat 13(93). 

1988. 

2. Schneider D, Appleton”L, McLemore 

T. A reason for visit classification for 
8 Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 

3. 

4. 

5. 

ambulatory care. National Center for 

Health Statistics. ”Vital Health Stat 

2(78), 1979. 

Public Health Service and Health 

Care Financing Administration. 

International Classification of 

Diseases, 9th Revision, clinical 

modification. Washington: Public 

Health Service. 1980. 

Food and Drug Administration. 

National Drug Code Directoty, 1982 

Edition. Washington: Public Health 

Service. 1982. 

Koch H, Campbell W. The collection 

and processing of drug information. 

National Ambulatory Medical Care 

Survey, United States, 1980. National 

Center for Health Statistics. Vital 

Health Stat 2(90). 1982. 
Advance Data No; 203 ● July 1, 1991 

Technical notes 

Source of data and sample 

design 

The information presented in this 

report is based on data collected by 

means of the National Ambulatory 

Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 

March 20, 1989, through March 18, 

1990. The target universe of NA!!CS 

includes office visits made in the 

United States by ambulatory patients 

to nonfederally employed physicians 

who are principally engaged in oftlce 

practice but not in the specialties of 

anesthesiology, pathology, or 

radiology. Telephone contacts and 

nonoffice visits are excluded. 

A multistage probability sample 

design is used in NAMCS, invohing 

samples of primary sampling units 

(PSU’S), physician practices within 

PSU’S, and patient visits within 

physician practices. FOT 1989, a 

sample of 2,535 non-Federal, officebased physicians was selected from 

master files maintained by the 

.knerican Medical Association and 

Anerican Osteopathic Association. 

The physician response rate for the 

1989 NAMCS was 74 percent. Sample 

physicians were asked to complete 

Patient Records (see figure 1) for a 

systematic random sample of office 

visits occurring during a randomly 

assigned l-week reporting period. 

Responding physicians completed 

38,384 Patient Records. 

Characteristics of the physician’s 

practice, such as primary special~ 

and type of practice, were obtained 

from the physicians during an 

induction interview. The U.S. Bureau 

of the Census, Housing Surveys 

Branch, was responsible for the 

suxvey’s data collection. Processing 

operations and medical coding were 

performed by the National Center for 

Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge 

and Ambulatory Care Survey Section, 

Research Triangle Park, North 

Carolina. 

Sampling errors 

The standard error is primarily a 

measure of the sampling variability 

Table L Provisional relative standard errors 

for estimated numbers of office visits: 

Nationai Ambulatory Medicai Care Suwey, 

1989 

Estimated number of offise Relative standard 

visits in tfroussnds error in percent 

200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.3 

500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.3 

875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.0 

1,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.2 

2,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.5 

5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.7 

10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4 

20,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3 

50,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 

100,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 

600,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 

Example of use of tsbkx An aggregate estimate of 50 milfion 

visits has a relative standard error of 5.6 percentor a standard 

error of 2.8 million visits (5.6 percent of 50 million). 

that occurs by chance when only a 

sample, rather than an entire 

universe, is surveyed. The relative 

standard error of an estimate is 

obtained by dividing the standard 

error by the estimate itself; the result 

is then expressed as a percent of the 

estimate. Approximate relative 

standard errors of selected aggregate 

statistics are shown in table I, and the 

standard errors for estimated percent 

of visits are shown in table II. 

Standard errors for estimates of drug 

mentions will be included in future 

reports. 

Adjustments for nonresponse 

Estimates from NAMCS data 

were adjusted to account for sample 

physicians who were in scope but who 

did not participate in the study. This 

adjustment was “calculated to 

minimize the impact of response on 

9 

final estimates by imputing to 

nonresponding physicians data from 

visits to similar physicians. For this 

purpose, physicians were judged 

similar” if they had the same specialty 

designation and practiced in the same 

Psu. 

Test of significance and 

rounding 

In this report, the determination 

of statistical significance is based on a 

two-sided t-test with a critical value of 

1.96 (0.05 level of confidence). Terms 

relating to difference, such as 

“greater than” or “less than,” 

indicate that the difference is 

statistically significant. In the tables, 

estimates of office visits have been 

rounded to the nearest thousand. 

Consequently, estimates will not 

always add to totals. Rates and 

percents were calculated from 

original unrounded figures and do not 

necessarily agree with percents 

calculated from rounded data. 

Definition of terms 

Ambulatory patient–An 

ambulatory patient is an individual 

seeking personal health services who 

is not currently admitted to any 

health care institution on the 

premises. 

Physician-A physician is a duly 

licensed doctor of medicine (M.D.) or 

doctor of osteopathy @.O.) who is 

currently in office-based practice and 

who spends some time caring for 

ambulatory patients. Excluded ffom 

Table il. Provisional standard errors for percents of estimated numbers of office visits: 

Nationai Ambulatory Medicai Care Suwey, 1989 

Estimated percent 

8ase of percent 

(visita in ffrousands) 1 or 99 5 or 95 10 or90 20 or 80 30 or 70 50 

Standard error in percentage points 

200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 13.s 20.1 30.1 39.4 60.2 

500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.8 6.7 12.7. 19.0 24.9 36.1 

1,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 8.2 9.0 13.5 17.6 26.9 

2,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 4.4 6.3 9.5 12.5 19.0 

5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 2.8 4.0 6.0 7.9 12.0 

10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 2.0 2.8 4.3 5.6 8.5 

20,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.0 3.9 6.0 

50,000 . . . . . ... . . . . . . 0.4 0.9 1.3 1.9 2.5 3.8 

100,000. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.3 1.8 2.7 

600,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.1 

Esample of use of labk An estimate of 20 percent based on an aggregate estimata of 50 million visits has a standard arror of 1.9 

parcent or a relative standard error of 9.5 percent (1.9 percent divided by 20 percanl). 
10 Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 

the NANICS are physicians who are 

hospital based; who specialize in 

anesthesiology, pathology, or radiolo~, 

who are federally employed; who treat 

only institutionalized patients; or who 

are employed full time by an 

institution and spend no time seeing 

ambulatory patients. 

Ojlce – Offices are the premises 

physicians identifi as locations for 

their ambulato~ practice; these 

customarily include consultation, 

examination, or treatment spaces that 

the patients associate with the 

particular physician. 

VW-A visit is a direct personal 

excha,nge between an ambulatory 

patient and a physician (or a staff 

member working under the 

physician-s supemision), for the 

purpose of seeking care and 

rendering personal health services. 

Drug mention – A drug mention 

the physician’s entry of a 

pharmaceutical agent – by any route 

of administration – for prevention, 

diagnosis, or treatment. Generic as 

well as brand-name drugs are 

is 

included, as are nonprescription and 

prescription drugs. Along with all new 

drugs, the physician also records 

continued medications if the patient 

was specifically instructed during the 

visit to continue the medication. 

Drug risit – A drug visit is a visit 

in which medication was prescribed 

or provided by the physician. 
Advance Data No. 203. July 1, 1991 11 

Symbols 

-–- Data not available 

. . . Category not applicable 

Quantity zero 

0.0 Quantity more than zero 

than 0.05 

z Quantity more than zero 

than 500 where numbers 

rounded to thousands 

* 

but less 

but less 

are 

Figure does not meet standard of 

reliability or precision (estimate has 

relative standard error of more 

than 30 percent) 

# Figure suppressed to comply with 

confidentiality requirements 
12 Advance Data No. 203. 

Suggested citation 

DeLozier JE, Gagnon RO. 1989 Summary 

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. 

Advance data from vital and health statistics; 

no. 203. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center 

for Health Statistics. 1991. 

July 1,1991 

Copyright Information 

This report may be reprinted without further 

permission. 
Number 204 . JUIV 1, 1991 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

AIDS KnowledgeandAttitudes forOctober–December 1990 

Provisional Data From the National Health Interview Survey 

by Ann M. Hardy, Dr.P.H., Division of Health Interview Statistics 

Introduction 

The National Center for Health 

Statistics has included questions 

about acquired immunodeficiency 

syndrome (AIDS) in the National 

Health Interview Survey (NHIS) since 

1987. Data concerning the adult 

population’s knowledge and attitudes 

about AIDS and transmission of the 

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 

are collected to assist in the planning 

of educational programs. Since the 

initiation of the NHIS AIDS survey, 

its scope has widened to include more 

questions on HIV testing and blood 

donation experience. In addition, the 

survey also assesses self-perceived risk 

of becoming ‘infected with HIV, and 

includes a general risk behavior 

question similar to that asked by the 

Red Cross of potential blood donors. 

Information on the NHIS AIDS 

survey sample is contained in the 

Technical notes at the end of this 

report. 

The first AJDS Knowledge and 

Attitudes Survey was in the field from 

August through December 1987. 

Provisional results of that survey were 

published monthly in Advance Data 

ssmcc$.o #’+ 

From Utal and Health Statkcs (Nos. 

146, 148, 150, 151, and 153). Du~ing 

the first 4 months of 1988, the 

questiotmaire was revised to meet 

program needs at that time. The 

revised AIDS Knowledge and 

Attitudes Sumey entered the field in 

May 1988. Provisional findings for the 

remainder of 1988 were published 

periodically (Advance Data From 14tal 

and Health Statistics Nos. 160, 161, 

163, 164, 167, and 175); in addition, 

two speeial reports with a focus on 

minority populations were published 

from the 1988 data (AdvanceData 

From Mtal and Health Statistics 

Nos. 165 and 166). 

The 1988 AIDS questionnaire 

was used without modification 

throughout 1989, and results were 

published on a quarterly basis 

(Advance Data From Etal and Health 

Statistics Nos. 176, 179, 183, and 186). 

For 1990 the AIDS questionnaire was 

revised again, with added emphasis 

on HIV testing procedures and on 

the distinction between testing in 

connection with blood donation and 

for other reasons. Provisional survey 

findings have been published on a 

quarterly basis in Advance Data From 

P7taland Health Statistics Nos. 193, 

195, and 198. 

The NHIS AIDS questionnaires 

are developed by the National Center 

for Health Statistics and an 

Interagency Task Force created by 

the Public Health Service Health 

Data Policy Committee. The Task 

Force included representatives from 

the Centers for Disease Control; 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for 

Healt& National AIDS Program 

OffictZ National Institutes of Health; 

Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental 

Health Administration; Food and 

Drug Administration; and Health 

Resources and Semites 

Administration. 

The Advance Data reports 

describing the NHIS AIDS data have 

been restricted to simple descriptive 

statistics to facilitate their timely 

release. Thus, these reports do not 

attempt to explain or interpret 

differences among population 

subgroups or to examine relationships 

among various measures of 

knowledge and behavior. The NHIS 

AIDS data bases permit more 

complex analyses than those 

.+~ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

$ Public Health Service 

> Centers for Disease Control 

%%. % %na >

# 

Manning 

National 

Feinleib, 

Center 

M.

for 

D., 

Health 

Dr. P.

Statistics 

H., Director 

CDC
2 Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 

presented in this series of Advance 

Data reports, and further exploration 

of the data is encouraged. Public use 

data tapes of the 1987, 1988, and 

1?89 AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes 

Surveys are available at this time. 

This report presents provisional 

data for October–December 1990 for 

most items included in the NHIS 

AIDS questionnaire. Table 1 displays 

percent distributions of persons 18 

years of age and over by response 

categories, according to age, sex, race 

and ethnicity, and education. In most 

cases, the actual questions asked of 

the respondents are reproduced 

verbatim in table 1 along with the 

coded response categories. In a few 

cases, questions or response 

categories have been rephrased or 

combined for clearer or more concise 

presentation of results. Refusals and 

other nonresponse categories 

(generally less than 1 percent of total 

responses) are excluded from the 

denominator in the calculation of 

estimates, but responses of “don’t 

know” are included. The NHIS AIDS 

questionnaire uses the phrase “the 

AIDS virus” rather than “HIV,” 

because it is felt to be more widely 

recognized and understood, In this 

report the two terms are used 

synonymously. 

The population subgroups used in 

presenting the 1990 NHIS AIDS data 

differ from those used in previous 

reports. In reports based on the 

1987-89 surveys, two racial categories 

were shown -white and black. The 

1990 reports show three categories 

that reflect both race and ethnic 

origin —non-Hispanic white, 

non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic. 

This change, which reflects the 

increasing demand for information 

about the Hispanic population, means 

that estimates by race cannot be 

compared directly between the 1990 

and earlier NHIS AIDS Advance 

Data reports. In addition, the 

revisions in the questionnaire, 

whether in actual wording or in 

context and location of questions, 

must be considered when interpreting 

trend data. 

Selected findings 

The following highlights describe 

survey results of the NHIS AIDS 

Knowledge and Attitudes Survey for 

the period October-December 199Q 

comparisons with earlier quarters are 

also made. Unless otherwise noted in 

the text, all measures described 

remained stable over the 3-month 

period. All differences cited in the 

text are statistically significant at the 

.05 level. Table II shows provisional 

estimates of the standard errors 

associated with these results. 

Information and communicatwn 

about ADS —In the last quarter of 

1990, 87 percent of adults stated that 

they had received information about 

AIDS from at least one source in the 

month preceding the NHIS AIDS 

survey. The most frequently cited 

sources of information were television 

(cited by 75 percent of adults), 

newspapers and magazines (50 and 

41 percent, respectively), radio 

(28 percent), and health department 

brochures (16 percent). While the 

actual proportion of adults who 

mentioned these sources varied 

among sociodemographic groups, the 

ranking of these sources was the same 

in all subgroups. This rank ordering 

also remained the same throughout 

1990. 

In the fourth quarter of 1990, 

69 percent of persons with children 

aged 10-17 years reported ever 

discussing AIDS with them. Females 

mOctober-Oecember 1990 October-December 1989 N 

Any person with the AIDS virus can pass it on AIDS is an infectious disease 

to someone else through sexual intercourse caused by a virus 

7 69 

A pregnant woman who has the AIDS 

virus can give it to her baby 

8s 

62 

Al DS can reduce the body’s natural 

protection against disease 

78 

75 

L I I 1 I 

o 20 40 60 80 

Figure 1. Provisional estimates of percent of adults 

December 1990. 

A person can be infected with the AIDS 

virus and not have the disease AIDS 

66 

AIDS can damage the brain 

44 

27 

w,, , 

I 

100 0 20 40 60 80 100 

repotingthatselected statements are definitely true: United States, October-

-,.__. . . 
Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 3 

were more likely to report having 

discussed AIDS with their children 

than males (78 percent compared 

with 58 percent). Non-Hispanic white 

and black parents were also more 

likely than Hispanic parents to have 

had discussions with their children 

(71 and 73 percent, respectively, 

compared with 53 percent). The 

percent of parents discussing AIDS 

with their children also increased with 

years of education. Seventy-four 

percent of parents also reported that 

their children received instruction 

about AIDS in school. These figures 

are similar to those for the first three 

quarters of 1990 but are slightly 

higher than those reported for the 

last quarter of 1989. 

GeneralAIDS knowledge– Selfassessed knowledge about AIDS 

remained stable throughout 1990. In 

October-December 1990, 19 percent 

of adults stated they knew a lot about 

AIDS, 46 percent said they knew 

some, 25 percent claimed a little 

knowledge, and 10 percent stated 

they knew nothing about AIDS. This 

represents a slight decline in selfassessed levels of knowledge from 

that reported in 1989. The percent 

reporting a lot of knowledge declined 

5 percentage points from the fourth 

quarter of 1989 to the fourth quarter 

of 1990, while the percent with no 

knowledge increased 3 percentage 

points over the same period. It is 

unclear if this shift is a result of an 

actual decrease in perceived 

knowledge or because of a change in 

the location of this question in the 

1990 survey. 

Objective measures of AIDS 

knowledge in the NHIS suwey 

showed an increase for most 

questions between the fourth quarter 

of 1989 and the fourth quarter of 

1990. Figure 1 ilhxstrates specific 

areas in which gains were noted. “The 

proportion of aduIts who said it was 

definitely true that AIDS can damage 

the brain increased 17 percentage 

points from 1989 to 1990. Increases in 

the percent of adults with the correct 

definitive responses for other 

questions were not as large and 

ranged from 3 to 8 percentage points. 

A decrease in the percent of 

adults with the correct definitive 

response was noted in 1990 for one 

question. In the fourth quarter of 

1989,75 percent of adults recognized 

that it was definitely false that there 

is a vaccine for AIDS. By the first 

quarter of 1990, this had decreased to 

68 percent and remained at this 

lower level throughout 1990. 

The changes in knowledge noted 

in 1990 were apparent in all” 

sociodemographic groups examined. 

As in previous months, the 

proportions with the correct 

responses to the general AIDS 

knowledge questions did vary by 

sociodemographic factors. In general, 

adtdts less than 50 years of age were 

more knowledgeable than those 50 

years of age and older and those with 

less than 12 years of education were 

less knowledgeable than those with 12 

or more years of school. 

Two new questionnaire items 

were added to the general knowledge 

section in the 1990 survey. The first 

assessed whether respondents had 

heard the AIDS virus called “HIV.” 

The percent ,of adults who were 

familiar with this term increased from 

67 percent in the first quarter to 

79 percent in.the fourth quarter. 

Increases were noted in all the 

various sociodemographic groups. 

However, groups who continued to 

show less familiari~ with the term 

WIN” included those with less than 

12 years of education and Hispanic 

adults (57 and 61 percent familiar 

with this term, respectively). 

Another new “question 

ascertained responses to the 

statement that there are drugs 

available which can extend the life of 

HIV-infected persons. AMof OctoberDecember 1990, 45 percent of adults 

stated that this was definitely true, a 

figure similar to those for the earlier 

quarters in 1990. 

Misperceptionsabout HW 

transmission–The N13S AIDS 

questionnaire asked respondents to 

estimate the risk of HIV transmission 

associated with several forms of 

casual contact with infected or 

potentially infected individuals, such 

as working with someone with AIDS, 

using pubiic toilets, and so forth. 

Respondents were offered five 

response options for the likelihood of 

transmission: very likely, somewhat 

likely, somewhat unlikely, very 

unlikely, and definitely not possible. 

Both “very unlikely” and “definitely 

not possible” were interpreted as 

correct responses, even for forms of 

contact where our current 

understanding of the virus indicates 

that there definitely is no possibility 

of transmission. The decision to 

accept “very unlikely” as correct was 

based on the large numbers of 

respondents who chose that option, 

seemingly unwilling to commit 

themselves to the concept of a zero 

probability. 

Despite the generaI1yhigh levels 

of understanding about AIDS, 

particularly about the three major 

modes of transmission, misperceptions about the likelihood of 

transmission through casual contact 

persist. The percent of adults who 

assessed the risk associated with the 

various forms of contact in this 

section of the survey as “very 

unlikeIy” or “definitely not possible” 

remained stable throughout 1990. 

These percents varied from less than 

half of adults who believed that 

transmission via insects, being 

coughed or sneezed on, and sharing 

eating utensils was not possible or 

very unlikely to three-fourths or more 

of adults for contact with infected 

individuals at work or school. 

In general, misperceptions about 

HIV transmission varied by the same 

sociodemographic factors as general 

knowledge about AIDS. In particular, 

adults 50 years of age and over and 

those with fewer than 12 years of 

education were more likely than 

younger and more educated adults to 

be misinformed. Anong these less 

informed population subgroups, the 

smaller proportion who correctly 

identified the low level of risk 

associated with casual contact was 

usually due to a larger proportion of 

these groups being unsure about 

these forms of transmission rather 

than to a larger percent believing 

they were likely modes of HIV 

transmission. 

Blood donation and testing– As in 

the past, 40 percent of adults (2 of 

every 5) reported ever donating, 

blood, 16 percent (1 in 6) donated 
4 Advance Data No. 204. Julv 1.1991 

since JMarch 1985 when blood antibody test was focused (58 percent 

donations were first routinely required and 40 percent voluntary in 

screened for antibodies to HIV, and the last quarter of 1990 compared 

7 percent (1 in 14 adults) had with 52 percent and 47 percent in 

donated in the preceding year. Of the first quarter). 

those who had given blood since Hospitalization or surgery was 

March 1985, 70 percent had donated most often cited as the reason for 

more than once and 3 percent required testing (mentioned by 

indicated a desire to be tested for 12 percent of those tested overall and 

HIV as one reason for their donation. 24 percent of those 50 years of age 

Seventy-nine percent of U.S. and older who were tested). After 

adults had heard of the blood test to this, the most commonly mentioned 

detect HIV antibodies. This percent reasons for required HIV testing were 

remained unchanged throughout 1990 military induction or service (reported 

but was a slight percentage increase by 11 percent of all persons tested 

over that reported in 1989. Sixty-eight and 18 percent of those 18-29 years) 

percent of all adults in October- and life insurance (mentioned by 

December 1990 were aware that 10 percent). Overall, 5 percent of all 

blood donations are routinely adults tested cited immigration as the 

screened for HIV antibodies and reason for required testing. However, 

47 percent felt that the present this reason was given by 34 percent 

supply of blood was safe. of Hispanic adults and was by far the 

Excluding testing performed in most common reason for required 

conjunction with blood donation, testing in this group. 

11 percent of U.S. adults (1 of every The most commonly reported 

9) reported having had their blood place for the Iast HIV antibody test 

tested for HIV antibodies. When was at a doctor’s office or HMO 

including testing done as part of (listed by 33 percent of those tested), 

blood donation, an estimated Almost a fourth (24 percent) were 

26 percent of the adult population tested at a hospital, emergency room, 

had been tested for HIV antibodies or outpatient clinic, another 

as of the last quarter of 1990. This 10 percent were tested at a milita~ 

figure is sIightly higher than the induction site, and 7 percent at 

estimate of 23 percent tested by all public health departments. 

means reported in the first two As of October–December 1990, 

quarters of 1990. 43 percent of those tested reported 

The remainder of this section of receiving counseling about AIDS and 

the report deals only with HIV the meaning of the test before being 

antibody testing exclusive of blood tested. This represents a slight 

donation. As in previous quarters in increase from January-March 1990 

1990, testing was more common (38 percent). The proportion of 

among those under 50 years of age tested aduIts who reported in the 

(14-16 percent) than among older fourth quarter that they had received 

adults (2 percent) and more common the results of their HIV test 

among black non-Hispanic adults (78 percent) was similar to figures 

(15 percent) and Hispanic adults reported in earlier quarters. Of those 

(16 percent) than among white who got their results, less than 

non-Hispanic persons (10 percent). one-third (31 percent) reported ak+o 

During October-December 1990, being given counseling about risk 

56 percent of those tested stated the reduction or prevention of HIV 

tests were required, 39 percent had transmission. Sixty-one percent of 

voluntary testing, and 4 percent had those who got their results received 

some voluntary and some required them in person and most 

tests. The percent reporting required (90 percent) felt their results were 

testing increased, while the percent handled properly in terms of 

with voluntary tests decreased in the confidentiality. 

last quarter compared with previous Seven percent of U.S. adults 

quarters in 1990. This shift was also reported that they plan to be tested 

seen when the most recent HIV for HIV “antibodies in the next 12 

months, according to the NHIS AIDS 

data for October-December 1990. 

This figure is essentially unchanged 

from figures reported in the past. The 

proportion with future plans for 

testing varied by age and race and 

ethnicity in much the same way that 

the proportion who had been tested 

varied. Eleven percent of those 18-29 

years of age and 8 percent of those 

30-49 years of age indicated that they 

plan to be tested, while only 

2 percent of those 50 years of age 

and older reported such plans. 

Among non-Hispanic black adults, 

16 percent plan to be tested 

compared with 9 percent of Hispanic 

and 5 percent of white non-Hispanic 

adults. 

Reasons for future HIV testing in 

the last quarter of 1990 were similar 

to those mentioned in the previous 

three quarters. The majority 

(69 percent) of persons who plan to 

be tested stated that they would be 

tested voluntarily, because they 

personally wanted to know if they are 

infected; another 21 percent 

indicated they would be tested as part 

of blood donation. In general the 

Iocations at which persons pIan to be 

tested are similar to those reported 

for tests already conducted, with 

60 percent indicating they plan to go 

to either a private doctor or HMO 

(40 percent) or hospital, emergency 

rooms, or clinics (meritioned by 

20 percent). 

Risk of HW infection–In the 

fourth quarter of 1990, as in previous 

months, 5 percent of U.S. adults 

reportedly received blood transfusions 

between 1977 and 1985. This figure is 

slightly higher among those 50 years 

of age and older (7 percent) than 

among those 18-29 years of age 

(3 percent). No other differences 

were noted across sociodemographic 

groups. 

The 1990 NHIS again asked 

respondents about their perception of 

the efficacy of condoms as a means of 

preventing the sexual transmission of 

HIV. Respondents in the fourth 

quarter of 1990, as in the previous 

three quarters, were less certain 

about the effectiveness of condoms 

compared with respondents in 1989. 

The changes noted were a decreasing 
proportion who rated condoms as 

“vexyeffective” (25 percent in the 

last quarter of 1990 compared with 

33 percent in the last quarter of 

1989) and an increase in the percent 

who stated they did not know how 

effective condoms were (15 percent 

in 1990 compared with 7 percent in 

1989). These changes were noted in 

all population subgroups examined. 

Compared with 1989, a slight 

shift in the self-assessed chance of 

having or getting HIV was noted in 

1990. Respondents in 1990were less 

likely to indicate they had no chance 

of having or getting HIV infection 

(79 and 71 percent, respectively, 

compared with 83 and 77 percent in 

the fourth quarter of 1989). The 

proportion who rated their chances of 

having or getting HIV as “low” was 

greater in the last quarter of 1990 

(17 and 23 percent) than in the same 

quarter in 1989 (13 and 18 percent). 

The proportion who indicated their 

chances were high or medium 

remained small (3 percent or less) in 

the fourth quarter of 1990. 

In October-December 1990, only 

2 percent of adults reported being in 

any of the behavior categories 

associated with an increased risk of 

HIV infection and AIDS, This figure 

was similar across the various 

sociodemographic groups and was 

unchanged from previous estimates. 

Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 5 

Suggested citation 

Hardy AM. AIDS knowledge and attitudesfor 

October-December 1990; Provisionaldata 

from the National Health Interview Survey. 

Advance data from vital and health statistis 

no 204. Hyattsville,Maryland: National Center 

for Health Statistics.1991. 

Copyright information 

This report may be’reprinted withoutfurther 

permission. 

Symbols 

Quantity zero 

‘0 Quantitymore than zero but less 

than 0.05 
6 Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

199o National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United Statea, October-December 1990 

[Data are based on household interviewa of the civifian noninstiiufionalized population. The survey design, general quafiications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Race or ethnicity 

Age Sex Non-Hispanic Education 

l&22 3049 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years yaars and over Male Female White Black Hispanic 12 yeara 12 years 12 years 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

1. How much would you say you know about AIDS? 

A lit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 23 23 12 16 20 20 16 20 10 15 28 

Some, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 52 52 36 46 46 48 39 38 27 50 53 

Aiittle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 21 22 30 26 24 24 27 30 32 28 17 

Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 3 3 22 10 10 8 18 11 30 2 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : 0 

2. Inthe past month, have you received information 

about AIDS from anyofthese sources?l 

Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 74 77 74 76 74 75 78 75 71 76 76 

Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 31 31 21 32 24 28 28 30 21 27 32 

Magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 43 45 33 40 41 41 39 34 24 39 50 

Newspapers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 44 54 50 52 48 52 44 39 32 49 60 

Streetsigns/billboards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 16 12 6 13 10 10 17 13 7 10 14 

Store displays/store distributed brochures . . . . . 6 10 7 4 7 6 5 11 9 5 7 7 

Bus/streetcar/subway displays. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 5 2 5 4 4 10 7 3 4 6 

Health department brochures . . . . . . . . . . . 16 23 17 10 16 17 15 22 19 12 16 19 

Workplace distributed brochures . . . . . . . . . . . 12 12 16 6 11 12 11 15 12 4 11 16 

School distributed brochures . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 17 9 3 8 9 8 10 10 6 7 12 

Church distributed brochures . . . . , . . . . . , 4 5 4 3 4 4 3 8 7 4 4 5 

Community organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 5 3 4 4 7 5 3 4 5 

Friend/acquaintance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 18 13 7 13 12 1: 16 16 9 13 13 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 4 1 3 3 3 3 3 1 2 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 

Received no AIDS information in past month. . . . 13 11 11 16 13 13 13 13 13 20 13 ; 

3. Have you heard of the AIDS virus called HIV? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 a2 85 69 79 79 82 75 61 57 79 90 

No, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 16 13 27 19 19 16 21 36 38 19 9 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 2 4 2 3 2 3 3 6 2 1 

4a. AIDS can reduce the body’s natural protection 

against disease. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 62 85 67 79 77 82 65 65 58 7s 90 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 9 9 14 11 10 10 10 21 16 11 6 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 1 3 3 2 1 

Definitelyfalse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 3 ; ; 7 : 5 2 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5 4 15 7 9 : 15 9 21 7 : 

4b. AIDS can damage the brain. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 42 46 43 44 44 43 54 47 40 44 48 

Probablytrue ...,.....,.. . . . . . . . . . . . 26 26 25 26 26 26 26 23 30 27 27 24 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 10 7 5 8 7 0 4 7 3 7 9 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6 5 2 5 4 5 3 4 3 4 6 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 16 16 24 18 19 19 17 19 26 19 15 

4C. AIDS is an infectious disease caused byavirus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 76 77 55 71 64 70 72 62 54 69 78 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 14 13 19 15 15 15 12 22 19 16 13 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . ...’.... . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 6 6 20 9 12 10 12 14 2 10 5 

4d. A person can be infected with the AIDS virus and 

not have the disease AIDS. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 70 75 54 66 67 69 62 55 48 66 78 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 14 14 20 16 16 16 15 19 19 17 13 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...’.. 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 4 3 3 2 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 2 2 3 3 2 4 5 4 3 2 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 9 7 22 12 12 11 1.6 18 28 11 6 

4e. Any person with the AIDS virus can pass it on to 

someone else through sexual 

intercourse. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 91 90 80 85 88 87 89 80 78 88 90 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7 7 13 10 8 9 7 16 12 9 8 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 

Definitelyfalse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 : 1 0 : 1 0 : 1 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 1 7 3 3 3 4 3 9 2 1 

4f, A pregnant women who has the AIDS virus can give 

if to her baby, 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 88 89 78 83 67 86 87 77 75 86 89 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9 8 14 12 9 10 8 18 15 10 9 

Probablyfalse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 

DefinitelyfaLse. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 2 7 5 3 4 4 4 10 4 1 

See footnoles at end of table 
----

Advance Data No. 204s July 1, 1991 7 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of a9e and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

199o National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, October-December 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitti”onalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reiiabitity of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Race or ethnicity 

Age Sex Non-Hispanic Education 

18-29 3&49 50 yeara Less than More than 

AIDS knowledae or attitude Total years yeara and over Male Female White Black Hispanic 12 years 12 yaara 12 years 

49. There are drugs available to treat AIDS or the AIDS 

virus which can lengthen the life of an infected 

person. 

Definitely true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 46 52 39 47 46 48 42 42 33 43 56 

Probably true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 26 27 27 27 26 27 24 25 23 26 27 

Probably false . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 5 6 5 6 6 4 5 5 7 5 

Definitely false . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 6 5 8 5 5 9 6 7 6 4 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 13 11 24 15 17 14 21 21 32 16 8 

4h. There is a vaccine available to the public.that 

protects a person from getting the AIDS virus. 

Definitely true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 3 3 2 4 6 4 3 2 

Probably true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 : 4 3 4 3 5 5 6 4 2 

Probably false . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9 10 9 10 10 8 11 9 10 9 

Definitely false . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 71 75 58 70 66 72 58 53 46 68 79 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 13 11 25 15 18 14 24 25 32 15 9 

4i. There is no cure for AIDS at present. 

Definitely true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 87 89 80 65 86 88 a2 77 75 86 91 

Probably true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 7 10 9 6 5 

Probably false . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 : 1 ; 1 : 3 2 ; 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 : 9 5 5 4 8 8 13 5 2 

5. How likely do you think it is that a person will get 

AIDS or the AIDS virus infection from– 

5a. Working near someone with the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 4 3 4 2 2 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 6 7 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 5 

Somewhatuntikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10 9 10 9 9 9 10 12 10 10 9 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .:....... 40 40 42 40 41 40 42 35 31 34 40 44 

Definitelynotpossibie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 40 37 29 34 36 35 34 39 30 35 38 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3 4 12 7 6 5 9 8 16 5 3 

5b. Eating in a restaurant where the cook has the AIDS 

virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 6 7 7 6 6 12 7 9 8 4 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 17 18 19 19 16 18 20 19 19 20 16 

Somawhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 12 14 13 14 12 11 11 13 15 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; : 33 28 32 31 33 26 26 22 31 37 

Definitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 23 22 17 19 21 20 16 25 18 19 22 

Oon’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 6 7 17 10 10 9 13 10 20 9 6 

5C. Sharing plates, forks, or glasses with someone who 

has the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 10 10 12 11 11 10 16 11 ;3 8 

Somewhatfikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 19 22 23 22 21 21 22 19 : 22 20 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 13 14 13 14 9 13 13 16 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : : 30 23 27 26 29 23 23 :: 27 32 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 22 19 14 17 19 17 18 23 15 17 20 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5 6 15 9 9 8 11 10 19 8 5 

5d. Using public toilets? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 5 7 5 7 5 11 9 10 7 3 

Somewhattikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11 12 15 13 13 12 15 18 17 14 10 

Sornewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 10 10 12 13 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 36 36 31 36 34 37 30 25 25 35 41 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 29 26 20 26 26 26 23 27 21 25 29 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 6 5 15 8 9 8 11 11 18 8 4 

5e. Sharing needles for drug use with someone who has 

the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 98 97 91 95 95 96 94 95 89 96 97 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Vervunlikelv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

De~nitely n&possible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~ Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 5 2 2 2 3 2 1 1 

5f. Being coughed or sneezed on by someone who Ias 

the ~lDS v;rus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 7 7 11 8 9 11 8 12 9 6, 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 16 19 23 19 20 2: 19 17 19 21 19 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 15 12 15 13 14 12 14 10 13 16 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 33 2 24 31 29 31 27 23 23 29 34 

Definitely notDossible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 22 18 12 17 16 17 16 23 15 17 19 

Don’tkn_ow. .’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 7 7 18 10 11 10 13 15 21 10 6 

See footnotes a! end of table, 

.- . . ,-,. . 
● 

8 Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 

Table 1, Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, October-December 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstftutionalized population. The auwey design, general qualifications, and information on the refiabilii of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Race or ethnicify 

Age Sex Non-Hispanic Education 

18-29 3&49 50 veara Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years years and over Male Female White Black Hispanic 12 yearn 12 years 12 years 

5g. Attending school with a child who has the AIDS virus? Percent distribution 

Very likely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 1 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 5 7 6 5 5 7 8 8 5 4 

Somewhat unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 8 9 8 9 8 

Vey unlikely . .,, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 40 44 40 43 41 43 37 31 34 41 45 

Definitely not possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 42 36 30 34 37 36 35 40 30 36 38 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3 5 13 8 7 6 10 9 17 6 3 

5h. Mosquitoes or other insects? 

Very likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 12 10 10 11 10 9 18 16 15 12 7 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 22 ‘ 18 16 19 18 16 21 25 21 20 16 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 8 6 8 8 8 6 8 6 8 

Very unlikely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 23 27 23 25 24 26 20 16 17 23 3: 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 20 21 16 19 20 20 15 19 13 16 24 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 74 17 27 17 21 19 21 17 28 19 15 

& Have you ever discussed AIDS with any of your 

children aged 10-17?2 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 64 71 60 58 78 71 73 53 61 68 74 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 34 29 39 41 21 28 27 47 37 31 26 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 

9. Have any or all of your children aged 10-17 had 

instruction at school about AIDS?* 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 68 74 77 71 76 75 77 61 66 74 78 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 15 9 9 8 10 10 6 10 13 10 7 

Don’lknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 17 17 13 21 14 16 15 29 20 16 15 

10. Have you ever donated blind? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 32 43 42 51 30 43 32 26 28 35 50 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 68 57 58 49 70 57 67 74 72 65 49 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

lta, Have you donated blood since March 1985? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 24 21 8 21 13 19 11 11 6 25 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 75 79 92 78 86 81 88 68 93 :2 75 

Doritknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 

lib, Have you donated blood in the past 12 months? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 10 9 3 9 5 6 2 10 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 89 91 96 90 94 91 97 9; 9; 9: 89 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

12. l-low many times have you donated blood since 

March 1985? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 9 5 2 6 4 5 4 5 2 6 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 4 1 4 3 3 3 2 : 5 

Threefimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10 11 5 11 6 10 4 ; 7 73 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; 0 0 0 

Didnotdonate blood since March 19853. . . , . . . 83 76 79 92 79 87 81 89 89 94 85 75 

13. How many times have you donated blood in the past 

12 months? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7 5 1 5 3 4 2 3 2 4 6 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 

Threetimesormore ,’....... . . . . . . . . . ,. 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Didnotdonate blocdin thepaet12months4 . . ,. 93 90 91 97 91 95 92 98 95 98 94 90 

14. Haveyoueverheard ofsbloodtestthat can detect 

the AIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 83 86 69 80 79 62 70 72 62 79 69 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. 18 16 12 27 18 18 15 27 26 33 19 10 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 4 2 3 2 3 2 5 2 1 

15. To the best of your knowledge, are blood donations 

routinely tested forthe AIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. 68 72 75 58 68 67 71 53 55 48 66 79 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 5 5 4 6 7 5 6 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. 7 6 : 9 7 ; 6 10 10 7 5 

Neverheardoftest5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 17 14 31 20 21 18 30 28 ~ 21 11 

16. Was one of your reasons for donating blood because 

you wanted to be tested for the AIDS virus infection?6 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 2 4 3 3 3 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 82 82 80 79 86 63 73 77 71 75 87 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 1 0 

Neverheardoftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 7 8 11 8 7 7 13 9 18 11 4 

17. Except for blood donations since 1985, have you had 

your blood tested for the AIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 t6 14 4 13 10 10 15 16 11 9 13 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,,,..,,, 66 64 70 62 65 66 69 51 54 49 67 72 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 

Never heardoftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 17 14 31 20 21 18 3; 2: 38 21 11 

See foomoles at end of table. 
.

..

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over wkh selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, October-December 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the cMkn noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general quafiications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Race or efi-mjcify 

Age Sex Norr-Hisparri.c Education 

18-29 3049 50 yeara Less than MoR” than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total yeara years and over Male Female White Black Hispanic 12 years 72 yeara 12 years 

1s. How many times have you had your blood tested for 

the AIDS virus infection, not including blood 

donations? Percantdisfribution 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 11 10 3 6 7 7 10 11 8 6 9 

Twice . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 

Three times ormore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 : 2 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 

Never heard of,?radtest’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 : 8: 9: 8; 90 9: 85 A 8: 9: 6! 

19. How many times in the past 12 months have you had 

your blood tested for the AIDS virus infection, not 

including blood donations? 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 7 2 7 5 5 6 5 4 7 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 5 5 4 4 7 ; 4 4 5 

Twice............................ I 1 : 1 1 1 1 1 0 

Three times or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 : 0 0 0 0 : 1 0 0 : 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

Neverheard oflhadtest’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 84 S6 96 67 90 90 85 64 89 9: 87 

20a. Were the blood tests, including those you had before 

the past 12 months, required or did you go for them 

voluntarily, or were there some of each?a 

Allrequired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 60 52 54 58 53 56 50 64 60 51 57 

Allvolunteered. . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. . . . . . . . . 39 35 42 39 36 42 38 45 35 38 44 37 

Someofeach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 2 5 4 5 4 0 3 

Don’tlmow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ; 1 5 1 2 1 1 : 2 : 

20b. Wereanyoftheblwd testsrequiredfoca 

Hospitalization orasurgicel procedure? . . . . . . . 12 11 9 24 8 16 12 14 10 18 14 8 

Healfh insurance?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 5 2 4 4 1 2 4 5 

Ufeinsurence? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IO 6 14 9 14 ; 13 3 2 4 : 16 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 7 7 s 5 7 7 6 5 5 9 

Militaryinductionormilitsryservice?. . . . . . . . . . 11 16 6 7 17 4 12 13 3 12 13 

Immigration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 3 5 6 1 1 34 1: 2 4 

other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 19 1; 7 9 20 14 16 8 17 15 12 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

21. Whenwasyourlest blood testfortheAIDS virus 

infection?8 

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 45 45 41 44 46 44 53 48 48 45 43 

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 27 20 16 21 23 22 20 20 20 24 21 

19S8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 17 15 11 15 16 15 14 20 17 12 17 

1987. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 6 10 16 9 9 11 5 6 4 12 10 

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 2 5 2 3 5 2 4 3 4 

1965. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 5 1 2 2 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 ; 7 : 2 3 : 1 : 2 : 

22a. Wasyourlaattestrequired ordidyougoforif 

voluntarily?a 

Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 84 55 55 56 59 53 66 53 

Voluntary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 38 44 40 :8 43 40 46 34 :: 45 :: 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 5 1 2 1 2 2 2 0 

22b. Was the test required foes 

Hospitalization orasurgical procedure? . . . . . . . 11 11 9 22 8 15 11 12 11 17 14 7 

Healthinsurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 0 2 4 0 2 2 5 

Lifeinsurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 : 13 9 1: 5 12 3 2 : 15 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 7 7 5 6 7 : 5 7 

Militayinducfionormiliiservica?. . . . . . . . . . 11 18 6 7 1; 3 12 12 : 3 12 13 

Immigration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 3 5 6 1 1 34 14 4 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 1: 10 7 8 19 13 17 8 18 1: 11 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

23. Not including a blood donation, where was your last 

blood test for the AIDS virus done?s 

AIDSclinic/munsefin@tesfingsite. . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

Clinicrunbyemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 : : 2 5 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 27 37 37 3: 36 32 30 48 37 29 35 

Publichealthdepartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 7 6 6 9 5 12 12 6 

Hospifal/emergencyroordoufpatientclinic. . . . . . 24 21 23 32 18 30 24 26 19 ;: 3: 17 

6TDclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 1 

Familyplanningclinic. ..,.... . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 1 1 3 ; 1 3 3 i 1 

Prenafalclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 1 o 1 1 1 1 

Tuberculosisclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

Orherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 5 4 7 4 5 8 3 6 5 6 

Drugtreatmentfacilii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Militaryinduction/servicesite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 18 5 7 16 3 ‘11 12 ; : 12 12 

Immigrationsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 0 1 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 6 12 7 1: 7 13 3 2 5 7 14 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

See !0,OtnOteS al end ot table. 

. _, -—--- . . . ___ . .. ... . . . . 
10 Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

199o National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, October-December 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household intewiaws of the civilian noninstitutionafized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the refiabllity of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Race or etfmicify 

Age Sex Non-Hispanic Education 

18-29 3049 50 years Less than More than 

A/DS /mmv/edge or attitude Total years yeara and over Male Female White Black Hispanic 12 years 12 years 12 years 

24. Before your last blood test for the AIDS virus 

infetiton, were you counseled about the AIDS virus 

and the meaning of the test?a Percent distribution 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 43 45 33 43 4s 40 57 42 39 40 46 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 56 64 65 56 56 59 43 57 58 60 53 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 -, 1 2 0 

25. Did you get the resuits of your last test?s 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 77 80 73 78 77 77 60 79 73 60 79 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 23 20 27 21 22 23 20 20 27 20 21 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 

26. Did you want the results of your last test?s 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 40 36 17 34 36 34 37 33 34 31 37 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 56 56 70 60 56 61 43 63 56 65 55 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4 7 13 6 8 5 20 4 10 3 8 

27. When you received the resuits of your lasttest, did 

you receive counseling or talk with a heafth 

professional about how to lower your chances of 

becoming infected with the AIDS virus or how to 

avoid passing itontoanother person?10 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 35 29 27 29 34 25 4s 39 44 31 26 

No, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 84 70 72 70 66 74 51 61 55 68 73 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 

28. Were the results given in ‘person, by telephone, by 

mail, orinsome other way?10 

Unperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 64 58 68 5s 65 55 87 a6 62 83 52 

Byteiephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 11 19 15 17 14 18 12 5 10 16 

Bymail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 17 16 10 78 12 18 16 5 5 15 % 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8 6 5 8 8 4 2 3 9 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 1 : 1 1 1 1 ; 0 

29. Doyoufeelyourlast teat fortheAIDSvirus infection 

was handled proper) intermS of the COnfidential~ 

ofyourtest resulta? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 91 90 89 90 91 89 92 92 91 89 91 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 6 3 2 5 4 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4 7 a 6 6 7 2 5 7 6 6 

30. Do you expect to have a blood test for the AIDS virus 

infection in the next 12 months? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 11 8 2 6 5 16 9 7 7 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 66 75 64 6: 70 74 47 56 51 6: 78. 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 4 3 4 6 4 

Neverheard oftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 17 14 31 2: 21 1: 30 2: 3: 2? 11 

31. Tell me which of these statements explain why you 

will have the blood test:ll 

Voluntarily, because youpersonally want to know 

Ifyouare infected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 73 67 61 67 72 60 as 85 79 75 

Aapartofablood donation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 24 19 20 26 16 26 13 13 13 19 % 

As parl of a hospitafization or surgical 

procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 9 78 10 13 10 12 13 13 11 10 

Aaarequirementforhealth insurance. . . . . . . . 10 12 8 12 10 10 8 14 11 11 10 9 

Asarequirementfor life insurance, . . . . . . . . . 9 10 8 10 9 9 6 13 10 8 9 9 

Asarequirement forajob, other than military. ., 13 13 14 11 14 12 11 17 14 9 15 13 

Aearequirementforthe military . . . . . . . . . . . 10 14 4 13 6 10 9 12 

Asarequirementfor immigration. . . . . . ., . . . 3 2 ; 5 3 2 1 : : : 4 2 

Asarequiredpart ofsome other activity that 

includes a blood sample and automatic AIDS 

testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 16 12 14 11 17 14 12 13 16 13 13 

32. Where will YOUgo to have a blind test for the AfDS 

virus infect(on?n 

AIDS clinic/counseling/testingsite . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 

Clinicrun byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 3 : 2 1 7 : 3 5 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 A 45 45 38 42 39 : 43 34 43 40 

Hospital/emergency room/outpatient clinic . . . . . 20 20 20 17 17 23 19 20 19 29 18 15 

Otherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 12 3 6 8 6 6 9 9 11 8 5 

Publichealthdepartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10 6 7 7 9 6 13 a 12 6 6 

RedCross/bloodbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5 10 13 10 6 12 4 3 7 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 7 4 9 5 10 : 3 6 ;: 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6 4 6 4 6 4 3 10 7 4 4 

See footnotes at end of table, 
Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 11 

Table 1. Proiisiond[ estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics United States, October-December 1990 -.Con. 

[Dat# are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionafiied population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Race or ethnicity 

Age sex Non-Hispanic Education 

18-28 3G49 50 years Less than More”than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total yeara years and over Male Female White Black Hispanic 12 years 72 yaara 12 yeare 

33. Did you have a blood transfusion at any time 

between 1977 and 1985? Percent distribution 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 5 7 5 5 6 5 7 5 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 97 94 91 94 9: 93 93 95 92 94 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 

34. Do you think the present supply of blood is safe for 

transfusions? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 52 49 40 51 43 50 35 36 34 55 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 30 29 31 27 33 26 39 36 36 : 25 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 18 21 29 22 25 22 26 24 30 23 20 

35. How effective do you think the use of a condom is to 

prevent getting the AIDS virus through sexual 

activity? 

Veryeffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 31 28 19 29 22 26 26 22 19 24 30 

Somewhat effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 54 56 4a 54 52 55 44 45 40 55 57 

Notatall effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 4 5 3 6 4 6 6 7 5 3 

Don’tknowhoweffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 10 11 24 12 18 13 21 18 28 15 8 

Don’tknowmethod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 4 2 3 2 3 6 6 2 1 

36. What are your chances of having the AIDS virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 : 2 2 2 ; 2 4 ; 2 3 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 23 19 10 19 14 17 17 10 10 15 2; 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 72 77 86 76 81 79 74 85 63 80 75 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 5 3 5 1 1 

37. What are your chances of getting the AIDS virus? 

High”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 1 0 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : ; ; : 4 : : : 4 : 4 3 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 29 26 25 21 24 20 17 21 30 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 62 68 ; 68 73 71 68 73 : 73 65 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 4 5 6 2 1 

N/A– High chance of already having the AIDS 

virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 

38. Have you ever personally known anyone with AIDS or 

the AIDS virus? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 15 19 11 14 17 15 18 14 9 12 22 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 62 79 86 64 81 83 79 64 88 66 76 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 -2 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 

39. Are any of these statements true for you? 

a. Youh’ave hemophilia andhave received clotting 

factor concentrates since 1977. 

b. You are a native of Ha%i or Central or East Africa 

whohasentered the United States since 1977. 

c. Youarea manwhohas hadsex with another 

manatsome timesince1977, evenl time. 

d. You have taken illegal drugs by needle at any 

time since 1977. 

e. Since 1977, youareor have been the sex partner 

of any person who would answer yes to any of 

theitemsabove(39 a-d). 

‘f. Youhave hadsexfor money ordrugs at anytime 

since 1977. 

Yestoatleaet l statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 ‘3 i 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 

Notoallstatemente . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 96 97 w 97 9: 98 97 98 97 98 97 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 o 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 

1Multiple responses may sum to more than 100. 

2Based on ~5r~on~ ~nWering yeS tO ~uestion 5 TIO you havs any children aged 10 through 17? ouss~on 7 was “HOW‘anY do YouI have?” 3per50n~ answering no Or aon”t know to questfOns 10 or f la, 

4Persons answering no or don’t know to questions 10, 11a, or 1lb. 5Person5 ~n5wering no or donut know to qusstion 14. 

6B=ed on ~emon$ answering yes to qUeStiOn Tfa. 

‘Persons answering noordon’t know toquestions140r 17. 

* on per:.cns answering yes to question 17. 

~ersons answering “o or don’t know to question 25. 

1 Bassclon persons answering yestoquestmn 25. ?~~ased on PersOns anSWC?tiIIg yes 10 question 30. 
12 Advance Data No. 204. July 1, 1991 

Technical notes provisional estimates of the number Table L Sample sizes for the 1990 National 

Health Interview Survey of AIDS 

The National Health Interview 

Survey (NHIS) is a continuous, crossgiven characteristic, for example, the 

number of men who have had their 

adult population 18 years of age and over, 

by selected characteristics: United States, 

sectional household interview sumey. bIood tested for HIV. The population October-December 1990 

Each week, a probability sample of figures in table I are based on 1989 Estimated 

the civilian noninstitutionalized 

population is interviewed by 

data from the NHIS; they are not 

official population estimates. Table II 

Sample population 

Characteristic Size in tiouaands 

pexsonnel of the U.S. Bureau of the shows approximate standard errors Alladults . . . . . . . . . . . . ..lO.33l 180,271 

of people in the United States with a Knowledge and Attitudes and estimated 

Census to obtain information on the for most of the estimates presented in Age

health and other characteristics of table 1. The reader is cautioned 18-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,349 46,282 

each member of the househoId. about comparing estimates when the 3049 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,137 71,831 

Information on special health topics denominator is small (for example, 

50 years and over . . . . . . . . 3,845 62,157 

household members. The 1990 

National Health Interview Survey of 

to have an HIV antibody test in the 

next year). Both the estimates in 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Female . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 

4,338 

5,993 

05,632 

94,638 

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes is 

asked of one randomly chosen adult 

table 1 and the standard errors in 

table H are provisionaL They may 

Race and ethnicity 

Non-Hispanic whifie . . . . . . . 

Non-Hispanic black . . . . . . . 

8,013 

1,329 

139,440 

19,585 

18 years of age or over in each family. differ from estimates made using the Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 654 14,118 

The estimates in this report are based final data file because they were Education 

on completed interviews with 10,331 calculated using a simplified Less than 12 yeara . . . . . . . 2,172 36,782 

persons or about 85 percent of 

eligible respondents. 

weighting procedure that does not 

adjust for all the factors used in 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

More than 12 years . . . . . . . 

3,927 

4,195 

72,418 

70,036 

Table I contains the estimated weighting the final data file. A final 

population size of each of the data file covering the entire data 

demographic subgroups included in collection period for 1990 wilI be 

is collected for all or a sample of when looking only at people who plan Sex 

table 1 to allow readers to derive available at the end of 1991. 

Table IL Standard errors, exrxessed in Dercentaae Doints. of eetlmated ~ercents from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey of AIDS 

Knowledge and Attitudes; by.selected characteri&icsx United Ststes, O~ober-December 1990 

Age Sex Race and ethnicity Education 

18-29 30+9 50 years Less than 12 More than 

Estimated parcerrt Total years years and over Male Female white Black Hispanic 12 yeara yeara 12 yaara 

5or95 . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 

100r90 . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.-5 0.4 1.1 1.5 0.8 0.6 0.6 

150r85 . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.0 0.7 0.7 

200r80 . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 1.4 2.0 1.1 0.8 0.8 

250r 75 . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 1.5 2.2 1.2 0.9 0.9 

300r70 . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.2 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 1.6 2.3 1.3 0.9 0.9 

350r65 . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 1.7 2.4 1,3 1.0 0.9 

400r 60 . ...,..... 0.6 1.3 1.0 Y.0 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.7 2.4 1.4 1.0 1.0 

450r55 . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.8 2.5 1.4 i .0 1.0 

50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.3 1.0 1,0 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.8 2.5 1.4 1.0 1.0 
Number 205 . September 30, 1991 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

Exposure to Alcoholism in the Family: IUnitedStates, 1988 

by Charlotte A. Schoenborn, M.P.H., Division of Health Interview Statistics 

Highlights 

About 43 percent of U.S. 

adults —76 million people —have been 

exposed to alcoholism in the family 

they grew up with or married an 

alcoholic or a problem drinker or had 

a blood relative who was ever an 

alcoholic or problem drinker. 

Exposure was higher among women 

(46.2 percent) than among men 

(38.9 percent) and declined with age. 

Exposure to alcoholism in the family 

was strongly related to marital status, 

independent of age: 55.5 percent of 

separated or divorced adults had 

been exposed to alcoholism in some 

family member, compared with 

43.5 percent of married, 38.5 percent 

of never married, and 35.5 percent of 

widowed persons. Nearly 38 percent 

of separated or divorced women had 

been married to an alcoholic, but only 

about 12 percent of currentiy married 

women were married to an alcoholic. 

These findings are highlights of an 

analysis of the 1988 National Health 

Interview Survey on Alcohol that is 

presented in this report. 

# swccz*. 

The costs of alcoholism 

The National Health Interview 

Survey on Alcohol was undertaken by 

the National Center for Health 

Statistics and the National Institute 

on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to 

provide new information about one of 

this country’s most serious public 

health probIems. The medical, social, 

and economic costs of alcoholism in 

this country are enormous. In the late 

1980’s an estimated 10.5 million 

people in the United States exhibited 

some symptoms of alcoholism or 

alcohol dependence, and another 

7.2 million abused aIcohol but did 

not exhibit symptoms of dependence 

(l). Health consequences of 

alcoholism such as liver disease (2-4), 

cancer (5, 6), pancreatitis (7, 8), 

neurological disorders (9-11), and 

fetaI alcohol syndrome (12 13) have 

been well documented. About haif of 

all traffic fatalities can be traced to 

drunk driving and studies have 

indicated that 54 to 74 percent of 

persons convicted of drunk driving 

are alcoholics or problem 

drinkers (l). 

The economic costs of alcoholism 

in the United States were estimated 

to be about $128 billion in 1986, more 

than half of this accounted for by lost 

employment and reduced productivity 

(1). Assuming that drinking patterns 

remain constant, this figure is 

projected to rise to $150 billion by 

1995 (14). Finally, alcoholics use a 

disproportionate share of our health 

resources. Health care costs for 

untreated alcoholics have been found 

to be at least 100 percent higher than 

those for nonalcoholics (15). Further, 

it has been estimated that 20-40 

percent of all U.S. hospital beds are 

occupied by persons whose health 

conditions are complications of 

alcohol abuse and alcoholism (1). 

Alcoholism poses many risks, not 

only to the alcoholic but also to other 

family members. First, there is 

considerable evidence that both 

genetic and environmental exposure 

to a~cohoiism predispose individuals 

to become alcoholic themselves (16). 

Adoption studies (17, 18), twin 

●

# %, 

* U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

g Public Health Service 

s Centers for Disease Control 

‘%!!>Jg National Center for Health Statistics cm 

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL 

Manning Feinleib, M.D., Dr. P.H., Director 
2 Advance Data No. 205. September 30, 1991 

studies (19, 20), and medical research 

with laboratory animals (21, 22) 

suggest that genetics plays a key role 

in the development of alcoholism. 

Longitudinal studies suggest that 

children who live with an alcoholic 

parent are at greater risk of becoming 

alcoholic than are children who do 

not live with an alcoholic parent (23, 

24), 

Because studies of environmental 

exposure in childhood are 

complicated by the serious 

methodological problem of assessing 

human behavior independent of 

genetic influences (25, 26), studies to 

date have been inconclusive about the 

specific environmental influences that 

may predispose an individual to 

alcoholism (l). Although researchers 

vary in the relative importance they 

give to the two factors, most agree 

that a combination of environmental 

and genetic exposure to alcoholism 

plays a role in development of the 

disease (24, 27, 28). Thus, persons 

who, live with or are biologically 

related to an alcoholic are themsel~’es 

at greater risk of becoming alcoholics 

than are persons in the general 

population. 

Not only are family members of 

alcoholics more vulnerable to 

developing alcoholism themselves, 

they also are often subjected to many 

adverse social, psychological, physical, 

and economic conditions associated 

with alcoholism (29–31): economic 

hardship when the alcoholic cannot 

work or spends a disproportionate 

share of the family resources on 

alcohol; social isoIation that often 

results from trying to hide the disease 

from family, friends, and colleagues; 

and medical consequences of alcoholrelated physical and psychological 

abuse. All of these contribute to 

making alcoholism an even more 

pervasive health problem for this 

country than may be apparent from 

the statistics on alcoholics alone. 

Because of the important 

consequences of exposure to 

alcoholism in the family, this report 

was prepared to provide an ovemiew 

of the extent to which U.S. adults 

have been exposed to alcoholism or 

problem drinking in the family 

environment. Data are presented on 

the percentage of the adult 

population who lived with an 

alcoholic or a problem drinker during 

their first 18 years of life, the 

percentage who married (or lived 

with as if married) an alcoholic or a 

problem drinker, and the percent who 

had at least one blood relative who 

was ever an alcoholic or a problem 

drinker. Estimates of the percentages 

of adults with one or more of these 

three types of exposure are also 

presented. Variations in exposure by 

sex, age, education, income, race, 

Hispanic origin, and marital status 

are shown and discussed. 

Rates of alcohol use and 

associated problems differ 

substantially between men and 

women and among various age 

groups: men and younger persons 

have higher rates of alcoholism and 

alcohol abuse than do women and 

older persons (32–34). Because of 

this, exposure to alcoholism in the 

family may be quite different for men 

than for women and for persons at 

various ages. For example, because 

rates of alcoholism are higher for 

men, one would expect women to 

have higher rates of marriage to an 

alcohoIic. Further, older persons who 

grew up during Prohibition may have 

lower rates of having been raised with 

an alcoholic than persons who grew 

up in an era when alcohoI was more 

easily available. Because of these and 

other related factors, this report 

shows statistics on exposure to 

alcoholism for age and sex subgroups 

as welI as for the total population. 

Data and methods 

This report is based on data from 

the 1988 National Health Interview 

Survey on Alcohol (NHIS-Alcohol), 

part of the ongoing National Health 

Interview Survey conducted by the 

hTational Center for Health Statistics 

(35). The NHIS-Alcohol was 

cosponsored by the NationaI Institute 

on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. 

Interviews for the NHIS are 

conducted in person by staff of the 

U.S. Bureau of the Census. For the 

basic NHIS, the sampling frame is the 

household. Information is collected 

on each member of the family (or 

families) residing in the household, by 

proxy if the person is not at home at 

the time of the interview. For the 

NHIS-~cohol, one adult per family 

was selected as the sample person for 

the sections related to alcohol use 

and problems. Self-response was 

required for the alcohol-related 

questions, with callbacks made as 

needed. A total of 43,809 adults ages 

18 years and over were interviewed 

for the NHIS–Alcohol, representing a 

response rate of 90 percent of 

respondents identified as eligible 

during the basic household interview 

and about 85.5 percent of the total 

NHIS sample. 

The survey contained many 

questions concerning alcohol 

consumption; the personal, medical, 

and social problems associated with 

alcohol use; and exposure to 

alcoholism and problem drinking in 

the family. All questions referred to 

“problem drinker or alcoholic,” but 

for brevity in this report, the term 

“alcoholic” refers to both: This report 

describes the prevalence of both 

environmental exposure to alcoholism 

through having lived with an alcoholic 

when growing up or in marriage and 

genetic exposure in terms of having 

had an alcoholic blood relative. 

The terms “problem drinker” and 

“alcoholic” were not defined for the 

respondent; thus, the meaning of 

these terms in this report is 

respondent defined. Although levels 

and patterns of aIcohol consumption 

among those identified as alcoholics 

may differ and may or may not meet 

the clinical definition of alcoholism 

(36), as long as the drinking was 

considered alcoholic by the 

respondent, it is assumed in this 

report to have had a potentially 

significant effect on the respondent 

and the family unit. 

Questions on exposure to 

alcoholism 

Respondents to the 

NHIS-A1cohol were asked the 

following questions: 

1. “When you were growing up, that is, 

during your first 18 years, did you live 

with anyone who was a problem 

drinker or alcoholic?” 
Advance Data No. 205 ● September 30, 1991 3 

2. “Have you ever been married to, or 

lived w’ith someone as if you were 

married, who was a problem drinker 

or alcoholic?” 

3. “Have any of your (other) blood 

relatives ever been a problem drinker 

or alcoholic?” 

If there was an affirmative 

response to the first question, 

respondents were asked their 

relationship to the alcoholic they 

grew up with. If the alcoholic was a 

parent, they were asked whether this 

was a biological, adoptive, step, or 

foster parent. If the alcoholic was a 

brother or sister, they were asked 

whether this was a full, half, adoptive, 

step, or foster sibling. AIl other blood 

and nonblood relationships were 

specified, including cousins, aunts, 

uncles, and grandparents. 

People who reported having 

grown up with an alcoholic also were 

asked how long they had lived with 

the (each) alcoholic. They might have 

lived with one for as little as a day or 

as long as their entire childhood, but 

most people who had lived ,with an 

alcoholic did so long enough for there 

to have been some impact on their 

life: more than 80 percent had lived 

with an alcoholic at least 5 years, and 

about one-half of those (more than 

40 percent) had lived with an 

alcoholic their entire first 18 years. 

Having grown up with an alcoholic 

(data shown in table 1) can indicate 

either environmental and genetic 

exposure to alcoholism or 

environmental exposure alone. 

The second question elicited 

information on exposure to 

alcoholism in any marriage-like 

relationship, whether legal marriage 

or not. These data, shown in table 2, 

indicate en~ironmental exposure only. 

The third question concerned 

blood relatives other than any the 

respondent grew up with. As with the 

first question, detailed information 

\vas obtained concerning the nature 

of the relationships. The data in 

table 3 combine information on blood 

relatives obtained in questions 1 

and 3. 

This report is limited to 

discussion of the prevalence of 

exposure to alcoholism in the family 

and does not show detaiIs on length 

of exposure” or relationship of the 

alcoholic to the respondent. For those 

interested in analysis of this detailed 

information, a public use data tape is 

available from the National Center 

for Health Statistics, Division of 

Health Interview Statistics, 6525 

Belcrest Road, Room 850, Hyattsville, 

Maryland 20782. 

Findings 

Growing up with an alcoholic 

Table 1 shows the percent of 

U.S. adults who reported that they 

had lived with an alcoholic at some 

time during the first 18 years of their 

life. Overall, 18.1 percent of adults 

said that they had lived with an 

alcoholic at some time during their 

childhood. Estimates were 

substantially higher for younger 

persons: 21.4 percent of persons ages 

18-44 years and 16.5 percent of those 

ages 45-64 years reported such living 

arrangements, compared with 

8.5 percent of adults ages 65 years 

and over. Although these age 

differentials were found for both 

sexes, they were siWificantly greater 

for women: women under age 45 

yeaR were about 3 times more Iikely 

to have lived with an alcoholic while 

growing up than were women ages 65 

years and over younger men were 

nearly twice as likely as older men to 

have grown up with an alcohohc. 

Reports of having grown up with 

an alcoholic were most common 

among persons with 12 years of 

education (19.5 percent) and least 

common among college-educated 

individuals (16.5 percent). 

Educational differences in family 

exposure to alcoholism were found 

among people under 45 years of age 

and were greater for women than for 

men. About 31 percent of younger 

women who had not completed high 

school had grown up with an 

alcoholic, compared with about 

20 percent of younger women who 

had attended college. About 

23 percent of younger men who had 

not graduated from high school had 

lived with an alcoholic while growing 

up, compared with about 16 percent 

of younger men who had attended 

college. 

Overall, no significant income 

differences were observed. However, 

for people under 45 years of age, 

income variations paralleled those 

found for education: in this age 

group, 26 percent of those with less 

than $10,000 annual income had 

grown up with an alcoholic, compared 

with 18.5 percent of those earning 

$40,000 or more. The income 

differences were greater for women 

(29.9 percent of the lowest income 

group, compared with 21.1 percent of 

the highest income group) than for 

men (20.6 percent of the lowest 

income group, compared with 

16 percent of the highest income 

group). 

Some racial and ethnic 

differences in exposure to an 

alcoholic in the childhood home were 

noted. White persons were more 

likely than black persons to have 

grown up with an alcoholic 

(18.5 percent and 15.6 percent, 

respectively). This was true for both 

men and women in every age group 

(although the racial differences for 

men ages 65 years and over were not 

statistically significant). 

The prevalence of having grown 

up with an alcoholic was about the 

same for Hispanic as for 

non-Hkpanic persons (17.4 and 

18.1 percent, respectively). Ethnic 

differences were statistically 

significant only for men 45 years of 

age and over and for women under 

45 years of age reports of having 

grown up with an alcoholic were 

more common among non-Hispanic 

than among Hispanic adults. 

Separated or divorced 

respondents were somewhat more 

likely than married adults to have 

grown up with an alcoholic 

(22.0 percent versus 19.0 percent, 

respectively). Widowed persons were 

less likely than persons in any of the 

other marital status groups to have 

grown up with an alcoholic 

(9.5 percent). The largest marital 

status differences were found among 

women 18-44 years of age, with 

29.2 percent of separated or divorced 

women having grown up with an 

alcoholic, compared with 24.9 percent 

of married women and 19.3 percent 

of women who had never been 
4 Advance Data No. 205. SeMember 30.1991 

married. The statistic for young 

widows (27.4 percent) was unreliable 

because of the small number of 

persons in this category. Within age 

groups, separated or divorced men 

did not differ significantly from 

married men in terms of prevalence 

of having grown up with an alcoholic. 

Ever married to an alcoholic 

At some time in their lives, 

9.2 percent of adults have been 

married to, or lived with as if married 

to, an alcoholic or a problem drinker 

(table 2). This is about half the rate 

reported in table 1 for having grown 

up with an alcoholic (18.1 percent). 

Although the prevalence was slightly 

higher (11.1 percent) amorg persons 

45-64 years of age, age variations in 

marrying an alcoholic were small. 

Rates of exposure to alcoholism 

in a marriage were very different for 

men and w’ornen. The total 

prevalence for men was 3.6 percent, 

}vith no significant variation by age. A 

total of 14.3 percent of women had 

been married to an alcoholic at some 

time, with the prevalence highest 

(17.5 percent) among those 45-64 

years of age. 

Sociodemographic variations in 

the rate of having been married to an 

alcoholic were most notable for 

women. Across all age groups, less 

educated and low-income women 

were more likely than women in the 

higher education and income groups 

to have Ii}red in an alcoholic marriage. 

Race differentials were also noted but 

varied by age. Of women under 45 

years of age, ~~hite women ~~ere more 

likely than black women to have been 

married to an alcoholic (14.4 percent 

versus 9.2 percent, respectively). In 

the oldest age groups, however, the 

relationship was reversed: 

17.9 percent of black women had 

been married to an alcoholic, 

compared with 11.2 percent of white 

women. Overall, Hispanic and 

non-Hispanic \vomen did not differ 

significantly in their exposure to 

alcoholism in marriage, although 

non-Hispanic kvomen under 45 years 

of age ~vere slightly more likely than 

Hispanic ivomen to report marria:e 

to an alcoholic (13.S percent wrsus 

11.7 percent, respectively). 

The relationship between marital 

status and marriage to an alcoholic 

was one of the most dramatic of all 

the sociodemographic variations 

studied. More than one-third 

(37.6 percent) of currently separated 

or divorced women but only 

12.1 percent of currently married 

women had been married to an 

alcoholic at some time. The higher 

prevalence among separated or 

divorced women was found in each 

age group, peaking at 39,0 percent 

for women 45-64 years of age. Rates 

for widowed women were also higher 

than rates for married women: of 

women under 65 years of age, widows 

were about twice as likely as currently 

married women to have been married 

to an alcoholic. About 5 percent of 

women who had never been legally 

married reported having lived with an 

alcoholic in a marital-type 

relationship. 

In this report, data are shown for 

three broad age groups for reasons of 

readability and statistical reliability. 

However, to assess whether the 

association between marital status 

and having been married to an 

alcohoIic could be attributed to the 

age composition within these three 

broad groups, analyses were carried 

out for 10-year age groups; the results 

remained the same, still showing large 

differences by marital status in having 

been married to an alcoholic (data 

not shown). The most probable 

explanation of the statistical 

association between having been 

married to an alcoholic and being a 

separated, divorced, or widowed 

woman is that alcoholism in husbands 

causes marriages to end in divorce, 

separation, or widowhood. 

For men, sociodemographic 

variations were, for the most part, 

unremarkable because of the fact that 

few men reported ever having been 

married to an alcoholic. However, as 

with women, separated or divorced 

men were more !ikeIy than married 

men to ever have been married to an 

alcoholic: 10.8 percent, compared 

with 3.0 percent of married men, 

with the highest prevalence 

(13.7 percent) found among 

separated or divorced men ages 

45-64 years. 

Having an alcoholic blood 

relative 

Table 3 shows the percent of 

adults who had had at least one 

blood relative who was an alcoholic. 

For this report, no attempt was made 

to distinguish between close relatives 

(parents, siblings, and children) and 

more distant relatives, although this 

information is available in the 19S8 

NHIS–Alcohol. Therefore, these 

statistics represent a measure of 

genetic exposure to alcoholism but 

may or may not include 

environmental exposure (that is, living 

in close contact with the alcoholic 

relative). 

In 1988,”37.9 percent of U.S. 

adults had had at least one bIood 

relative who was ever an alcohoIic or 

a problem drinker. Rates were higher 

for persons under 45 years of age 

(41.9 percent) than for those ages 

45-64 (36.5 percent) and those 65 

years of age and over (26.0 percent). 

Women were somewhat more likely 

than men to have had an alcoholic 

blood relative (39.2 percent versus 

36.5 percent, respectively). These sex 

differences were similar to those 

observed for having grown up with an 

alcoholic but were much smaller than 

the sex differences found for having 

been married to an aIcoholic. 

Overall, 35.2 percent of adults 

with less than 12 years of education 

had had an alcoholic blood relative, 

compared with 38.9 percent of those 

with 12 years of education and 

3S.5 percent of persons who had 

attended coIlege. Although some 

educational differentials were noted 

among women, they were neither 

large nor consistent. No statistically 

significant educational differences 

were observed for men. 

In most cases, exposure to 

alcoholism in a blood relative did not 

vary by income: 38.7 percent of all 

persons with an income of less than 

S25,000 reported such exposure, 

compared with 39.5 percent of 

persons with incomes of $25,000 or 

more. 
Advance Data No. 205. September 30, 1991 5 

\.-hite persons were more likely 

(38.6 percent) than were black 

persons (35.8 percent) and persons of 

other races (25.8 percent) to have 

had an alcohoIic blood relative, 

although this was not found in all age 

groups for either men or women. 

The largest and most consistent 

finding concerning sociodemographic 

differentials in exposure to alcoholism 

in a bIood relative was in the contrast 

between Hispanics and 

non-Hispanics: 32.2 percent of 

Hispanic adults had had an alcoholic 

blood relative, compared with 

38.4 percent of non-Hispanic persons. 

In every age and sex group, Hispanic 

persons were less likely than 

non-Hispanic persons to report 

having had an alcohoIic blood 

relative, aIthough the results for 

women 65 years of age and over were 

not statistically significant. 

Separated or divorced adults 

were more IikeIy than others to have 

had an alcoholic blood relative 

(42.3 percent), followed by married 

persons (39.1 percent), never-married 

persons (36.2 percent), and }vidows 

(26.5 percent). Although findings 

were not entirely consistent within 

age groups, some interesting 

associations may be noted. For 

instance, in the youngest age group, 

men and women who were separated 

or divorced were significantly more 

likely than never-married persons to 

report having had an alcoholic blood 

reIative: 44.1 percent of separated or 

divorced men, compared with 

34.4 percent of never-married men, 

and 48.3 percent of separated or 

divorced women, compared with 

40.1 percent of never-married 

women. 

Combined exposure 

Table 4 shows the percent of 

adults who reported one or more of 

the several types of exposure to 

alcoholism in the family —while 

growing up, in marriage, or in a blood 

relative. This combined exposure 

represents the total known prevalence 

of exposure to alcoholism in the 

family. A total of 42.8 percent of 

adults reported some famiIiaI 

exposure to alcoholism. Prevalence 

was higher among women 

(46.2 percent) than among men 

(38.9 percent) and among younger 

people than oIder people: 

46.1 percent of persons under 45 

years of age reported some exposure, 

compared with 31.4 percent of those 

65 years of age and over. 

Educational differentials for the 

total population were small: 

41.2 percent of adults with less than 

12 years of education had at least 

some type of exposure to alcoholism 

in the family, compared with 

43.8 percent of adults with 12 years 

of education and 42.7 percent of 

those with more than 12 years of 

schooling. 

As for education, income 

differences for the total population 

were small. About 46 percent of 

aduIts with incomes of less than 

$10,000 had some type of exposure to 

an alcoholic in the family, compared 

with about 43 percent of adults 

earning $40,000 or more. AnaIyses for 

men and women separately revealed 

consistent, statistically significant 

income differences only for persons 

under 45 years of age. ln this age 

group, 44.4 percent of men with 

incomes of less than $10,000 reported 

some exposure to alcoholism in the 

family, compared with 40.1 percent of 

men with incomes of $40,000 or more. 

Low-income women under 45 years of 

age had among the highest rates of 

exposure —55.8 percent, compared 

with 48.3 percent for women with 

incomes of $40,000 or more. 

Overall, white and non-Hispanic 

persons were more likely than bIack 

and Hispanic persons to report 

exposure to alcoholism in the family, 

with some age variations. For” races 

other than white and black, rates of 

exposure to alcoholism in the family 

appear to be substantially below those 

for black and for white persons, 

especially under age 45 years; these 

statistics should be interpreted with 

caution due to their large sampIing 

errors. 

Table 4 shows marked marital 

status differences in familial exposure 

to alcoholism: 55.5 percent of 

separated or divorced adults had 

been exTosed to alcoholism in a 

family member, compared with 

43.0 percent of married, 38.5 percent 

of never-married, and 35.5 percent of 

widowed persons. Although the 

patterns were the same for men and 

women (that is, separated or divorced 

persons had the highest rates and 

widowed persons had the lowest), the 

rates themselves were much higher 

for women. Overall, 61.3 percent of 

separated or divorced women had 

been exposed to alcoholism ‘in a 

family member, compared \vith 

45.8 percent of separated or divorced 

men. 

Discussion 

Tables 1-4 provide an overview of 

a significant public health problem in 

this country: environmental and 

genetic exposure to the disease of 

alcoholism in the family. This report 

deals only with perceived exposure to 

an alcoholic family member and not 

the actuaI prevalence of alcoholism. 

The definition of an alcoholic or a 

problem drinker was left entirely to 

the respondent and was undoubtedly 

influenced by the respondent’s social 

and cultural life experiences and 

personal drinking patterns. Not alI of 

the persons identified as alcoholics or 

probIem drinkers by respondents will 

fit the clinical definition of an 

aIcohoIic. However, with the disease 

of alcoholism, perception that there is 

a problem is sufficient to set in 

motion a chain of events that may 

lead to a number of adverse 

outcomes for the family and social 

unit —regardless of the absolute “leveI 

of alcohol consumption. In the words 

of sociologist W.I. Thomas, “If men 

define situations as real they are real 

in their consequences” (37). 

Statistics on total exposure shown 

in this report may actually 

underestimate true exposure, for two 

reasons. First, they do not iricIude 

exposure to nonblood relatives or 

friends, unless the respondent grew 

up with them. Although the impact of 

such relationships may be less than 

that of the family relationships 

described, they still can influence 

environmental exposure. Second, 

there is a tendency among families of 

alcoholics to deny that there is a 

problem until it becomes completely 
6 Advance Data No. 205. September 30, 1991 

unmanageable (31). Thus, some 

respondents who were exposed to less 

severe alcohoI problems in a family 

member may have failed to report 

this exposure because they had not 

yet recognized alcohol as the source 

of family difficulties. 

Significant age variations were 

found in exposure to alcoholism in 

the family – especially while growing 

up and, to a lesser extent, among 

blood relatives. Several explanations 

for these age differentials are 

possible. First, there may have been 

actual increases in the prevalence of 

aIcoholic-type drinking among the 

younger generations, resulting in 

greater exposure. A recent study 

showed an increase in alcohol 

dependence over a 17-year period 

(38) and increases in heavy drinking 

among men and women under 35 

years of age (39). Second, this 

increase could be due to changes over 

the past several decades in the stage 

at which alcoholic or problem 

drinking is identified, It used to be 

that alcoholism was not labeled as 

such until it reached an advanced 

stage, when the alcoholic got “fallingdown” drunk, drank in the morning, 

couldn’t go .to work, and ended up on 

“skid row.” Today, alcoholism is 

often recognized in its earlier stages, 

when the alcoholic cannot control his 

or her drinking but has not yet 

exhibited the more classic symptoms 

of the disease (40). Thus, changes in 

the stage at which alcoholism is 

recognized could account for some of 

the increased reported prevalence 

among the younger generations. A 

third explanation could be selective 

recall of events. Persons 65 years of 

age and over may not remember their 

childhood as clearly as younger 

persons, and memories of alcoholic 

drinking may not come readily to 

mind, especially if it was not labeled 

as such at the time. 

Women reported higher rates of 

exposure to an alcoholic relative than 

did men, a finding consistent with 

those of other studies (41). One 

possible explanation for the sex 

difference is that women may more 

readily than men label drinking as 

alcoholic (41). Although this 

hypothesis cannot be tested directly 

with the NHIS–Alcohol, it is possible 

to examine differences between men 

and women in the way they define 

light, moderate, and heavy drinking, 

which would shed some Iight on this 

issue. 

Socioeconomic differentials in 

exposure to alcoholism were most 

consistent among persons under 45 

years of age. In this age group, less 

educated and lower income adults 

were more likely than better educated 

and higher income persons to report 

having had an alcoholic family 

member when growing up, through 

marriage, or through blood. In the 

older age groups, socioeconomic 

differences were not as clear or 

consistent. 

Racial differences also were most 

consistent among persons under 45 

years of age. In this age group, white 

persons were consistently more likely 

than black persons to report exposure 

to an alcoholic relative. Among older 

persons (45 years of age and over), 

significant raciaI differences were 

found for some of the types of 

exposure, but not all; and frequently 

it was the black adults who had the 

higher rates. 

Although it is clear that 

sociodemographic differentials are 

not the same across age groups, 

reasons for this finding remain 

obscure. ln light of the complexity 

and progressive nature of the disease 

of alcoholism and the significance of 

the sociodemographic environment 

for the development, identification, 

and treatment of alcoholism, it may 

be that alcoholism or problem 

drinking is more likely to develop 

among different groups of peopIe at 

different times in their lives or more 

likely to be identified as a problem at 

different life stages. Further study of 

these issues is needed. 

Overall, Hispanic persons were 

less likely than non-Hispanic persons 

to report exposure to an alcoholic 

family member (table 4). These 

findings appear to contradict those of 

studies that have shown alcoholism to 

be a major problem in the Hispanic 

community (42, 43). The lower 

prevalence of reported exposure to 

alcoholism among Hispanics may 

reflect cultural differences in either 

the perception or the labeling of 

alcoholism: because heavy drinking, 

particularly among Hispanic males, 

may be considered acceptable (43), it 

may be less likely to be perceived or 

labeled as “alcohoIic or problem 

drinking.” 

Marital status variations in 

exposure to alcoholism shown in this 

report suggest that alcoholism may 

play an important role in marital 

dissolutiori and premature widowhood 

in the United States. Certainly, 

exposure is very high across all 

marital status groups, but it is highest 

among separated or divorced persons: 

nearly 56 percent of separated or 

divorced persons had been exposed to 

alcoholism in the family at some 

point in their lives, compared with 

43 percent of married persons. 

Nearly two-thirds of separated or 

divorced women and nearly half of 

separated or divorced men under 45 

years of age had been exposed to 

alcoholism in the family at some time. 

Of the three types of exposure 

studied, marital status differentials 

are most striking for “marriage to an 

alcoholic. Separated or divorced men 

and women were three times as likely 

as married men and women to say 

they had been married to an alcoholic 

or a problem drinker. Separated or 

divorced persons also had higher 

rates of exposure to alcoholism while 

growing up or in a bIood relative, but 

the magnitude of the differences was 

not as great as for marriage to an 

alcohoIic, The statistics in table 2 on 

marriage to an alcoholic also show 

that widows under 65 years of age 

were about twice as Iikely as married 

women to have been married to an 

alcoholic (26 percent versus 

13 percent, respectively). 

The marital status findings 

suggest that a significant number of 

divorces as well as considerable 

premature widowhood may be the 

result, at least in part, of the effects 

of alcoholism. Although many 

marriages survive the effects of 

alcoholism, either because the 

alcoholic seeks help or because the 

family accommodates to the alcoholic 

drinking, it is clear that a large 

number of marriages dissoh’e in the 

face of alcoholism. 
Advance Data No. 205. September 30, 1991 7 

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Advance Data No. 205. SetXember 30, 1991 9 

Tabla 1. Percent of adults who lived with an alcoholic or a problem drinker at some time during their first 18 years of life, by selected 

characteristics: United States, 1988 

.41 ages W-# years 45-64 years 65 years and over 

Standard Sitinaard Standard Standard 

Sex and charsckvktic Percent error Percent error Percent error Percent error 

Both sexes 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.1 0.25 21.4 0.23 16.5 0.42 8.5 0.37 

Education: 

Lessthan 12 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.3 0.46 27.2 0.89 17.6 0.86 9.0 0.53 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.5 0.40 23.2 0.52 16.8 0.69 8.3 0.61 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.5 0.32 Ia.1 0.42 15.5 0.66 7.6 0.70 

Income: 

Lessthan SIO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.6 0.55 26.0 0.98 17.4 1.15 9.2 0.64 

.S10,000-$24.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.1 0.43 24.2 0.61 16.7 0.81 8.5 0.55 

S25,000-SS2.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.6 0.47 20.8 0.60 16.2 0.79 10.1 1.10 

S40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.0 0.45 18.5 0.61 18.3 0.81 9.7 1.45 

Race: 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.5 0.27 22.0 0.36 17.3 0.46 8.6 0.40 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.6 0.54 18.5 0.75 11.8 1.02 7.4 1.13 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.0 1.65 17.0 2.20 10.9 1.92 7.7 3.00 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

17.4 0.86 

18.1 0.25 

19.7 

21.5 

1.11 

0.34 

13.7 

16.7 

1.70 

0.43 

4.9 

6.6 

1.46 

0.38 

Mariialstatux 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.0 0.31 22.7 0.42 16,8 0.50 9.0 0.53 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 0.50 25.9 4.15 12.7 1.16 7.8 0.53 

Separated ordivorced . . . . . . . . . . . 22.0 0.63 26.3 0.69 17.7 0.97 10.2 1.28 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.3 0.49 16.8 0.53 14.0 1.41 6.0 1.16 

Male 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.5 0.31 18.6 0.48 15.7 0.56 9.0 0.57 

Eduoation: 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.3 0.70 23.4 1.29 17.4 1.23 9.2 0.86 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.1 0.53 19.6 0.72 14.8 0.98 8.3 1.03 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.5 0.46 16.3 0.57 15.4 0.89 9.1 1.15 

Income: 

LessthanSIO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.9 1.00 20.6 1.54 18.9 2.13 10.3 1.31 

$10,000-S24.999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.4 0.59 21.4 0.86 14.9 1.14 0.68 

$25,000-S39.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.0 0.64 18.7 0.82 15.3 1.16 & 1.51 

$40rOOOormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.1 0.63 16.0 0.89 17.3 1.10 11.4 2.17 . 

Race 

Whtie. . i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.9 0.34 19.2 0.4s 16.1 0.62 9.1 0.61 

Black . . . .’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.9 0.90 15.1 1.18 13.3 1.72 8.5 2.04 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.2 2.88 15.9 3.B1 10.1 3.04 6.1 4.11 

Hispanic origim 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.1 1.29 18.8 1.66 10.4 2.37 4.4 2.21 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.5 0.32 18.5 0.47 16.0 0.59 9.1 0.58 

M’arital status: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.0 0.39 20.3 0.59 15.8 0.64 9.0 0.66 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4 1.18 19.0 9.90 9.9 2.90 8.8 1.27 

Separated ordivorced . . . . . . . . . . . 19.0 0.94 21.4 1.35 16.9 1.58 11.0 2.36 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.7 0.72 14.9 0.77 14.3 1.98 8.2 2.42 

Female 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.5 0.33 24.1 0.43 17.3 0.56 8.2 0.44 

Educatiorr 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.2 0.61 30.9 1.11 17.8 1.17 8.9 0.65 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.4 0.53 26.2 0.68 18.3 0.91 8,3 0.74 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.6 0.44 19.9 0.57 15.6 0.92 6.4 0.84 

Income: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

LessthanSIO.OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.6 0.67 29.9 1.12 16.5 1.32 6.7 0.74 

$10,000-S24.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.5 0.56 26.8 0.78 18.1 1.04 7.9 0.66 

$25,000-$39.999 . . . . . . . . . . ,.,. 20.3 0.65 23,0 0.s3 17.1 1.20 10.9 1.62 

S40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.9 0.69 21.1 0.86 19.6 1.20 7.6 1.87 

Race: 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.0 0.35 24.7 0.48 18.4 0.62 8.3 0.47 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.9 0.72 21.4 1.00 10.6 1.25 6.6 1.31 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.8 1.55 18.3 1.99 11.4 2.45 9.1 3.57 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.6 1.11 20.6 1.33 16.5 2,63 5.3 1.94 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.5 0.34 24.4 0.45 17.4 0.59 8.3 0.45 

Mariialststu= 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.6 0.44 24.9 0.57 17.9 0.70 8.9 0,77 

widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 0.54 27.4 4.58 13.2 1.24 7.6 0.58 

Separated ordivorced. . . . . . . . . . . 23.8 0.78 29.2 1.09 18.2 1.22 9.8 1.43 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.2 0.69 19.3 0.75 13.7 1.95 4.7 1.21 

‘TcMincludes unmownsocjoaemagrapnlccharacteristics. 
10 Advance Data No. 205. September 30, 1991 ,. 

Table 2. Percent of adults who have ever been married to an alcoholic or a problem drinker, by selected characteristics: United States, 

1988 

,4//ages 1844 years 45-64 yeara 65 years and over 

Standard Standard Standard Standard 

Sex and characteristic Percent error Percent error Percent error Percent error 

Both sexes 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2 0.16 a.6 0.20 11.1 0.33 8.2 0.31 

Education: 

Lessthan 12 years . . . . . . . . . . . ., 11.1 0.36 12.1 0.64 11.8 0.69 9.3 0.49 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.9 o.2a 9.6 0.33 11.9 0.57 7.4 0.53 

Morethan 12yeara. .,..... . . . . 7.4 0.21 6.8 0.25 9.5 0.51 7.3 0.59 

Income: 

Lessthan $10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.3 0.55 12.7 0.80 21.3 1.19 13.1 0.71 

$10.OOO-S24.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.4 0.30 10.7 0.41 13.2 0.68 6.9 0.47 

$25,000-$39,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.3 0.33 7.9 0.39 9.8 0.64 7.3 0.90 

$40,0000rmore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0 0.29 6.2 0.34 6.4 0.58 6.1 1.25 

Race: 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3 0.18 9.1 0.23 10.8 0.36 7.6 0.33 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,,, 6.8 0,41 6.4 0.42 13.5 1.00 12.7 1.13 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.9 0,75 5.8 0.74 10.2 2.11 6.1 2.75 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 054 7.1 0.55 11.5 1.51 6.6 1.60 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3 0.16 &8 0.21 11.1 0.34 6.3 0.32 

Marital status: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.6 0,18 6.2 0.26 7.8 0.34 4.9 0.36 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.9 0.57 22.1 3.57 22.7 1.41 12.1 0,59 

Separated ordivorced. . . . . . . . . 27.6 0.66 26.8 0.85 29.6 1.28 26.1 1.75 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 0.23 3.6 0.24 3.9 0.75 0.6 0.35, 

Male 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 0.15 3.4 0.19 4.0 0.31 3.2 0.32 

Education: 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7 0.33 5.0 0.65 3.3 0.54 2.3 0.39 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...’ 3.5 0.24 3.4 0.30 4.2 0.54 2.7 0.54 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 0.21 3.0 0.24 4.3 0.49 5.4 0.77 

Income: 

Less than$lO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 0.47 3.3 0.54 8.3 1.64 4.7 0.82 

$10,000-$24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 0.30 4.a 0.42 4.7 0.66 2,2 0.41 

$25,000-$39,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4 0.27 3.3 0.33 3.5 0.59 4.0 0.95 

$40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 0.27 2.4 0.34 3.5 0.49 5,9 1.43 

Race: 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 0.16 3.6 0.21 4.0 0.34 3.0 0.32 

Black, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 0.43 2.9 0.52 4.8 1.05 5.0 1.15 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 0.8s 1.8 0.73 1.1 0.77 6,6 4.58 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 0.47 1.9 0.48 3.7 i.42 0.6 0.65 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7 0.16 3.6 0.20 4.1 0.32 3.3 0.32 

Marital status: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 0.17 3.2 0.24 2.9 0.31 2.4 0.34 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.6 1.00 5.6 3.76 7.6 2.49 6.3 1.09 

Separated ordivorced. . . . . . . . . 10.8 0.81 9.6 0.95 13.7 1.68 6.7 1.93 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6 0,27 2.6 0.29 4.1 0.99 0,5 0.49 

Female 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.3 0.26 13.6 0.33 17.5 0.56 11,8 0.50 

Education: 

Income: 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.5 0.57 19.1 1.04 19.7 1.18 14.3 0.79 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.0 0.42 15.0 0.52 17.5 0.B9 10.3 0.80 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.5 0.37 10.6 0.42 15.6 0.94 9.0 0.85 

Lessthan $10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.2 0.73 19.5 1.16 29.1 1.59 16.7 0.90 

$10,000-$24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.9 0,47 16.3 0.66 19.6 1.05 10.7 0.81 

$25,00LX39,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.4 0.58 12.8 0.67 16.0 1.17 10.3 1.49 

$400WOormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.4 0.51 10.1 0.59 14.1 1.12 10.8 2.04 

Race: 

Whtie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.5 0.28 14.4 0.37 17.2 0.59 11.2 0.53 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.0 0.62 9.2 0.62 20.4 1.62 17.9 1.73 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.6 1.33 10.1 1.40 16.1 3.22 9.4 3.43, 

Hispanic origin: 

Hkpanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.0 0.86 11.7 0.95 18.3 2.54 10.7 2.63 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.4 0.26 13.8 0.34 17.5 0.56 11.8 0.!31 

Mariial status: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.1 0.32 12.6 0.41 12.9 0.63 8.0 0.70:” 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.5 0.64 25.7 4.19 25.7 1.59 13.3 0,67 

Separated ordivorced. . . . . . . . 37.6 0.88 37.2 1.16 39.0 1.65 36.0 2.41 

Never married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 0.36 4.9 0.40 3,8 1.14 0.7 0.47 

‘Total includes unknown sociodemographic cheracreristice. 
Advance Data No. 205 ● September 30, 1991 11 

Table 3. Percent of adults who have a blood relative who was ever ari alcoholic or a problem drinker, by selected characteristics: 

United States, 1988 

All ages 1844 years 45-64 years 65 years and over 

Standard StsndaM Standard Standard 

Sex and charsoteristic Percent error Percent error Percent error Percent error 

Both sexes 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.9 0.36 41.9 0.44 36.5 0.57 26.0 0.58 

Education: 

Lessthan 12yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.2 0.65 44.2 1.12 34.0 1.07 26.4 0.79 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B.9 0.50 42.5 0.62 37.7 0.66 25.2 0.94 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.S.5 0.46 40.7 0.55. 37.1 0.94 26.3 1.20 

Income 

Lessthan SIO.OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3g7 0.72 45.1 1.10 39.3 1.55 26.8 1.01 

S10.000-S24.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Z.7 0.57 44.4 0.72 36.2 1.05 26.5 0.85 

S25,000-S39.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.5 0.61 41.7 0.76 37.2 1.06 30.6 1.67 

S40,0000r more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.5 0.61 40.8 0.81 39.3 1.03 27.4 1.93 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.6 o.3e 43.2 0.47 37.1 0.63 25.6 0.61 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.8 0.86 37.8 1.14 33.7 t .57 29.1 1.69 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.8 1.80 25.6 2.43 27.9 3.19 20.6 4.35 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.2 1.19 35.7 1.43 25.7 2.29 16.6 3.05 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.4 0.36 42.5 0.44 37.2 0.60 26.2 0.59 

Marital status 

Married, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.1 0.43 43.5 0.52 36.7 0.66 27.2 0.64 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,5 0.75 47.1 4.40 33.4 1.61 23.6 0.60 

Separated ordworced. . . . . . . . . . . 42.3 0.78 46.7 0.99 37.8 1.35 30.6 1.66 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.2 0.70 36.9 0.75 34.1 2.01 21.6 2.06 

Male 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.5 0.45 39.5 0.60 34.7 0.79 27.1 0.68 

Education: 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 35.7 0.99 47.6 1.60 34.7 1.61 2e.8 1.31 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.0 0.70 39.9 0.91 34.9 1.32 25.3 1.61 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.6 0.61 36.5 0.77 34.6 1.21 25.7 1.73 

Income: 

LessthanSIO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3e.1 1.15 41.6 1,68 39.3 2.79 26.1 1.91 

S10,000-S24.999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.3 0.74 41.0 1.01 35.2 1.52 26.9 1.29 

$25,000-S39,999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.8 0.81 40.0 1.05 34.9 1.51 29.9 2.45 

$40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.1 0.83 36.6 1.14 36.1 1.36 25.3 2.81 

Race 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.3 0.48 40.9 0.63 34.9 0.65 27.0 0.91 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.7 1.30 34.6 1.70 37.3 2.39 29.6 2.68 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.6 2.87 22.4 3.64 1e.s 4.02 21.4 5.87 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.6 1.76 34.9 2.25 21.2 3.02 12.3 3.60 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.9 0.45 39.9 0.60 35.6 0.62 27.5 0.89 

Mariialstatu~ 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.3 0.55 41.6 0.74 34.9 0.89 27.6 1.03 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.6 1.65 25.2 10.15 26.3 4.03 25.4 1.75 

Separated ordivorced . . . . . . . . . . . 40.3 1.21 44.1 1.65 36.6 2.24 28.9 3.17 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.0 0.9s 34.4 1.03 33.1 2.68 21.0 3.37 

Female 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.2 0.42 44.2 0.54 38.1 0.76 25.2 0.69 

Eduoation: 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.9 0.75 46.8 1.33 33.4 1.39 24.6 0.96 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.5 0.65 44.8 0.62 39.6 1.15 25.2 1.09 

Morethan 12yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.6 0.60 42.9 0.71 39.9 1.33 26.7 1.49 

mcomrx 

Lessthan$lO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.1 0.76 47.8 1.18 39.4 1.84 26.2 1.13 

$10,000-S24.999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.9 0.73 47.7 0.90 36.9 I .3e 24.5 I .oe 

S25,000-$39,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.3 0.81 43.5 1.01 39.5 1.52 31.7 2.34 

$40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.2 0.64 42.8 1.03 42.9 1.57 29.9 2.84 

~ace 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.9 0.46 45.4 0.59 39.2 0,83 24.9 0.74 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.6 1.00 40.5 1.31 30.9 1.79 28.8 2.05 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.6 1.99 28.2 2.50 34.0 4.31 20.3 6.35 

iispanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.6 1.35 36.4 1.50 29.6 2.94 19.6 4.14 

Non-Hispanic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.6 0.44 44.9 0.56 38.7 0.60 25.3 0.70 

4ariial status: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.8 0.54 45.0 0:68 36.7 0.92 26.7 1.21 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.7 o.e5- 52.0 4.66 34.8 1.79 23.2 0.92 

Separated ordivorced . . . . . . . . . . . 43.5 0.94 48.3 1.23 36.6 1.&3 31.5 2.35 

Nevermarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3e.8 0.91 40.1 0.96 35.3 2.87 22.2 2.64 

Total includes unknown smiodwnographic ctureclerkrica. 
IL Advance Data No. 205. September 30, 1991 

Table 4. Percent of adults who lived with during their first 18 years, were ever married to, or had a blood relative who was an alcoholic 

or problem drinker, by selected characteristics: United States, 1988 

A// ages 16-44 years 45-64 years 65 yeara and over 

Standard SLsndard Standard Standard 

Sex and characferisfic Percent error Percent error Percent error Percent error 

Both sexes 

Total’, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.8 0,38 46.1 0.46 42.3 0.60 31.4 0.63 

Education: 

Lessthan 12 years . . . . . . . . . . . 41.2 0.69 49.6 1.12 40.2 1.13 32.6 0.85 

12 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4S.8 0s3 47.0 0.65 43.7 0.91 29.7 0.99 

Morethan 12 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.7 0.48 44.4 0.58 42.3 0.96 31.5 1.21 

Income: 

Lessthan SIO,OOO . .,, . . . . . . . . 46.1 0.77 51.0 1.24 49.6 1.45 35.1 1.15 

S1O,OOO-S24.999 . . . . . 44,2 0.61 49.7 0.77 43.0 1.12 31.4 0.90 

S25.000-S39,999 . . . . . 43.8 0.63 45.5 0.79 42,4 1.08 35.5 1.76 

S40,0000r more, . . . . . . . . . . . . ,, 43.3 0.64 44.1 0.63 43.7 1,07 32.1 2.03 

Race: 

VJhile. . .,, ,, . ., . .,..,..., ,, 43.5 0.40 47.6 0.48 42.7 0.66 31.0 0.66 

Back,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.8 0.88 41.4 1.15 41.1 1.60 36.9 1.86 

CXher, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.4 1.89 28.6 2.48 32.7 3.36 25.6 4.53 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.3 1,23 39.3 1.46 31.3 2.35 20.5 3.20 

Ncm-Hisoanic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.3 0,38 46,8 0.46 43.0 0.62 31.7 0.64 

Mariial status: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.0 0.46 47.4 0.54 40.9 0.72 30.5 0.88 

Vfidowec! .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.5 0.83 57.6 4.36 45.5 1.76 31.5 0.88 

Separafe50r divorced. . . . . . . 55.5 0.75 58.7 1.03 52.1 1.46 47.4 2.02 

Nevermerried, . ...,...,. . . . . . 38.5 0.70 39.3 0.75 36.5 2.04 22.4 2.09 

Male 

Total’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.9 0.46 41.7 0.60 37.5 0.81 29.8 0.89 

Education: 

Less!han 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.2 0.99 44.5 1.59 37.0 1.68 30.9 1.32 

12years, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.3 0.72 42.0 0.93 37.8 1.35 27.6 1.64 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . .,,, 39.0 0.83 40.7 0.79 37.6 1.25 29.9 1.75 

Inwme: 

Lessthan SIO,OOO . . . . . . . . . ,.,. 41.2 1.16 44.4 1.73 43.7 2.67 31.2 1.95 

S1O.OOG-S24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,3 0.77 44.5 1.04 38.1 1.53 31.0 1.31 

S25,00G-S39,999 . . . . . . . . . . . 40.0 0.82 41.9 1.06 37.6 1.55 32.8 2.54 

S40,0000r more . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.1 0.84 40.1 1.16 38.9 1.36 30.8 2.91 

Race: 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.7 0.49 43.2 0.63 37.7 0,88 29.6 0.93 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.0 1.33 36.6 1.69 39.8 2.44 33.0 2.96 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.5 2.87 24.4 3.80 19.0 4.04 25.9 6.79 

Hispanic origin: 

Hispanic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.4 1,76 36.6 2.24 23.6 3.13 12.9 3.81 

Non-Hiszanic, ...,....,.. . . . 39.4 0,46 42,1 0.61 38.4 0.83 30.3 0.91 

Marital s;aws: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,,. 39.5 0.56 43.8 0.74 37.3 0.93 29.8 1.05 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.2 1.76 30.6 10.43 30.1 4.13 30.2 1.92 

Separated ordivorced. . . . . . . 45.8 1.25 49.4 1.69 42.2 2.33 34.9 3.39 

Never married, . . . . . . . . . . 35.9 0.97 36.3 1.01 35.6 2.79 21.4 3.40 

Female 

Total’, ., .,, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,2 0.46 50.4 0.56 46.7 0.79 32.6 0.77 

Education: 

Lessthan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.8 084 54.7 1.36 43.1 1.49 33.8 1.09 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.4 0.67 51.4 0.83 48.0 1.16 30.9 1.17 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.5 0.62 48.1 0.73 47.9 1.34 32.9 1.54 

Income: ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Lessthan SIO,OOO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49.0 0.82 55.8 1.27 53.2 1.77 36.6 1.28 

S10,000-S24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.6 0.78 54.7 0.94 46.6 1.47 31.7 1.22 

S25,000-S39,999. . ., . . . . . . . . . . 47.6 0.83 49.2 1.04 47.2 1.53 37.9 2.50 

S40,0000rmore . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.8 0.67 48.3 1.06 49.3 1.59 33.6 2.92 

Race: 

White. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.0 0.50 51.9 0.61 47.4 0.85 32.0 0.82 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,, 43.8 1.06 45.3 1.34 42.1 1.99 39.6 2.35 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.2 2.31 33.8 2.83 41.6 4.55 25.3 6.51 

Hisoanic origin: 

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. 39.6 1.43 41.6 1.67 38.0 3.70 25.8 4.30 

Non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.7 0.47 51.2 0.58 47.2 0.82 32.8 0.78 

Marital status: 

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,5 0.58 50.6 0.69 44.7 0.97 31.4 1.28 

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.6 0.92 63.9 4.68 46.5 1.89 31.8 1.00 

.Separated ordivorced, . . . . . 61,3 0.90 64.3 1.19 58.1 1.87 54.5 2.50 

Never married..,.,,...,., ..,, 41.7 0.91 43.2 0.98 37.6 2.84 22.9 2.67 

‘To:al includes unknown Sociode,nographlc characteristics, 
Advance Data No. 205. September 30, 1991 13 

Technical Notes 

The estimates presented in this 

report are based on data from the 

National Health Interview Survey 

(hWIS), an ongoing survey of 

households in the United States 

conducted by the National Center for 

HeaIth Statistics. Each week, a 

probability sample of the civilian 

noninstitutionalized population of the 

United States is interviewed by 

personnel of the U.S. Bureau of the 

Census. Interviewers obtain 

information about the health and 

other characteristics of each member 

of the households included in the 

NHIS sample. 

The NHIS consists of two parts: 

(a) a basic health and demographic 

questionnaire that remains almost 

the same from year to year and is 

completed for each household 

member and (b) special topic 

questionnaires that va~ from year to 

year and usually are asked of just one 

person in each family, In 1988,the 

special topics included knowledge and 

attitudes about acquired 

immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 

medical device implants, occupational 

health, alcohol, and child health. 

Data tapes from these surveys can be 

linked for investigation of cross 

cutting research issues. 

The total sample interviewed for 

1988for the basic health 

questionnaire consisted of 47,485 

households containing 122,310 

individuals. The total response rate 

was about 95 percent, with proxy 

responses accepted for household 

members not home at the time of 

interview. For the National Health 

Interview Survey on Alcohol 

(NHIS-Alcohol), one adult per famiIy 

18 years of age or over was selected 

for interview, and self-response was 

required for all items. A total of 

43,809 alcohol questionnaires were 

completed, representing 90 percent 

of respondents identified as eligible 

at the time of the household 

interview and an overall response rate 

of 85.5 percent (the product of the 

response rate for the basic 

questionnaire and the response rate 

for the special topic questionnaire). 

The basic sampling unit for the 

NHIS is the household, and the 

response rate for the basic heahh and 

demographic section of the NHIS is 

based on number of households. A 

household may contain multiple 

families (persons related by blood, 

marriage, or adoption); in 1988, 

97.8 percent of responding 

households contained only one family. 

In the basic NHIS, information was 

collected on all persons in each 

family residing in the household. For 

the NHIS-Alcohol (as with most 

NHIS special topic questionnaires), 

one sample person was selected from 

each family, For the purposes of 

calculating a response rate for the 

NHIS-Alcohol, the total number of 

families in the NHIS sample was 

estimated. For noninterviewed 

households, the number of families 

was assumed to be one, However, for 

households in which multiple families 

were identified, the total number of 

families was included in the 

denominator, Because the response 

rate for the basic NHIS is based on 

number of households, the 

denominator for calculating the 

response rate for the NHIS-A1cohol 

questionnaire (51,223) is slightly 

higher than that used for calculating 

the response rate for the basic health 

questionnaire (50,061). Item 

nonresponse was 0,9-2,4 percent for 

the questions discussed in this report, 

The NHIS-Alcohol questionnaire 

was administered face to face, with 

telephone followup as needed. One 

section of the questionnaire, 

containing questions on the social and 

behavioral consequences of alcohol 

use, was self-administered because of 

its sensitive nature. Information on 

that section will be included in a 

future report. 

Because the estimates shown in 

this report are based on a sample, 

they are subject to sampling error. 

The standard error is a measure of 

the sampling error. The standard 

errors shown in tables 1A of this 

report were calculated using 

SUDAAN (SUrvey DAta ANalysis), 

developed by the Research Triangle 

Institute for analysis of complex 

sample surveys. The procedure used 

was DESCRIPT, and the design was 

UNEQWOR (without replacement 

sampling with unequal probabilities of 

selection at the first stage). 

All differences cited in this report 

are statistically significant at the 0.05 

leveL A r-test with a critical value of 

1.96 was used to test all comparisons 

that are discussed. Lack of comment 

regarding the difference between any 

two estimates does not mean that the 

difference was tested and found not 

to be statistically significant. 

3 
16 Advance Data No. 205 ● September 30.1991 ,. 

Suggested citation 

Schoenborn CA. Exposure to alcoholism in 

the family United States, 1988. Advance data Copyright information 

from vital and health statistics; no 205. 

Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for This report may be reprinted without further 

Health Statistics. 1991. permission, 
Number 206 . October 16, 1991 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes of Black Americans: 

United States, 1990 

Provisional Data From the National Health Interview Survey 

by Ann M. Hardy, Dr. P.H., and Ann E. Biddlecom, M.A., Division of Health Interview Statistics 

Introduction 

This report is one of NO special 

reports examining awareness of 

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 

(AIDS) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among racial 

and ethnic minori~ groups of the 

U.S. population. Based on data 

coIlected in the 1990 National Health 

Interview Survey (NHIS), this report 

describes various aspects of AIDSrelated knowledge and HIV antibody 

testing experience for non-Hispanic 

black adults 18 years of age and over. 

It presents differentials by age, sex, 

and, education for the non-Hispanic 

bIack population residing in the 

United States and compares selected 

measures with the non-Hispanic white 

population. The second of these 

special reports (Advanced Data From 

Vital and Health Statistics No. 207) 

focuses on similar information for 

Hispanic adults. 

The National Center for Health 

Statistics (NCHS) has included 

# sw.wub 

questions about AIDS in the NHIS 

since 1987. Data concerning the aduIt 

population’s knowledge about AIDS 

and transmission of the human 

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are 

collected to assist in planning and 

monitoring AIDS educational 

programs, Since the initiation of the 

NHIS AIDS survey, its scope has 

widened to include more questions on 

HIV testing and blood donation 

experience and a general risk 

behavior question similar to that 

asked of potential blood donors by 

the American Red Cross. Detailed 

information on the NHIS AIDS 

survey sample is contained in the 

Technical notes at the end of this 

report. 

The first AIDS Knowledge and 

Attitudes Survey was in the field from 

August-December 1987. Provisional 

results of that survey were published 

monthly in Advanced Dora From Vital 

and Health Stathtics (Nos. 146, 1-W, 

150, 151, and 153). In 1988 the NHIS 

AIDS questionnaire was revised and 

this version of the suwey entered the 

field in May 1988. Provisional 

findings from the 1988 survey were 

published periodically (Advance Data 

From P?tai and Health Statistics Nos. 

160, 161, 163, 164, 167, and 175). 

Although data on black adults has 

been included in all reports, two 

special reports focused in detail on 

minority populations and were 

published using 1988 data (Advance 

Data From P2tal ancl Health Statistics 

Nos. 165 and 166). 

The 1988 AIDS questionnaire 

was used without modification 

throughout 1989 and results were 

published on a quarterly basis 

(Advanced Data From V?tal and 

Health Statistics Nos. 176, 179, 183, 

and 186). For 1990 the AIDS 

questionnaire was revised again, with 

added emphasis on HIV testing 

procedures and on the distinction 

between HIV testing in connection 

with blood donation and testing for 

other reasons. Provisional findings 

have been published quarterly in 

●’ 

& % U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

g Public Health Service 

s

a Centers for Disease Control -g 

‘%.> 

Manning 

National 

Feinleib, 

Center 

M.

for 

D., 

Health 

Dr. P.

Statistics 

H., Director CENTERS 

CDC FOR OISEASE CONTROL 
2 Advance Data No. 206. October 16, 1991 

Advance Data From L+(aland Health 

Statistics Kos. 193, 195, 198, and 204. 

The N-HIS AIDS questionnaires 

have been developed by NCHS and 

an Interagency Task Force created by 

the Public Health Service Data Policy 

Committee. The Task Force includes 

representatives from the Centers for 

Disease Control; Office of the 

Assistant Secretacy for Health; 

h’ational AIDS Program Office; 

National Institutes of Health; 

Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental 

Health Administration; Food and 

Drug Administration; and Health 

Resources and Services 

Administration, 

This report presents provisional 

data for 1990 for most items included 

in the AIDS questionnaire, Tables 1 

and 2, for non-Hispanic black and 

white adults respectively, show 

percent distributions by response 

categories according to age, sex, and 

education. In most cases, the actual 

questions asked are reproduced 

verbatim in the tables along with the 

response categories, A few questions 

and responses have been rephrased 

or combined for more concise 

presentation of results. Refusals and 

other nonresponse categories 

(generally less than 1 percent of total 

responses) are excluded from the 

denominator in the calculation of 

estimates, but responses of “don’t 

know” are included, The NHIS AIDS 

survey uses the phrase “the AIDS 

virus” rather than “HIV” because it 

is felt to be more widely recognized; 

however, in this report the two terms 

are used synonymously. 

The population subgroups 

highlighted in this report reflect the 

respondents’ characterizations of race 

and ethnic origin, For each member 

of a household, the household 

respondent for the main NHIS 

interview \vas asked “What is the 

number of the group [on this card] 

that represents [name of sample 

person]’s race?” The choices on the 

response card were Aleut, Eskimo, or 

American Indian; Asian or Pacific 

Islander; black; white; and another 

group not listed. The household 

respondent was then asked “Are any 

of these groups [name of sample 

person]’s national origin or ancestry?” 

The choices on the list were Puerto 

Rican, Cuban, Mexican/Mexicano, 

Mexican American, Chicano, other 

Latin American, and other Spanish. 

Only those persons classified as black 

non-Hispanic or white non-Hispanic 

were included in this analysis. 

The population subgroups used in 

this report differ from those highlighted in the 1988 report on black 

Americans, That report did not take 

into account ethnici~, thus Hispanic 

individuals could have been included 

in either the black or white groups, In 

addition, some of the AIDS survey 

questions were revised in actual 

wording or in context and location 

between 1988 and 1990. For these 

reasons, comparisons between this 

report and the 1988 report must be 

made cautiously. The more dramatic 

changes across time will be noted in 

this report, 

Selected findings 

Patterns of knowledge and 

attitudes about AIDS and HIV were 

similar within the non-Hispanic black 

population to those of the U.S. 

population as a whole, with the 

greatest levels of knowledge occurring 

among the young and the welleducated, There were exceptions, 

especially in the areas of knowledge 

of the HIV blood test and perceived 

risk of HIV transmission through 

casual contact with an infected 

individual, The following highlights 

describe various aspects of AIDS 

knowledge and attitudes from the 

NHIS data for 1990, focusing on 

differences within the non-Hispanic 

black population and differences 

between non-Hispanic black adults 

and non-Hispanic white adults, 

Unless othenvise noted, all 

differences cited in the text are 

statistically significant at the .05 level 

(see tables II and 111for approximate 

standard errors of estimates). 

Sources of infolmatiorz and 

communication obout AIDS and 

HIV– During 1990, 88 percent of 

non-Hispanic black adults reported 

having received information about 

AIDS from any source in the month 

preceding the NHIS. Television was 

the most frequently cited source of 

information about AIDS among 

non-Hispanic black aduIts 

(77 percent). Similar proportions 

were noted among non-Hispanic 

white adults. 

Written sources of AIDS 

information were the next most 

frequently mentioned sources of 

AIDS information among nonHispanic black adults: 45 percent 

read about AIDS in newspapers and 

40 percent received information in 

magazines. Almost one-third 

(30 percent) of non-Hispanic black 

adults reported receiving information 

about AIDS on the radio, and, 

interestingly, non-Hispanic black men 

were much more likely to report the 

radio as a scwrce of information 

about AIDS than non-Hispanic black 

women (34 percent compared with 

27 percent), 

Overall, some of the most 

noticeable differences in sources of 

AIDS information were by education 

level, especially for written sources of 

information (figure 1). For example, 

the proportion of non-Hispanic black 

individuals who had received 

information about AIDS in 

newspapers increased from 

33 percent of those adults with less 

than 12 years of schooI to 56 percent 

of those adults with more than 12 

years of school. A similar increase by 

education level was evident in the 

proportion who received AIDS 

information from magazines. There 

was no significant difference by level 

of education in the proportion of 

adults who reported having received 

information about AIDS via 

television, Similar educational 

differences noted among nonHispanic black aduIts were also 

evident among non-Hispanic white 

adults. 

Non-Hispanic black parents with 

children between the ages of 10 and 

17 years were just as likely as 

non-Hispanic white parents to report 

that they had ever discussed AIDS 

with their children. A substantial 

difference existed between men and 

women regardless of race and 

ethnicity: 56 percent of non-Hispanic 

black men and 79 percent of \vomen 

with children ages 10 to 17 had ever 

discussed AIDS with their children, 
Advance Data No, 206 ● October 16.1991 3 

I Reoeived informationabout AIDS from television 

78 78 79 79 so 

73 74 

So 

40 

20 

0 L 

Less then 12 years More then 

12 years 12 yeare 

Received informationabout AIDS from magazines 

alL . . S4 

40 

20 

0 

Less than 12 years More than 

12 years 12 years 

~ Non+lispanlcblack _ Non+iispanicwhite 

Received informationabut AIDS from newspaper 

65 

Lessthan 12 years More then 

12 years 12 years 

Children10-17 yeare of age received AIDS 

education in school 

73 

Less than 12 years More than 

12 years 12 yeare 

SOURCE National Center for Health Statistics, IWslon of Health Intewkw Statistics, National HealIh Interview Survey. 

Ficrure 1. Provisional estimates of Dercent of non-Hisnanlc black and non-Hisoanic white adults exnosed to selected sources of AIDS 

in~ormatlon, by years of education; United States, 1990. 

) There was a similar gender difference 

among non-Hispanic white parents 

(58 percent compared with 80 

percent). Of non-Hispanic black 

adults with children ages 10 to 17 

years, 75 percent stated that their 

children had received AIDS 

education in school, Approximately 

the same proportion (74 percent) of 

non-Hispanic white adults with 

children ages 10 to 17 years also 

stated that their children received 

AIDS education at schoo!. 

When asked if they have ever 

personally known anyone with AIDS 

or the AIDS virus, 18 percent of 

non-Hispanic black adults responded 

that they had. Over one-quarter 

(27 percent) of non-Hispanic black 

persons with more than 12 years of 

education reported knowing someone 

,Ir, ! 

~~ithAIDS”or the AIDS virus, 

compared \vith 11 percent of those 

persons with less than 12 years of 

education. Of non-Hispanic black 

adults 30 to 49 years of age, 

23 percent knew someone with AIDS 

compared \vith 16 percent of 

non-Hispanic black adults ages 18 to 

29 years and 13 percent of 

non-Hispanic black adults 50 years of 

age and over. Non-Hispanic white 

individuals \vere less likely to have 

personally !-mownsomeone with 

AIDS or the AIDS virus (15 percent). 

Geneml .41DS knowledge-In 

terms of self-assessed knowledge 

about AIDS. 16 percent of 

ncm-Hispanic black adults stated that 

they knew a lot about AIDS, 

39 percent some, 27 percent a little, ~‘ 

and 17 percent nothing: The 

Proportion of non-HisPanic black 

;dults claiming to kno; a lot or some 

about AIDS increased with 

education, from 31 percent of those 

with less than 12 years of education 

to 75 percent of those with over 12 

years of education, Young nonHispanic black adults, ages 18 to 29 

years, \vere much more likely to 

report Imo}vinga lot or some about 

AIDS than their counterparts ages 50 

vears and over (67 percent compared . 

\vith 29 percent). In comparison to 

non-Hispanic black adults, nonHispanic white adults were more 

likely to feel that they knew a lot or 

some about AIDS (19 percent and 

49 percent, respectively) and less 

likely to feel that they knew little or 

nothing (23 percent and 9 percent). 

. 
4 Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 

N kssttra” I,yeare W12years - More*an 12years 

AIDS can reduce tie (5s) 

body’snatural protection 

against disease. (81)

82 (92) 

AIDS is an infectious (54) 

disease caused by (68) a virus. 

(79) 

A person can be infected (48) 

with the AIDS virus and not (65) have the disease AIDS. 

(79) 

There are drugs available to (34) treat AIDS or the AIDS virus 

infection which can lengthen (44) 

the life of an infected person. (57) 

(39) 

AIDS can damage the brain. (42) 

(44) 

I I I I I I 

o 20 40 60 80 100 

SOURCE Natiinsl Center for Heal!h Smfistks, Dlvlsbn c4 Health lntuvi?w Statistics, NaaWI.SI l+m~h III@WW stJr.@q. 

NOTE: Figures in psrantheees are cmmparatde estlmstes for rmn.Hisc-snk Whke aduts 

Figure 2. Provisional estimates of percent of non-Hispanic black adults who thought selected statements about AIDS definitely true, by 

years of education: United States; 1990. 

The proportion of non-Hispanic 

black persons who correctly identified 

the major modes of AIDS transmission (sexual intercourse, perinatal 

contact, and shared needles for drug 

use) tvas relatively high for all 

sociodemograpttic groups, and 

non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic 

\vhite individuals were equally aware 

of the major modes of HIV transmission. For other facts about AIDS, 

education differentials were evident 

in both racial groups. Variations in 

general knowledge about AIDS also 

occurred by age \vith adults 50 years 

of age and over consistently less likely 

to identifi correctiy selected 

statements about AIDS and the 

AIDS virus as definitely true or false. 

Figure ~ illustrates the 

differences in objective measures of 

general lmow’ledge about AIDS by 

education level within the nonHispanic black population 

(corresponding proportions for the 

non-Hispanic ~vhite population are in 

parentheses). In general, persons \vith 

less than 12 years of school \vere not 

as knowledgeable about some of the 

basic facts about AIDS than were 

those persons with 12 or more years 

of school, regardless of race. For 

example, the proportion of nonHispanic black adults who knew that 

AIDS can reduce the body’s natural 

protection against disease varied from 

43 percent of individuals with less 

than 12 years of education to 

83 percent of those with more than 

12 years of education, Furthermore, 

less than half (44 percent) of nonHispanic black adults with under 12 

years of education thought that a 

person can be infected with the AIDS 

virus and not have the disease AIDS 

compared with almost three-quarters 

(73 percent) of those adults with 

more than 12 years of education. 

A new questionnaire item was 

added to the general AIDS 

knolrledge section in the 1990 survey 

to ascertain responses to the 

statement that there are drugs 

available \vhich can extend the life of 

an H?V-infected person. There \vas a 

positive association between the 

proportion of non-Hispanic black 

adults answering this statement 

correctly and the education level of 

the respondent. As illustrated in 

figure 2, similar education patterns 

were found for non-Hispanic white 

adults (with respective percentages in 

parentheses). 

Misperceptions about HIV 

transmission – The NHIS AIDS 

questionnaire asked respondents to 

estimate the risk of HIV transmission 

associated with several forms of 

casual contact with HIV-infected or 

potentially infected individuals, such 

as working near someone with AIDS 

or sharing eating utensils with an 

HIV-infected person. Of the five 

response options for the likelihood of 

transmission, both “very unlikely” and 

“definitely not possible” were 

interpreted as correct responses, even 

for forms of contact where our 

current understanding of the virus 

indicates that there is definitely no 

possibility of transmission, The 

decision to accept “ve~ unlikely” as 

correct was based on the large 

i 
---

Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 5 

~Lees than 12years iZ?!$312Y-s m Morethan 12years 

cook 

(43) (33) 

(51) (42) 

6s (63) 2 (55) 

(67) (66) 

(79) 2 (76) 

80 (85) 75 (64) 

(36) (36) 

(45) (46) 

(54) (55) 

~ I I I I I I 

o 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100 

SOURCE: National Center for Health Stathtlca, Dlvlalon of Health Intembw Stmktks, National HasiIh Intervlaw Survey 

NOTE: Figures In parantheaa ara comparable e,$tlmatea for non.Hlcpank wlma adulta, 

-.. . . . . . .––– –.... , Figure 3. Provlslonal estimates of percent of nOn-HISpanlC iMaCk adults who thought it very unlikely or definitely not posslole 10 oecome 

Infected with the AIDS virus in selected ways, by years of education: United States, 1990. 

numbers of respondents who chose 

that option, seemingly unwilling to 

commit themselves to the concept of 

a zero probability. 

Despite the generally high levels 

of understanding about the three 

major modes of transmission of 

AIDS, misperceptions about the 

likelihood of transmission through 

casual contact persisted, with 

particularly striking racial differences 

consistent across most questions in 

this section. Figure 3 shows the 

proportions of non-Hispanic black 

adults, by education level and race, 

who correctly identified the low or 

nonexistent risks associated with 

various forms of casual contact with 

HIV-infected persons. As the level of 

education rises, the proportion of 

adults \vith misperceptions about HIV 

transmission declines. However, racial 

differences remain even among the 

most educated. For example, 

75 percent of non-Hispanic black 

adults with more than 12 years of 

education thought it very unlikely or 

definitely not possible to become 

infected with the AIDS virus from 

“working near someone with the 

AIDS virus” compared with 84 

percent of non-Hispanic white adults 

with more than 12 years of education. 

The forms of contact perceived as 

most threatening by both 

non-Hispanic black and white 

individuals were those that involved 

potential exchange of saliva or blood. 

Only 46 percent of non-Hispanic 

black adults with more than 12 years 

of education thought it very unlikely 

or definitely not possible to get AIDS 

or the AIDS virus from sharing 

plates, forks, or glasses with an 

infected individual; for non-Hispanic 

white adults, the comparable 

proportion was 54 percent. Less than 

half of either non-Hispanic black 

(36 percent) or non-Hispanic white 

(46 percent) adults correctly 

identified the very low to nonexistent 

risk of becoming infected with the 

AIDS virus from mosquitoes or other 

insects. 

From 1988-90, there were several 

noticeable increases in the proportion 

of black individuals (all black adults 

in 1988 and non-Hispanic black adults 

in 1990) \vho correctly identified the 

Io\v risk of casuaI transmission of the 

AIDS virus. Fifty-nine percent of 

black adults in 1988 considered it 

very unlikely or definitely not possible 

to contract the AIDS virus by 

working near an AIDS-infected “ 

individual compared with 69 percent 

of non-Hispanic black adults in 1990. 

The next largest increase over time 

occurred for those correctly assessing 

the low risk of AIDS transmission 

‘associated with eating in a restaurant 

where the cook has the AIDS virus: 

risirw from 38 Dercent of black adults 

in 1988 to 47 p’ercent of non-Hispanic 

black adults in 1990. Relatively 

smaller increases occurred for whites 

(all whites in 1988 and non-Hispanic 

whites in 1990) over time in 

misperceptions of AIDS transmission. 

Blood donation am? HIV 

tesrirzg-Approximately one-third of 

non-Hispanic black adults indicated 

that they had ever donated blood. 

Non-Hispanic black males were twice 

as likely as non-Hispanic black 

females to have been previous blood 

donors (46 percent compared with 

23 percent); the proportion who 

reported ever donating also increased 

by years of education. Non-Hispanic 

white adults were more likely than 

non-Hispanic black adults to have 

reported ever donating blood 

(43 percent). The demographic 

patterns of blood donation noted 
6 Advance Data No. 206 ● October 16,1991 

among the non-Hispanic black 

population were also seen in the 

non-Hispanic white population. 

Twelve percent of non-Hispanic 

black adults reported donating blood 

since March 1985 when routine 

screening of donated blood for HIV 

antibodies began. Of the 12 percent, 

one-third donated only once and the 

remainder donated on two or more 

occasions. Again, blood donations 

increased with education and were 

more common among males than 

females. Seventeen percent of 

non-Hispanic \vhite adults donated 

blood since March 1985. The 

proportion of these who were 

one-time donors \vas about the same 

as in the non-Hispanic black donor 

population. Four percent of 

non-Hispanic black adults and 

7 percent of non-Hispanic white 

adults donated blood in the past year. 

For each group, most had donated 

only once and the same pattern of 

increased donations by education was 

noted. 

About two-thirds (68 percent) of 

non-Hispanic black adults had heard 

of the blood test to detect HIV 

antibodies. This is similar to the 

66 percent of all black adults who 

had heard of the test in 1988. The 

percent who were aware of the test 

varied greatly by age and education. 

Only 52 percent of non-Hispanic 

black persons 50 years and over had 

heard of the test compared with 72 to 

75 percent of younger non-Hispanic 

black adults. The proportion who had 

heard of the test ranged from 

51 percent of those with less than 12 

years of education to 84 percent of 

those with more than 12 years. 

Awareness of the antibody test was 

higher among non-Hispanic white 

adults (81 percent). This figure was 

only slightly higher than that reported 

in 1988 for all tvhite adults 

(78 percent), The same patterns of 

awareness by age and education were 

also noted among non-Hispanic white 

persons, but within all sociodemographic categories, a~vareness 

\vas higher among non-Hispanic white 

adults than among non-Hispanic 

black adults, 

Only about ha[f (53 percent) of 

non-Hispanic black adults believe that 

blood donations are routinely tested 

for HIV-infection. This figure is 

about the same as that reported in 

1988 for all black adults (55 percent). 

Again, this figure varied widely by 

years of education from 35 percent of 

those with less than 12 years to 

70 percent of those with more than 

12 years of education. A higher 

proportion of non-Hispanic white 

adults (71 percent) knew that blood 

donations are screened. Some of this 

difference is attributable to the lower 

percentage of non-Hispanic black 

adults who knew of the HIV antibody 

test compared with non-Hispanic 

white adults. However, even among 

those aware of the HIV test, nonHispanic black persons were still less 

likely than non-Hispanic white 

persons to believe that donations are 

tested. 

In 1990, a question was added to 

the survey to assess what percentage 

of those who had donated blood since 

HIV screening began in 1985 did so, 

at least in part, to be tested for 

AIDS, For non-Hispanic black adults 

who had donated during that time, 

the figure was 8 percent. For 

non-Hispanic black male donors, the 

figure was 12 percent, much higher 

than that reported by their female 

counterparts (2 percent). Two percent 

of non-Hispanic white donors 

indicated that testing was one of the 

reasons for their donation. In this 

group, males were not any more likely 

to indicate they had donated to be 

tested than females. 

Excluding testing performed as 

part of blood donation, 14 percent of 

non-Hispanic black adults reported 

that they had been tested for antibodies to HIV. For non-Hispanic 

white adults the figure was lower, 

9 percent. The difference between 

these two racial and ethnic groups is 

even more striking when one 

considers that fewer non-Hispanic 

black adults were aware of HIV 

testing, About one-fifth (21 percent) 

of non-Hispanic black persons who 

}vere aware of the antibody test have 

been tested compared with 11 percent 

of knowledgeable non-Hispanic white 

adults. In both groups, testing 

increased with years of education and 

\vas highest among those 18 to 29 

years of age compared with older 

adults, If testing through blood 

donation is also included, then overall 

24 percent of non-Hispanic black and 

24 percent of non-Hispanic white 

adults have been tested for antibodies 

to HIV. These figures are higher than 

those seen in 1988:14 percent of all 

black adults tested and 17 percent of 

all white adults tested. 

The remainder of this section 

deals only with HIV antibody testing 

exclusive of testing that occurs as part 

of blood donation. For both nonHispanic black and white adults, the 

majority (71 percent and 67 percent, 

respectively) who had been tested, 

had been tested only once. This was 

particularly true for those tested in 

the past year. 

When the circumstances for 

testing were examined, differences 

between non-Hispanic black and 

white adults were notable. For 

non-Hispanic black adults tested, 

51 percent had done so voluntarily, 

while 44 percent indicated that their 

testing was required, For nonHispanic white adults who had been 

tested, these figures were nearly 

reversed: 43 percent were tested 

voluntarily and 52 percent had 

required testing. For non-Hispanic 

black individuals, the most commonly 

cited reason for required testing was 

military induction or service 

(11 percent of all those tested and 

20 percent of non-Hispanic black men 

tested). This was followed by 

hospitalization or surgery 

(10 percent) and employment 

(9 percent). Life insurance was 

mentioned by only 3 percent of 

non-Hispanic black persons tested. 

For non-Hispanic white adults, the 

reasons were somewhat different, 

Hospitalization or surgery was cited 

most often (12 percent), miIitary 

induction was next (11 percent), 

followed by life insurance 

(10 percent), and employment 

(7 percent). Similar figures were 

noted for the proportion of tests 

required and the reasons 

mentioned for required testing 

when only the last HIV antibody 

test was focused on, 

The two most frequently reported 

places for the last antibody test for 
Advance Data No, 206. October 16.1991 7 

both non-Hispanic black and white 

adults were doctor’s office or H.MO 

(listed by 28 percent of non-Hispanic 

black adults and 31 percent of 

non-Hispanic white adults), and 

hospital, emergency room or outpatient clinic (mentioned by 

23 percent and 26 percent, 

respectively). The third most common 

site among non-Hispanic black 

persons tested was a public health 

department (mentioned by 

12 percent) follo~ved by milita~ 

induction site (11 percent). ln 

non-Hispanic white adults, the order 

of these two places was reversed with 

miIitiiry induction site reported as the 

place of testing by 11 percent and 

pubIic heaIth departments by 

6 percent. 

Of non-Hispanic bIack adults who 

‘aere tested, 52 percent reported 

receiving counseling about AIDS and 

the meaning of the test before 

testing, This figure was lower for 

non-Hispanic white adults tested 

(38 percent). The majority of both 

non-Hispanic black and white persons 

who were tested got their results 

(80 p.xcent and 75 percent, 

respectively). Those who did not get 

their results may include some 

individuals whose results were not yet 

avaiIabIe at the time of interview. For 

both racial and ethnic groups, about 

one-third of those who had not gotten 

their results indicated that they did 

\vant them. Less than half of 

non-Hispanic black adults who got 

their results (43 percent) indicated 

that they also received post-test 

counseling about risk reduction 

and/or prevention of HIV 

transmission, For non-Hispanic white 

persons who were tested and got their 

results, the percentage who also 

received post-test counseling was 

much lower at 24 percent, NonHispanic black adults were mm-c 

likely to have rcceivcd their results in 

person (68 pcrccnt) when compared 

\vith white persons (58 percent), while 

non-Hispanic white persons were 

more likely than non-Hispanic black 

persons to have received their results 

in the mail (19 percent compared 

}vith 12 pcrccnt). Sixteen pcrccnt of 

both groups got their results over the 

tclcphcmc. This larger proportion of 

non-Hispanic black adults who got 

their results in person may help 

explain the larger proportion who 

also received post-test counseling. 

Over 90 percent of both non-Hispanic 

black and white adults who were 

tested felt their results were handled 

properly in terms of confidentiality. 

Fourteen percent of non-Hispanic 

black adults reported that they plan 

to be tested for HIV-infection in the 

next year. By age, this figure ranged 

from 22 percent of those age 18 to 29 

years to 5 percent of those over 49 

years. Non-Hispanic black men were 

more likeIy than women to plan 

future testing (17 percent compared 

with 12 percent). Persons with 12 or 

more years of education were slightly 

more Iikely to indicate future plans 

than those with less than 12 years 

(16 percent compared with 

11 percent). In comparison, only 

5 percent of non-Hispanic white 

adults reported that they pIanned to 

be tested. 

Among non-Hispanic black 

persons with plans to be tested, 

82 percent said they would do so 

voluntarily because they personally 

wanted to know if they were infected. 

Eighteen percent said they would be 

tested as a requirement for a nonmilitary job, and 14 percent as a 

requirement for health insurance 

(note: percentages sum to more than 

100 percent because respondents may 

choose more than one reason for 

being tested). Among non-Hispanic 

white individuals with plans to be 

tested, only 58 pcrccnt indicated it 

would bc voluntary bccausc they 

wan ted to know their infection status, 

28 pcrccnt listccl blood donation as 

the reason for their future test, and 

13 pcrccnt stated it would be a 

requirement for a nonmilitary job. As 

with HIV testing that has a[rcacly 

been done, a private doctor or HMO 

wus rncntioncd most often as the site 

for future HIV testing by both 

non-Hispanic black and white adults. 

Public hca]th clcpw-tmcnts were 

rncntioncd by more than twice as 

many non-Hisp:mic black adults as 

white wlults (14 pcrccnt compared 

with 6 pcrccnt), while non-Hispanic 

white, persons mentioned the 

American Rcd Cross or other blood 

banks as a site more often than 

non-Hispanic black persons 

(12 percent and 3 percent, 

respectively). This may be a reflection 

of the larger number of white 

individuals who plan future testing as 

part of blood donation. 

Prevention and perceived risk of 

HV-infection –The 1990 NHIS again 

asked respondents about their 

perception of the efficacy of condoms 

as a means of preventing the sexual 

transmission of the AIDS virus. A 

similar proportion of non-Hispanic 

black adults and non-Hispanic white 

adults rated condoms as “very 

effective” (28 percent compared with 

27 percent). A large shift in response 

occurred for those rating condoms as 

“somewhat effective” with nonHispanic black adults less likely to 

state this than non-Hispanic white 

adults (44 percent compared with 54 

percent). There was little change 

between non-Hispanic black 

respondents in 1990 and all black 

respondents (Hispanic and nonHispanic) in 1988 in response to the 

question of perceived effectiveness of 

condoms. 

Slight changes were evident 

among sociodemographic groups in 

the. non-Hispanic black population in 

1990. The proportion who rated 

condoms as “very effective” or 

“somewhat effective” increased by 

education level and decreased by age. 

A substantial gender difference also 

emc-rgcd: 35 pcrccnt of non-Hispanic 

black mcn rated condoms as “very 

cffcctivc” in preventing the 

transmission of the AIDS virus 

compared with only 22 pcrccnt of 

non-Hispanic black women. 

Five pcrccnt of non-Hispanic 

bhtck individuals reported that they 

hid rcccivcd a blood transfusion 

bctwccn 1977 nnd 1985, the period 

before the blood supply was scrccncd 

for HIV. Very fcw diffcrcnccs were 

cvicicnt among sociodcmographic or 

racial groups with respect to this risk, 

OVCril[l, 71 pcrccnt of 

non-Hisp;mic black adults felt there 

was no chance of their becoming 

infcctcd with HIV, and 19 pcrccnt 

asscsscci their chance of infection as 

low’.Four pcrccnt felt their risk w’as 

rncdium, and only 1 pcrccnt reported 
8 Advance Data No. 206. October 16, 1991 

a high risk. Another 1 percent of 

non-Hispanic black adults felt that 

there was a high chance that they 

were already infected with HIV. 

Non-Hispanic white persons reported 

similar levels of perceived risk of 

AIDS infection: 73 percent felt they 

had no chance of becoming infected 

with AIDS, 22 percent felt their 

chances were low, 3 percent reported 

a medium chance, and less than 

1 percent reported a high chance of 

becoming infected with AIDS. 

A significant gender difference 

emerged in respondents’ perceived 

risk of AIDS infection: women were 

more likely than men to report that 

there was no chance of their having 

or getting HIV. In addition, perceived 

risk of infection increased with 

education but decreased with age for 

both racial and ethnic groups, 

Only 3 percent of non-Hispanic 

black persons reported being in any 

of the behavior categories highly 

associated with an increased risk of 

HIV-infection and AIDS, a figure 

similar to previous estimates in 1988 

for”all black adults (Hispanic and 

non-Hispanic). Two percent of all 

non-Hispanic white persons identified 

themselves as belonging to at least 

one of the behavior categories. This 

small proportion was similar across 

various sociodemographic categories 

for both non-Hispanic black and 

white adults. 
Advance Data No. 206. October 16, 1991 9 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of black persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes 

from the 199o National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 199o 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less than More than 

A/DS know/edge or attitude Total years years andover Male Female 12years 12years 12years 

Percent distribution 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

1. How much would you say you know about AIDS? 

Alot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 20 a 16 9 16 25 

Some . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 48 45 21 E 41 22 44 50 

Aliftle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 27 27 28 28 27 28 31 21 

Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 6 s 42 16 16 41 8 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 

2. In the past month, have you received information about AIDS from any of 

these sources?l 

Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 77 79 75 77 77 78 79 

Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 34 33 34 27 ;: 30 37 

Magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 45 44 G 39 41 26 42 52 

News~apers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 49 38 46 45 33 46 56 

Streetsigns/billboards., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ~ 17 10 19 15 12 17 24 

Store dkplays!store distributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 17 11 12 11 6 12 13 

Bus/streetcar/subwaydisplays, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,., 15 : 12 9 7 12 

Health department brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;: 33 U 11 21 25 15 25 ~ 

Workplace distributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 15 21 9 15 16 6 17 24 

School distributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 19 10 3 9 12 7 10 15 

Church distributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s 10 7 6 7 8 6 8 9 

Communityorganization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 s 5 7 a 5 8 10 

Friend/acquaintance, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 21 18 9 17 16 11 17 20 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 4 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 

Received noAIDSinformation inpastmonth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 9 11 17 13 12 19 10 8 

3. Have you heard the AIDS virus called HIV? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 74 78 54 69 70 52 73 85 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 24 20 40 26 26 43 25 12 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 2 7 3 4 5 3 3 

4a. AIDS can reduce the body’s natural protection against disease. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 6a 73 47 66 63 43 66 83 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 12 10 14 11 12 16 12 7 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 2 4 2 3 4 3 2 

Deflnitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 6 6 7 7 3 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 : 9 29 15 15 3: 11 5 

4b. AIDS can darnage the brain. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 48 56 44 51 50 44 52 55 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 23 22 25 23 24 26 23 22 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 6 3 4 5 3 4 6 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 6 ; 1 4 3 2 4 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 16 15 27 19 19 26 17 13 

4C. AIDS is an infectious disease caused by a virus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 79 77 54 71 71 57 75 60 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 12 12 16 14 13 16 13 12 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ; 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 6 7 25 11 12 23 8 4 

4d. A person can be infected with the AIDS virus and not have the disease 

AIDS. 

Detinitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 65 68 44 57 62 44 63 73 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 15 15 18 16 15 16 17 14 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 3 3 2 4 2 2 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 8 5 3 6 4 5 6 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 10 11 32 18 16 31 12 7 

4e. ANY person with the AIDS virus can pass it on to someone else through 

sexual intercourse. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 91 91 77 86 88 80 89 92 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 6 6 13 8 7 11 7 6. 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 1 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : : : : 0 0 : 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 ; 10 4 4 9 2 1 

4f. A pragnant women who has the AIDS vims can give it to her baby. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..- . . . . . . . . ..l... . . 85 88 90 75 a3 86 77 67 91 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 7 14 12 8 13 8 7 

Probablyfa!se . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 : 0 0 0 0 0 

Defmitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 : : 0 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 2 11 5 5 10 3 1 

See footnotes at end cf table. 
10 Advance Data No. 206. October 16, 1991 

Table 1.Provisional estimates of the percent of black persons 1B years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudea 

from the 1990National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstiiutionalized population. The survey design, general quafiications, end Information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given In Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 3@#9 50 yeara Laas than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years years and ovar Male Female 12 yeara 12 yeara 12 years 

4$f. 

lengthen the Ilfe of an Infected person. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 39 4s 33 41 41 31 41 52 

Probabiytrue. ..,,..,..,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 23 26 21 21 22 24 20 23 25 

Probeblyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 5 4 5 6 5 7 4 

Derinifelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IO 11 10 9 11 

Don’lknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 16 15 3: J 21 2 18 1: 

4h. There is a vaccine available to the public that protects a person from 

getting the AtDS virus. 

Definltelytrue .,, . .,,.,.... .,, , .,.,,,...,,...,,.. 5 5 6 5 6 6 8 5 4 

Probsblytrue, .,,..,.....,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 5 6 5 6 7 7 3 

Probablyfalse, ,, . . . . . . . . . . .,, , .,.,,......,.,,,., 9 11 6 6 8 10 10 10 

Definltelyfalse, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 61 65 44 56 2 80 70 

Don’t know . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 17 16 37 :; 23 35 19 13 

There are drugs available to treat AIDS or the AIDS virus which can Percent distribution 

41. There is no cure for AIDS at present. 

Definlfelytrue, ,, .,, ..,...,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . el 62 S6 73 80 81 74 61 87 

Probablytrue, ,, . .,, .,..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8 6 7 8 8 5 

Probablyfalse ., . .,, .,.,,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 : ; 2 3 

Definitelyfalse, , ..,..,,,,,,. ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 3 2 : 2 : 

Don’tknow, ...,,,.,,,,,,.. , . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5 : 14 6 6 13 8 4 

s. How likely do you think ft is that a person wHIget AIDS or the AIDS 

viruslnfectlonfrom -

5aa Working near someone withtheAIDSvlrus? 

Verylikely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,, .,, ,, .,, . .,,,,,.,, s 4 6 e 5 6 6 5 3 

Somewhatllkely. ,,, .,, ,., ,..,, ,,, ,, .,,,.,.,,,,,,, 7 6 7 8 8 6 

Somewhat unlikely, , .,, ,,, ...,. .,, ,, ..,,.,.,,,,,,, 9 ; ; : 

Ve~unllkely .,,,,.,,,,,,..,,, ,,, ,, .,, , . ...,,,.,, 36 U 3; 3: 37 3: 33 ;; 38 

Definltelynotposslble, , .,,.,,.,, ,,, ,,, ,,, ..,,,,.,,, 33 36 38 26 34 33 28 36 37 

Don’tknow, ,,, .,, ,, ..,... . .,,,,,,.,,..,,,,,,,,, 9 5 18 8 10 17 8 4 

Verylikely. , .,, ,, .,, .,,,... ,,, ,,, , .,,,,,,,,.,,,, IO 10 ; 10 11 

Somewhatllkely, . ., . ...,.,.., ,,, ,, .,,.,,,,,,..,,, 18 17 19 19 E 1; E 17 2: 

Somewhat unlikely, ., .,,,,..,, ,,, ,, ..,,.,,,,.,.,,, 12 

Verjunlikely .,,,,..,,,,,,.,,, ,,, ,,, ,,, .,,,.,,,,. 27 E ;! ;: z ;; z ;; : 

Deflnitelynotposslble, .,,,,..,,, , ..,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,, 20 24 21 20 20 17 21 22 

Don’t know . .,, . .,, ,., . . . . . .,, ,,, ..,,,,,,,,,,,,. 13 9 9 ;; 12 14 21 10 8 

500 Sharing plates, forks, or glasses wifh someone who has the AIDS virus? 

Vetyllkely, ,,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 12 17 

Somewhaflikely. . .,, ,, ...,.,, .,, , .,,,...,,.,,,,.. 23 E 23 ;: ; :: 22 : ;; 

Somawhatunlikely, ,,, ,,...,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !1 

Veryunllkely, ,, .,,.,,,,,..,,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 E : 2: U E 1: ;; ;; 

Definltelynotposslble .,...,,,, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 21 19 11 17 18 14 19 19 

Don’tknow. . .,, ,,, ,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 9 7 20 11 12 20 e 6 

5d. Using publictoilats? 

Veryllkefy, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 10 8 11 9 10 13 11 

Somewhat likely. . ., .,,.,,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 12 15 18 15 17 14 1: 

Somewhatunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...,,..,,....,,,,,, 12 11 13 :? 12 12 13 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 31 31 :! 30 29 2: 28 34 

Deflnltelynotpossible .,,.,,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 27 28 24 22 17 26 28 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...,,,,..,,.,,,,, ,,, 11 6 7 ;: 10 12 16 9 6 

Se. Sharing needles for drug use with someone who has the AIDS virus’ 

Ve~likely. . .,, ,, . . ...,..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,., 93 96 96 68 94 93 89 95 97 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,. 3 2 2 4 2 3 3 1 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,, 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; 0 

Vetyunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,, 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 

Definitely notpossible ...,.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,, 0 0 0 0 0 : 0 : Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,.. 3 1 1 7 : 3 6 1 1 

5f. Being coughed or sneezed on by someone who has the AIDS virus? 

VeryJlkely. .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II 9 11 11 11 14 9 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 18 20 ; 19 20 21 ;: 19 

Somawhat unllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 10 13 13 9 14 16 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 : ;; 21 27 25 22 27 28 

Definitelynotpoasible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 22 17 12 17 17 14 16 19 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 8 10 22 12 14 20 11 8 

5g. Atfending school with a child who has the AIDS virus7 

Ve~-likeiy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 5 3 4 6 3 1 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4 6 9 7 6 9 6 5 

Somewhat unlikely, ..,...., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10 9 8 10 9 

Veryunlikely ...,......,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 37 3: 3: 3; 36 33 37 42 

Definitelynotpossibie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 41 36 26 35 35 27 36 36 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5 6 19 9 11 16 7 5 

Seefootnotesal end of table. 
Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 11 

Table 1, Provisional estimates of the percent of black pereons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes 

from the 1990 National Heafth Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household intamhvs of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The auwey design, general qualiicstions, and information on the reliiMity of 

the estimates are given in Teotmioal notes] 

Age Sex Education 

1S-29 3LL49 50 yeara Leas than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years yeara and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 yeara 

5h. Mosquitoes or other insects? Peroentdistrlbution 

Very likely ., ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 14 17 14 15 13 

Somswhat llkely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 E , :: 20 23 21 ;: 22 22 

Somewhat unlikefy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 5 8 

Veryurrllksly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2: 21 2: Is 2: 1: 18 19 2 

Oefinitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 17 1s 12 15 16 10 18 19 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 14 18 29 18 22 27 19 15 

8. Have you ever discussed AIDS with any of your children aged 10-17?2 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 56 56 60 71 77 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E z 28 44 44 :; 40 29 23 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o 0 o 0 

9. Havs any or all of your titldren aged 10-17 had instruction at school 

about AIDS?2 

Yea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 67 77 72 71 79 73 75 79 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s 18 s 6 10 9 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 15 16 2: 24 11 2; 1; 12 

10. Have you evar donated blind? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 2s 36 33 46 23 27 30 43 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 72 63 66 54 77 72 70 57 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 

1la. Have you donated blood since March 19S5? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 14 16 9 19 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; 81 85 9; 63 so 9: :: 80 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Ilb. Have you donated blood in the past 12 months? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6 1 3 4 7 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 94 9: e8 92 97 9: 95 93 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

12. How many times have you donated blood since March 1985? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1 5 4 6 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; 5 ; 5 2 : : 5 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6 6 ; 7 3 2 4 8 

Don?know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 

DidnotdonateblmdsinceMarch 19653 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 81 86 S7 S4 91 94 8! S1 

13. How many times have you donated blood in the past 12 months? 

Once . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 3 o 3 2 1 3 4 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 .0 0 1 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : : : 1 0 0 : 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 : 0 0 

Didnotdonateblood inthepast 12months4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 94 95 99 95 97 99 96 93 

14. Have you ever heard of a blood test that oan detect the AIDS virus 

infection? 

Yes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6S 72 75 52 68 87 51 70 64 

No, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 26 23 43 30 30 45 28 15 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 2 5 3 2 4 2 1 

15. To the best of your knowledge, are blood donations routinely tested for 

theAIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 57 61 36 53 53 35 54 70 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 7 5 7 6 7 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a s 7 10 s ; 10 : 7 

Neverheardoftes$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 2a 25 46 32 33 49 30 16 

16. Was one of your reaaons for donating blood because you wanted to be 

teated for the AIDS virus lnfection?6 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10 6 12 2 10 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 60 69 6: 59 72 5: 54 7: 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Neverheardoftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 16 17 23 15 19 33 20 s“ 

17. Except for blood donations since 1985, have you had your blood tested 

for the AIDS virus Infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 20 16 5 16 13 9 14 20 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 50 57 45 50 52 40 53 61 

Don”tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Neverheard obtests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 28 25 48 32 33 49 30 16 

18. How many times have you had your blood teated for the AIDS virus 

infection, not including blmddonafions? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 13 11 4 10 9 6 10 12 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 2 1 3 2 4 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 3 0 3 $ : 2 3 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Nwerheardof/hadteat7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 80 64 95 84 87 91 86 80 

Seefootnotesat end to table, 
12 Advance Data No. 206 ● October 16, 1991 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of black persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes 

from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian nonlnstttufionalized population. The survey design, gensral qualificstiona, and information on the rellabflii of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

16-29 30-49 50 years Less then More than 

A/DS know/edge or affitude Total yeara years and over Ma\e Female 12 years 12years 12 years 

19, How many times in the paat 12 months have you had your blood testad Percent distribution for the AIDS virus Infection, not including blood donations? 

None. . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 8 2 7 5 3 6 9 

Once, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 11 7 3 7 7 5 7 9 

Twlca, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 

Threetimes ormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 1 1 0 1 1 : : 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 0 : 0 

Neverhesrdof/hadtest7,,.,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S6 60 S4 95 84 6; 91 6: 80 

23a. Were the blood tests, including those you had before the past 12 

months, required or did yougofor them voluntsrlly, orwerethare some 

of each?s 

21. 

All required,.,.,,,,,,.,,,, ,, ..,,,,,,..,.,,,..,,, 44 49 40 43 46 42 43 46 43 

All volunteered,,,,,,,,.,,,, ,,, .,,,.,,,..,,,,,,,,, 61 47 53 57 49 53 55 50 50 

Some ofeach, ,,, ,,, ,..,,,, , .,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,, 3 4 4 2 2 2 e Don’t know,,,,.,,.,,,,,,,, ,, ,., ,,,,,, !,, ,,,,,,, 1 1 2 ; 2 1 2 o 

20b, Were any of the blood tests required for:” 

Hospltiiizafion oraourglord procedure? . , , ,,, , ,, , ,, , ,,,, , , 11 8 13 5 16 16 6 10 

Health insurance? ,,, ,,,,,,, ,,, ,.,,,, ,,, ,,,,,,, ,,,, 2 2 2 1 2 

Llfeinimmmce?, , ,,, ,,,!,,, ,,, ,,,>,, ,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,, 2 ; 4 ; i! 

Employment? ,!, ,!,,!, ,., ,,.,!, ,,, ,,,,, ,,, ,,,,,, 12 6 0 1: 

Mllltay induction ormllltaryaerdce? ,, , ,,, , , , ,, , , ,,,, , , , 1; 0 ;; : 15 1: 

Immigration?, ,,, ,,, ,,,,,, ,,, , .,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,, , 1 : 3 : 2 

Other, i,.,,.,...,,,,,,,,,, . .,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,, 17 9 2: 1: 17 14 1: 14 

Don’t know,,,,.,,,,,,,,,, . .,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 

1990 . .,, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 35 40 32 34 4j 32 30 

1989, ,, .,....,,,,,,,,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 41 ;: 34 36 39 40 39 35 

1988 ..,.....<,.,..,,,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 14 15 8 12 15 10 12 18 

1987 . ),, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4 12 10 10 7 3 6 10 

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 3 5 1 3 4 3 

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 

When was your last blood test for the AIDS virus InfectIon?e 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 3 5 i 2 1 : 2 

22a. Was your last test required or did you go for if voluntarlly?e 

Required, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 51 42 42 49 42 44 46 46 

Voluntary, . .,, ,, ...,,,.., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 46 55 56 50 54 55 50 53 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 0 2 1 2 0 

22b. Was the test required for:s 

Hospitalization ora surgical procedure? . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 8 9 7 13 5 11 14 7 6 

Health insurance?. ,. ..,,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 

Ltieinsuranca? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 4 : 1 4 

Employment?, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7 12 6 1: 6 6 11 8 

Military induction ormllitarysewice? . . . . . . . . . . . ,. . . . . 11 14 9 0 19 2 5 14 9 

Immigration?, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 3 3 3 2 2 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 16 6 22 i 18 1$ 12 13 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

23. No: including a blood donation, where was your last blood test for the 

AIDS virus done?s 

AIDSclinic/counseling/testingsite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 5 3 5 2 3 4 4 

Clinicrun byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 4 6 6 4 5 6 6 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 24 32 34 24 32 23 26 33 

Publichealth department..,,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ~4 13 12 13 23 12 8 

Hospital/emergencyroom/outpatient clinic . . . . . . . . . ,.. . . . . 23 21 22 3; 17 29 27 23 22 

STD clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 

Familyplanning clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 1 ; 1 0 

Prenatalclinic, .,....,,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 0 : 2 2 0 

Tuberculosis clinic...,,,,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Otherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 5 6 6 6 7 4 7 

Drugtreatmentfacility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 1 1 

Militaryinduction/servicesite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 14 9 0 19 2 4 14 10 

Immigration site, ,., ..,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 5 5 7 : ; : 5 : 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 1 1 

24. Before your last blood test for the AIDS virus infection, were you 

counseled about the AIDS virus and the meaning of the test?a 

Yes. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 54 49 54 56 46 54 50 53 

No .,....,......,....,,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 45 49 46 43 50 46 46 46 

Oon’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 

25. Did you get the results of your last test?s 

Yes, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 79 79 S5 82 7s 60 79 SI No, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 20 19 13 16 20 18 19 19 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 2 1 1 0 

See iocXnc?esz endofta51e, 
Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 13 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of black persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes 

from the 199o National Health interview Survey, by selected charaoterlstica: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data ara based on household interviews of the civilian nonlnstitutionalized population. The suway design, ganeral quslifioationa, and information on the reliability of 

the estimatea are given in Technioal notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-28 30-48 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or affitude Total years years and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 years 

Percentdistribution 26. Did you want tha results of your last test?g 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 40 33 23 38 33 36 35 35 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 42 56 71 50 51 46 51 52 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 18 12 6 13 15 18 14 13 

27. When you received the results of your Iaat test, did you receive 

counseling or talk with a heakh professional about how to lower your 

chen,ces of becoming infected with the AIDS virus or how to avoid 

passing it on to another person?l 0 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. .s . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . . . 43 44 43 39 46 40 46 44 41 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 55 57 59 53 60 54 55 59 

Dorr’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 0 2 1 0 1 

2& Were there ultsgiven unperson, bytelephone, bymall, orlnsome 

other way?18 

Unperson, .,,,,,,, . ,., . , , ,, , ! ! I , , ! . . 4 , , !,, , ! . , , 68 72 e5 63 65 71 7B 71 61 

By telephono, , , , , , , , , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . !,. , ,,s , 12 10 14 15 9 16 

Ejymall ,, , ,., !, , , . , ,.. . , , s ! , t i i . . . . . , . . . . . . . . ! 10 14 19 :: ;: 12 4 1! 10 

Otner. , ! . ,,,, , , ,, . . ,,, ! , t ,, ! ,! i ! o, i . s i,,,, . . , , 4 3 2 11 5 2 8 2 4 

Don’t know . .,, . ,, , ! , ,,., ! ! r , , 0, . , , . . . , ,..,, ,., . 0 2 0 1 

29. f)oyoufeel ytwrlast te8tfor the AIDSvlrus lnfwflonwaa \ andlod 

properljj in terms of the confidentiality of your teat ;OaUlfS? 

Yes . . . ., , ,,, , ,4 , , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , i . , , , .,,, , , , , 92 92 93 02 93 92 93 93 02 

No , ,s ,. ,,,, , , ., , , , ,,, ! , , , , , , , , , . , , , ,,,.,,. , , 3 3 3 5 3 3 

Don’tknow. ..,,,.. . s . . , ,, , , , . , ., , , . ., ,..,.s ,... 3 4 3 3 : : : 2 6 

30 Do you expact to have a blood test for the AIDS virus Infection In the 

next12months? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 22 15 17 12 

No, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 43 54 4; 44 49 :: Xl 

Don’tknow. .,......,..,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 5 

Neverheard oftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 2: 2; 48 3: 3: 49 3: 

31. Tell me which of these statements explain why you will have the blood 

test:ll 

Voluntarily, because you personally want to know if you are 

infected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a2 60 S2 87 80 84 90 83 74 

As parfofa blooddonation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 17 17 12 18 15 13 16 20 

Aspartof ahospitalizafion orsurgical procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 13 9 17 11 13 13 11 11 

Asarequirementfor health insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 16 12 15 16 12 14 13 16 

Asarequirementforlife insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 15 9 12 10 13 11 

Asarequirementforajob, otherthan mi!iia~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 la 19 15 ; 14 16 16 $ 

Asarequirementforthe military. ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 15 7 4 15 7 12 11 

Asarequirementforimmigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 4 4 : 4 3 3 

Asarequiredparf ofsome other activity thatincludes ablood 

sampleandautomaticAIDStesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 15 15 9 13 15 13 13 16 

32. Where will you go to have a blood test for the AIDS virus infecfion?ll 

AIDSclinic/counseling/testingsite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 2 3 2 4 2 

Clinicrun byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 7 6 4 ; 7 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 3: 41 54 31 44 36 3: 40 

Hospital!emergencyroom/outpatient clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 21 21 21 20 22 26 23 13 

Othercfinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10 7 s 10 6 11 

Publichealthdepartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 17 12 7 13 1: 2; 12 11 

RedCross/bloodbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 4 2 5 2 2 3 5 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 5 10 2 1 7 9 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 1 3 3 7 2 1 

33. Did you have a blood transfusion at any time between 1977 and 19S5? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 7 7 4 6 6 4 6 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S4 98 93 92 95 93 93 95 94 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

34. Do you think the present supply of blood is safe for transfusions? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 37 40 29 41 32 30 35 44 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 42 37 35 33 42 39 41 34 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., 26 21 23 36 26 27 31 25 23 

35. How effective do you think the use of a condom is to prevent getting the 

AIDS virus through sexual activity? 

Veryeffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 33 29 35 22 23 30 31 

Somewhat effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 44 49 :; 41 46 32 46 51 

Notatall effecfiie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 6 5 6 5 

Don’tknowhoweffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 14 14 3: 16 27 3: 14 11 

Don’tknowmethod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 2 6 3 4 7 3 2 

36. What are your chances of having the AIDS virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 1 1 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 4 2 ; : : 4 4 

Low, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 19 16 9 17 14 6 17 21 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 73 74 a3 72 79 80 76 72 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 A 6 4 3 7 3 2 

Se+ foo!notes a! end of table. 
14 Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of black persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudea 

from the 199oNational Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general qua~cations, and information on the reliabilii of 

the estimates are given In Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-2S 30-49 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or atfjtude Total years yeara and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 years 

Percent distribution 37. What are your chances of getting the AIDS virus? 

High, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6 4 : 54 : 4 5 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 23 21 11 21 16 11 19 26 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 65 68 al 67 74 76 72 65 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 5 4 4 7 3 3 

N/A–High chance of already having the AIDS virus. . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 

38. Have you ever personally known anyone with AIDS or the AIDS virus? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 16 23 13 16 19 11 16 27 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 82 75 64 81 79 86 81 70 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 3 32 3 2 2 

39. Are any of these statements true for you? 

a. You have hemophilia and have received clotthg factor concentrates 

since 1977. 

b.You area native ofHaiti or Central or EastAfricawho has entered the 

United States since 1977, 

c. You are a man who has had sex with another man at some time 

since 1977, even 1 time. 

d. You have taken illegal drugs by needle at any time since 1977, 

e. Since 1977, you are or have been the sex partner of any person who 

would anewer yes to any of the items above (39 a-d). 

f, You have had sex for money or drugs at any time since 1977. 

Yestoatleaet lstalement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 5 1 43 2 4 4 

Notoall statemente . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 95 95 99 95 97 97 96 96 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 1 10 1 0-

1M“njpl~ ,~~pnses msy sum to more than 1w. 

2Based on persons answering yes to question 6, “’Do you have any children aged 10 through 17?” Ouestion 7 was “How many do you have?” 3perSonS an$wedng no or don’t know to question 10 Or 11a, 

4Persops answering no or don’t know’to question 10, 11a, or 11 b. 5per$onS answefing no or don’t know to Wesfion 14. 

6aas@ on ~erSonS answering yes to question 11a. 

‘Persons answering no or don’t know to questions 14 or 17. 

8BaS* on persons enswering yes to que*On 17. 

9

~e!SOnS answering no or don’t know to question 25. 

1 Bassd on persons enswering yes to question 25. ?1B=ed on persons enSWGVif)g yes !0 question 30. 
Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 15 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from tha 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninsfiiutionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

AIDS knowledge or attitude 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4a. 

4b. 

4C. 

4d. 

4e. 

4f. 

How m~ch would you say you know about AIDS? 

A lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Some . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

‘Little. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

In the past month, have you received information about AIDS from any of 

these sources?l 

Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Streetsigns/billboards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Store displays/store distributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Bus/streetcar/subwaydisplays.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Healthdepartmentbrochures... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., 

Workplace distributed brochures.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

School distributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Churchdistributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Communilyorganization. .,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Friend/acquaintance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ReceivednoAIDS informationinpast month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Have you heard the AIDS virus called HIV? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS can reduce the body’s natural protection against dkease. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS can damage the brain. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probeblytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probakdyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS isaninfectious disease caused by a virus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

A person can be infected with the AIDS virus and not have the disease 

AIDS. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ANY person with the AIDS virus can pass it onto someone else through 

sexual intercourse. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

A pregnanl women who has the AIDS virus can give it to her baby. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less than More than 

Total yeare years and over Male Female 72 years 12 years 12 years 

Percent distribution 

100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

19 23 23 16 19 9 14 28 

49 57 56 ; 48 50 31 51 55 

23 18 19 31 24 22 32 28 15 

9 2 2 20 9 9 28 7 2 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

78 79 78 77 79 77 74 78 79 

31 37 34 23 35 27 21 29 37 

44 48 48 37 42 46 27 41 54 

56 51 59 55 57 54 39 54 65 

11 16 12 6 12 9 6 9 14 

6 10 6 4 7 6 4 6 7 

3 5 4 2 4 3 2 2 5 

17 24 17 11 16 18 11 16 20 

11 12 16 6 11 11 4 10 16 

8 14 9 3 7 9 5 6 11 

4 3 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 

4 5 5 3 4 4 2 4 6 

12 19 13 7 12 12 9 11 14 

3 4 4 2 3 3 1 2 5 

1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 

11 9 10 14 11 12 17 11 8 

76 62 83 63 75 76 52 73 86 

22 17 15 33 23 21 44 25 11 

2 1 1 4 2 2 5 2 1 

82 87 89 70 82 81 58 81 92 

9 8 7 13 9 9 16 11 5 

1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 

1 1 1 2 2 3 2 0 

7 3 2 13 : 7 20 6 2 

42 40 44 42 43 42 39 42 44 

26 27 25 26 26 26 28 28 23 

8 11 9 5 8 8 4 7 10 

4 6 5 2 5 4 3 3 6 

19 16 16 25 18 21 27 20 16 

70 80 78 56 72 68 54 68 79 

15 12 12 19 14 15 19 16 12 

2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 

3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

10 4 5 19 9 11 21 10 5 

68 74 76 55 67 68 48 65 79 

16 14 14 20 17 16 20 18 13 

3 3 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 

3 4 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 

11 6 6 20 11 11 26 11 5 

88 93 91 82 87 89 82 88 90 

9 6 7 12 10 8 10 9 8 

1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 

0 0 0 0 0 0 : 0 

3 1 1 5 : 3 7 2 1 

86 90 89 60 84 88 77 86 90 

10 8 8 13 12 8 14 10 8 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

4 2 2 6 d 3 8 3 2 

See foolnoles at end of table. 
16 Advance Data No. 206 ● October 16,1991 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviewa of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the es:lmates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 yeara Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attituda Total yaare years and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 years 

4g. 

4h. 

4. 

5. 

5a. 

5b. 

5C. 

5d. 

Se. 

5f, 

5g 

There ara drugs available to treat AIDS or the AIDS virus which can 

lengthen the life of an infected person. 

Definitely trua, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Probably true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Probably false . . .’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Definitely false, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

There is a vaccine available to the public that protects a person from 

getting the AIDS virus, 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Probablytrue. , . . ...,,,.., ,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Probablyfalse ., ..,.,..,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Definitely false, .,, ...,,.,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

There isnocure for AIDS atprasent. 

Definiteiytrue, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 

Definitelyfaise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Don? know. ,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,, 4 

How likely do you think it is that a person will get AIDS or the AIDS 

wrus infection fromWorking near someone with the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Somewhatlikely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Somewhat unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Very unlikely..,.,......,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Don’tknow, ..,.......,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Eating in a restaurant where the cook has the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely. .,.......,.,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Somewhat unlikely....,,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

Definitely notpossible, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Sharing plates, forks, orglasses with someone whohasthe AIDS virus? 

Very likely,..,,......,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

Somewhat unlikely ...,...., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S 

Using public toilets? 

Very likely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Somewhatlikely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Somewhat unlikely ...,...., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Definitelynotpossible .,..., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Don’t know...........,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Sharing needles fordrug usewith someone who hasthe AIDS virus? 

Very likely. ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Somewhal unlikely ..,...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Very unlikely ., .,, ,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Definitely not possible ...,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Being coughed or sneezedon bysomeone whohasthe AIDS virus? 

Very likely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Very unlikely........,,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Definitely no! possible ..,,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Aftending school wi!h a child who has the AIDS virus? 

Very likely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Somewhat likely, ,,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Somewhat unlikely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Vey unlikely......,....,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Definitely not possible....,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Percent distribution 

51 53 40 48 47 34 44 57 

26 27 29 27 27 25 30 26 

7 5 5 6 5 6 6 5 

7 5 6 4 6 5 4 

10 9 2: 13 15 30 15 7 

2 2 2 2 2 3 2 

3 2 3 3 3 5 ; 2 

10 9 10 10 11 11 9 

76 79 :1 74 70 54 70 81 

9 6 23 12 16 28 15 7 

90 91 82 87 67 78 67 92 

5 5 6 6 6 8 7 5 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

2 1 2 ; 2 2 2 1 

2 2 7 4 4 10 4 2 

1 2 3 2 2 3 2 1 

5 5 6 6 5 7 6 4 

9 9 9 9 9 9 10 8 

42 43 41 43 41 41 44 

41 39 31 35 38 ;: 35 40 

2 3 10 5 5 13 5 2 

4 5 6 5 5 8 6 3 

18 17 16 18 17 20 20 15 

15 14 12 14 13 11 13 14 

36 37 30 34 34 26 32 39 

23 22 f8 20 21 17 19 24 

4 6 16 8 10 19 10 5 

8 10 10 10 13 11 7 

19 21 Q 22 20 23 22 19 

16 14 13 14 13 11 14 15 

32 31 25 30 29 22 26 34 

22 19 14 17 19 14 17 20 

4 5 14 8 9 17 8 5 

4 4 6 4 5 6 5 3 

11 11 15 12 13 17 14 9 

13 12 11 12 12 10 12 

37 40 34 39 36 28 :: 42 

30 29 20 26 26 19 24 31 

4 4 13 7 8 16 7 4 

98 98 93 96 96 91 97 96 

1 1 3 2 2 3 2 1 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

0 0 0 ; 0 0 0 0 

0 0 4 1 2 5 1 1 

6 7 10 7 8 11 6 6 

17 19 23 20 20 21 21 18 

16 16 13 15 14 12 14 16 

35 34 26 32 30 23 30 36 

2f 18 12 16 17 t3 16 19 

5 6 17 9 11 19 10 5 

1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 

4 6 4 7 5 4 

9 : 9 : 9 9 9 8 

43 45 42 42 37 43 46 

43 36 30 G 37 30 36 39 

1 3 12 5 6 15 5 2 

See ioc;notes at end of taale, 
Advance Data No. 206. October 16.1991 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Suwey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninetitutionafized population. The survey design, general quafificafions, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less than Mors than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years yeara and over Male Female 12 yeara 12 years 12 yeara 

Percent distribution. 5h. Mosquitoes 

Very iikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10 8 8 10 8 12 10 6 

Somewhat likefy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 21 17 16 19 17 20 20 15 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10 9 7 9 6 6 6 10 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 26 28 24 27 25 20 24 31 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 20 22 18 19 21 13 18 24 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 13 15 26 17 21 26 20 14 

or other insects? 

8. Have you ever discussed AIDS with any of your children aged 10-17?2 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 58 71 62 58 80 58 66 76 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 41 29 37 42 20 42 34 24 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

9. Have any or all of your children aged 10-17 had instruction at school 

about AIDS?2 

Yes. .,, ,, . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 80 74 74 70 77 68 73 78 

No, .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. s . . . . . . . . . 9 19 9 7 8 10 13 10 8 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 21 17 16 22 13 21 17 16 

10. Have you ever donated blood? 

Yes. . . . , . . . . . . . . ! o. . . . . 0 . 0 . . . . . . . . . I . . . I . . . . . 43 36 46 43 54 32 31 38 52 

No, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 64 54 56 45 66 69 82 46 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

ha. Have you donated blood since March 1985? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 26 21 21 24 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 74 79 9: 78 E 9; E 76 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 1 1 o 1 o 1 

Ilb, Have you donated blood In the past 12 months? 

Yes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 3 9 3 10 

No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 :: 90 96 90 9: 97 9: 89 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 

12. How many times have you donated blood since March 1985? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 10 5 2 6 6 3 6 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 4 1 2 : 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 11 12 4 1: 6 : 7 1: 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 

Did notdonate bloodsince March19853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 7: 79 92 7: 8! 9: 2 7: 

13. How many times have you donated blood in the past 12 months? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7 ‘5 2 5 3 2 4 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 1 2 1 0 1 : 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 1 2 2 

Don’:know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 : : : 

Did notdonate bIoodinthepast12 months’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 89 91 97 91 94 97 64 9; 

14. Have you ever heard of a blood teat that can detect the AIDS virus 

infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 87 89 69 82 80 64 00 90 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 12 9 26 16 17 32 17 9 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 5 2 3 4 3 1 

15. To the best of your knowledge, are blood donations routinely tested for 

the AIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 80 79 57 72 71 52 69 81 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 5 

Neverheardoftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 13 11 31 18 20 36 20 10 

16. Was one of your reasons for donating blood because you wanted to be 

tes!edfor the AIDSvirus infection?6 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 1 2 1 3 2 2 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 84 86 78 63 8S 73 80 S7 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 o 0 o 

Neverheard oftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 8 6 14 8 6 16 11 5 

17. Except for blood donations since 1985, hava you had your blood tested 

for the AIDS virus infection? 

Yes. . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 15 12 3 11 8 7 8 12 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 70 75 63 69 70 55 70 76 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 

Neverheard oftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 13 11 31 18 20 36 20 10 

18. How manv times have vou had vour blood tested for the AIDS virus 

infection, ;otincluding’blood d&ations? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 10 8 2 7 6 4 5 6 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 2 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 : 2 1 1 2 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : 0 

Neverheard of:hadtest’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 85 89 97 89 92 93 92 66 

Seefoomoles at end of tattle. 
18 Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Intewiew Suwey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are basec on household intetviewa of the civilian noninatitutlonalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on tha reliability of 

the esfimatea a-e given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Educat/on 

18-29 3&49 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years years and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 yeara 

for the AIDS virus Infection, not Including blood donations? Percent distribution 

None. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 6 2 5 4 3 4 6 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7 5 5 3 3 4 5 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1) : 1 0 0 0 1 

Threefimes ormore, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o : : 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’: know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Neverheard of’hadtest’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 85 86 97 89 92 93 92 86 

20a, Were the blood teats, including those you had before the past 12 

months, required or did you go for them voluntarily, or were there some 

of each?a 

19, How mafiy times In the past 12 months have you had your blood tested 

All required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 55 51 47 55 48 51 50 54 

All volunteered, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 41 44 48 40 47 46 45 41 

Some ofeach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 2 4 3 2 4 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 0 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 

20b, Wereanyoftheblood teetsrequiredfor:a 

Hosoitalizafion orasurgicsl procedure? . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . 12 11 10 22 9 16 22 13 10 

Hea;!h insurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 6 2 5 2 3 3 5 

Life insurance?. ,, ...,..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 6 14 0 13 6 4 6 14 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 7 5 7 6 4 6 6 

Milita~induction ormllitary setvice? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 19 7 5 18 3 3 13 12 

Immigration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 16 13 6 9 16 16 14 11 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

21, When was your last blood test for the AIDS virus infection?e 

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 26 29 27 29 28 32 30 27 

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 36 33 31 35 34 30 34 36 

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 18 16 16 16 18 16 16 17 

1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 6 11 11 10 10 6 11 10 

1986 . . . . . . . . . . .’....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 

1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 -r 

Don”tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 z 2 6 3 3 4 2 3 

22a. Was your last tasf required or did you go for it voluntarily?e 

Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 57 53 48 57 50 52 52 56 

Voluntary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 42 46 46 41 46 46 47 43 

Don”tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 

22b. Was the test required focE 

Hospitalization ora surgical procedure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 11 10 21 8 16 21 13 9 

Heafih insurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 6 2 5 3 2 3 5 

Life insurance?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . . . . . . . . 10 5 13 7 13 6 4 6 13 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 6 5 7 6 4 6 7 

Military induction ormilitarysewice? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 18 7 5 17 3 3 13 11 

Immigration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 14 11 a 8 16 17 13 to 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , -

23. Not including a blood donation, where was your last blood test for the 

AIDS virus done?a 

AIDSclinic/counseling/tesfingsite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 4 

Clinicrun byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 4 3 2 3 4 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 29 32 3: 27 35 30 29 33 

Public healthdepartment, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 5 3 5 7 9 6 5 

Hospital/emergencyroom/outpatient clinic . . . . . . . 26 23 25 36 21 31 37 29 21 

STD clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Family planning clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Prenatalclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 

Tuberculosis clinic . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

Otherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 5 4 5 5 3 4 6 

Drugtreatmentfacility, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Miliiaryinduction/sewicesite... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 16 7 6 18 3 3 14 11 

Immigration site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 

Other. ..,............,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 9 16 10 16 9 10 11 15 

Oon’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 

24. Before your last blood test for the AIDS virus infection, were you 

counseled about the AIDS virus and the meaning of the test?8 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 40 41 24 40 36 34 39 39 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 59 56 75 59 63 64 61 59 

Don’t know.........,.,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

25. Did you get the results of your last test?a 

YesU . . . . . . . . .. l........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 76 75 73 74 77 73 76 75 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 23 24 26 25 22 26 24 24 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 

See footnotes at end of table, 
1 Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 19 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Heaith Interview Survey, by seiected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninsfitufionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

1 

1 Age Sex Education 

18-29 3C49 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or atiitude Total years yea.% and over Male Female 12 yez?s 12 years 12 years 

Percent distribution 26. Did yQu want the results of your last test?g 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 36 34 19 34 30 42 27 34 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 60 63 74 62 66 53 71 S2 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 3 7 4 4 .5 3 4 

27. When you received the results of your last test. did you receive 

counseling or talk with a health professional about how to lower your 

chances of becoming. infected with the AIDS virus or how to avoid 

passing i:ontoanother person?lo 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 30 23 13 23 25 27 26 22 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 70 77 86 76 74 72 74 77 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 1 

28. Were the results given in person, by telephone, by mail, or in some 

other way?io 

Unperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5a 60 53 66 57 58 71 62 52 

Bytelephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 17 21 16 17 21 13 17 21 

Bymail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 15 18 13 18 14 10 15 18 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 7 4 8 4 6 9 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 2 1 : 1 0 1 

29. Do you feel your last test for the A19S virus infection was handled 

properly in terms of the confidentiality of your test results?a 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 93 90 91 90 93 90 92 91 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 6 6 6 4 6 5 5 

30. Do you expect to have a blood test for the AIDS virus infection in the 

next 12 monlhs? 

Yes. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 10 5 6 4 5 5 6 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 73 81 6: 73 74 56 72 a2 

Don7 know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 

Neverheard obtests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 13 11 31 16 20 36 20 10 

31. Tell me which of these statements explain why you will have the blood 

test: 11 

Voluntarily, because you personally want to know if you are 

infected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 64 55 43 54 63 67 63 51 

Aspartofablooddonation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 27 2s 30 30 25 24 27 30 

Aspartof ahospifalization orsurgicel procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9 10 18 9 13 13 12 9 

Asarequirementforhealth insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 8 8 9 8 11 10 6 

Asarequirementforfifeinsurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 7 9 8 6 9 7 7 

Asarequirementfor ajob.otherthan military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 12 14 9 12 13 11 13 12 

Asarequirementforthemifitary.,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 14 10 5 15 5 10 11 12 

Asarequirementforimmigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 

As a ‘equired part of some other activity that includes a blood 

sampleandautomaficAIDS testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 17 13 11 14 15 15 14 15 

32. Where will you go to have a blood test for the AIDS virus infection?l 1 

A!DSclinic/counseling/testingsite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 

Clinicrun byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 3 4 3 3 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 40 35 41 37 3: 3: 44 34 

Hospital/emergencyroom,Joutpatient cfinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 18 20 18 16 23 27 18 Is 

Otherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 4 3 4 7 6 4 6 

Public health depadment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 5 4 5 8 12 i 4 

Red Cross’blood bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 7 15 16 14 9 6 10 15 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 12 9 14 7 6 9 14 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 3 3 4 4 5 4 4 

33. Ddyouhavc abloodtransfusion atanytimc bctwcen1977 and 1985? 

yes . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3 5 8 6 6 7 5 5 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 97 94 90 93 93 91 94 94 

Donl know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 

34. Do you think the present supply of blood is safe for transfusions? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 58 53 41 5.s 46 36 47 58 

No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 26 28 30 25 31 33 31 25 

Donl know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 16 19 28 20 23 31 22 1.8 

35. How cffccfive do you think lhc usc of a condom is to prevent getting the 

AIDS virus through sexual oc!ivity? 

Verycffcctwc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 33 30 20 30 2.$ 17 25 33 

Somewhat cffccfivc, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-I 57 57 50 54 55 46 55 57 

Not atallcffcctivc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 4 4 3 5 G 4 3 

Don’tknowhowcffectivc .,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 6 8 2: 11 15 25 13 7 

Don’tknowmcthod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ 1 1 4 . 

. 2 5 2 1 

36. What arc yoi u c!mnccs of hi]\,]n<l this AIDS vmls~ 

Fiigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 @ 0 0 0 0 0 

Mcdwm, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2.1 Ifi g 1/: 1.1 10 14 21 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 72 79 8s it; l-u? 65 83 77 

Donlknowr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 s 1 1 3 1 0 

%2footnotesa: CT! d hhlc. 
20 Advance Data No. 206 ● October 16, 1991 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are gwen in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years years and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 years 

Percent distribution 37. What are you chances of getting the AIDS virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 0 00 0 0 0 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 32 3 3 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 :1 26 :3 25 20 12 19 :0 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 63 69 82 70 75 81 76 66 

Don’t know.........,.,.. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 1 2 21 4 1 1 

N/A-High chance of already having the AIDS wrus, . . . 0 00 0 00 0 0 ‘o 

38. Have you ever personally known anyone with A12S or the AIDS wrus? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,,,. 15 14 16 7 

~0 .,,.,,,,,,.,,...,,,,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 84 03 91 

Don’t know.,.,..,..,,,., ., .,,,,..,,,,,..,,.,.. . z 21 2 

39 Are any of these statements true for you? 

a, You have hemophilia and have received cloning factor concentrates 

since 1977. 

b. You are a native o! Haiti or Central or East Africa who has entered the 

United SIatas since 1977. 

c. You are a man who has had sex with another man at some tima 

since 1977, even 1 time. 

o. You have taken illegal drugs by neadle at any ume since 1977. 

e. Since 1977, you are or have baan the sex panner of any parson who 

would answer yas to any of the items above (39 a-d). 

f. You have had sex for money or drugs at any time since 1977. 

Yes toetleast l statement ..., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 2 42 2 2 

Notoall statemente, ,,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 ,96 97 :9 :7 98 ;6 ;6 98 

Don’tknow, ., .,, ,., .,,.,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o 00 000 0 0 0 

1Multiple responses may sum to more than 100. &ed on per~on~ answering yes to que~lion 6, ‘IDOYOUhave any chddren aged 10 through 17?’ OUeStiOn 7 waS “FIow rnanY do You hav.sv 

3Personsanswering no or don’t know to C/uf?StiOn 10 or 11a, 

4Persons answering no or don’1know to question 10, 11a, or 11a, 5Persons ~nSwering no or aon’1 know to cwestjon 14. 

6BaSed on per$o”s answering yes to quesm 11a 

‘Persons answering no or don’t know to quest tons 14 or 17. aFJa~edOnpersons anSWering yea to quastlon 17. 

~~ersons a“sweri”g “o or don’t kmv to question 25. 

Based on persona anawering yes to questum 25, 

11 Baaed O“ perSO”a anSWering yes to queatlOn 30. 
Advance Data No. 206 ● October 16,1991 21 

Each 

Technical notes Table I contains the estimated made using the final 1990 data file 

population size of each of the because they were calculated using a 

The National Health Interview demographic subgroups included in simplified weighting procedure that 

Survey (hTHIS) is a continuous, crosssectional household interview survey. 

tables 1 and 2 to allow readers to 

derive provisional estimates of the 

does not adjust for all the factors 

used in weighting the finaI data file. 

week, a probability sample of number of people in the United A final data file covering the entire 

the civilian noninstitutionalized States with a given characteristic, for 1990 data collection period will be 

population residing in the United example, the number of non-Hispanic available at the end of 1991. 

States is interviewed by personnel of black women who have had their 

the U.S. Bureau of the Census to blood tested for HIV. The population 

obtain information on the health and figures in table I are based on 1989 

other characteristics of each member data from the NHIS; they are not 

of the household. Information on official population estimates. Tables 

special health topics is collected for II and III show approximate standard 

all or a sample of household errors for most of the estimates 

members. The 1990 National Health presented in tables 1 and 2. The 

Interview Survey of AIDS Knowledge reader is cautioned about comparing 

and Attitudes is asked of one estimates when the denominator is 

randomly chosen adult 18 years of small (for example, when looking only 

age or over in each family. The at those persons who did not receive 

estimates in this report are based on the results of their HIV antibody 

completed interviews with 5,293 test). Both the estimates in tabIes 1 

non-Hispanic black and 30,996 and 2 and the standard errors in 

non-Hispanic white individuals, about tables H and III are provisional. They 

87 percent of eligible respondents. may differ slightly from estimates 

Table L Non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white sample sizes for the 1990 National Health Interview Suwey of AIDS Knowledge and 

Attitudes and estimated non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white adult populations 18 years of age and over, by selected 

characteristics: United States, 1990. 

Sample size Estimated population in thousands 

Characteristic 

Non-Hispanic 

black 

Non-Hispanic 

white 

Non-Hispanic ‘ 

Black 

Non-Hispanic

White 

All adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 5,293 30,99s 19,656 140,451 

Age 

lS-29years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,31s S,666 6,075 32,918 

30-49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,15S 12,159 7,s49 55,521 

50 years and over . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,817 12,171 5,732 52,012 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,644 13,292 8,749 67,116

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,449 17,704 10,906 73,336 

Education 

Lessthan12years . . . . . . . . . . . 1,736 5,s45 6,071 24,319 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.069 12,055 7,913 56,256 

More than 12 years . . . . . . . . . . . 1,481 13,31s 5,570 59,498 

Table Il. Standard errors, expressed in percentage points, of estimated percents for non-Hispanic black adults from the 1990 National 

Health Interview Survey of AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990. 

Age Sex Education 

78-29 30-49 50 years Less than More than 

Estimated percent Total yeara years and over Male Female 12 yeara 12 yeara 12 yeara 

5or 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.s 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.7 

100r 90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 1.1 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.8 1.0 

150r 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.3 1.0 1.1 1.1. 0.s 1.1 1.0 1.2 

200r80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 1.4 1.1 1.2 1.2 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.3 

250r 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.s 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.3 0.9 1.3 1.2 1.5 

30cr 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.0 1.4 1.3 1.5 

350r 65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.8 1.7 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.0 1.5 1.3 1.6 

400r 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.1 1.5 1.4 1.6 

450r 55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 1.s 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.1 1.5 1.4 1.7 

50 . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 1.8 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.1 1.5 1.4 1.7 
22 Advance Data No. 206. October 16,1991 

Table Ill. Standard errors, expressed In percentage points, of estimated percents for non-Hispanic white adults from the 1990 National 

Health Interview Survey of AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990. 

Age Sex Education 

18–29 3049 50 years Less than More than 

.Estirnated percent Total yeara years and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 yeara 

5or95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.2 

100r80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 

150r85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.4 

200r 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.4 

250r 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0,7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 

300r70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.5 

350r66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.5 

400r 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.5 

450r55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.6 

50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.6 
23 Advance Data No. 206s October 16.1991 

Symbols 

-–– Data not available 

. . . Categoy not applicable 

Quantity zero 

0.0 Quapt”@ more than zero but less 

than 0.05 

z Quantity more than zero but less 

than 500 where numbers are 

rounded to thousands 

* Figure does not meet standard of 

reliability or precision (estimate has 

relative standard error of more 

than 30 percent) 

# Figure suppressed to comply with 

confidentiality requirements 
24 Advance Data No. 206. October 16.1991 

Suggested citation 

Hardy AM, Biddlecom AE. AIDS knowledge 

and attitudes of black Americana: United Copyright Information 

States, 1990. Advance data from vital and 

health statistics; no 206. Hyattsville, Maryland: This report may be reprinted without further 

National Center for Health Statistics. 1991. permission. 
●

Number 207 . October 17, 1991 

Advance 

IIData 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes of Hispanic Americans: 

United States, 1990 

Provisional Data From the National Health Interview Survey 

by Ann E. Biddlecom, M.A., and Ann M. Hardy, Dr.P.H., Division of Health Interview Statistics 

Introduction 

This report is one of two special 

reports examining awareness of 

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 

(AIDS) and the human 

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among 

racial and ethnic minority groups of 

the U.S. population. Based on data 

collected in the 1990 National Health 

Interview Suwey (NHIS), this report 

describes various aspects of 

AIDS-related knowledge and HIV 

antibody testing experience for 

Hispanic adults 18 years of age and 

over. It presents differentials by age, 

sex, education, and specific Hispanic 

ancestry for the Hispanic population 

residing in the United States and 

compares selected measures with the 

non-Hispanic white population. The 

first of these special reports 

(Advanced Data From Vital and 

Health Statistics No. 206) presents 

data for non-Hispanic black adults. 

The National Center for Health 

Statistics (NCHS) has included 

*w~czs.e 

questions about AIDS in the NHIS 

since 1987. Data concerning the adult 

population’s knowledge about AIDS 

and transmission of HIV are coIIected 

to assist in the pIanning and 

monitoring AIDS educational 

programs. Since the initiation of the 

NHIS AIDS sumey, its scope has 

widened to include more questions on 

HIV testing and blood donation 

experience and a general risk behavior 

question similar to that asked by the 

American Red Cross of potential 

blood donors. Detailed information on 

the h’HIS AIDS survey sample is 

contained in the Technical notes at the 

end of this report. 

The first AIDS Knowledge and 

Attitudes Survey was in the field from 

August–December 1987. Provisional 

results of that survey were published 

monthly in Advanced Data From 

Vital and Health Statistics (Nos. 146, 

148, 150, 151, and 153). In 1988 the 

NHIS AIDS questionnaire was 

revised and this version of the survey 

entered the field in May 1988. 

Provisional findings for the remainder 

of 1988 were published periodically 

(Advance Data From lZtal and Health 

Statistics Nos. 160, 161, 163, 164, 167, 

and 175). Although data on Hispanic 

adults have been included in all 

reports, two special reports focused in 

detail on minority populations and 

were published using 1988 data 

(Advance Data From V7tal and Health 

Statistics Nos. 165 and 166). 

The 1988 AIDS questionnaire 

was used without modification 

throughout 1989 and results were 

pubIished on a quarterly basis 

(Advanced Data From Vital and 

Health Statistics Nos. 176, 179, 183, 

and 186). For 1990 the AIDS 

questionnaire was revised again, with 

added emphasis on HIV testing 

procedures and on the distinction 

between HIV testing in connection 

with blood donation and testing for 

other reasons. Provisional findings 

have been published quarterly in 

Advance Data From V2tal and 

$

@ J.. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

2* Public Health Service 

!5 

. Centers for Disease Control

%>

# 5

%.+.,zaManning 

National 

Feinleib, 

Center 

M.

for 

D., 

Health 

Dr. P.

Statistics 

H., Director CENTERS 

CDC FOR DISEASE CONTROL 
2 Advance Data No. 207 ● October 17.1991 

Health Smfistics Nos. 193, 195, 198, 

and 204. 

The NHIS AIDS questionnaires 

have been deveIoped by NCHS and 

an Interagency Task Force created by 

the Public Health Service Data Policy 

Committee. The Task Force included 

representatives from the Centers for 

Disease Control; Office of the 

Assistant Secretary for Health; 

National AIDS Program Office; 

h’ational Institutes of Health; 

Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental 

Health Administration; Food and 

Drug Administration; and Health 

Resources and Services 

Administration. 

This report presents provisional 

data for 1990 for most items included 

in the AIDS questionnaire. Tables 1 

and 2, for Hispanic and non-Hispanic 

white adults, respectively, show 

percent distributions by response 

categories according to age, sex, and 

education. In most cases, the actual 

questions asked are reproduced 

verbatim in the tables along with the 

response categories. A few questions 

and responses have been rephrased 

or combined for more concise 

presentation of results. Refusals and 

other nonresponse categories 

(generally less than 1 percent of total 

responses) are excluded from the 

denominator in the calculation of 

estimates, but responses of “don’t 

know” are included. The NHIS AIDS 

survey uses the phrase “the AIDS 

virus” rather than “HIV” because it 

is felt to be more widely recognized; 

however, in this report the two terms 

are used synonymously, 

The population subgroups in this 

report reflect the respondents’ 

characterizations of both race and 

ethnic origin. For each member of a 

household, the household respondent 

for the main NHLS interview was 

asked, “What is the number of the 

group [on this card] that represents 

[name of sample person]’s race?” The 

choices on the response card were 

Aleut, Eskimo, or American Indian; 

Asian or Pacific Islander; black; 

Jvhite: and another group not listed. 

The household respondent was then 

asked “Are any of these groups 

[name of sample person]’s national 

origin or ancestry?” The choices on 

the list were Puerto Rican, Cuban, 

Mexican/Mexicano, Mexican 

American, Chicano, other Latin 

Anerican, and other Spanish. The 

“Puerto Rican” category in table 1 

includes only persons classified as 

Puerto Rican and the “Mexican” 

catego~ in table 1 includes persons 

classified as Mexican/Mexicano, 

Mexican Anerican, or Chicano. The 

“other Hispanic” category includes all 

the other diverse Hispanic groups 

listed above, none of which was 

sufficiently large to analyze 

individually. Hispanic persons for 

whom the specific group of origin was 

unknown were not included in any of 

these categories but were included in 

the Hispanic total and breakdowns by 

age, sex, and education. Persons for 

whom it was not known whether they 

were of Hispanic origin were 

excluded from the analysis and do not 

appear in either table 1 or table 2. It 

shouId be noted that for those 

respondents speaking only Spanish, 

interviews were conducted by a 

bilingual intemiewer or through other, 

household members. 

While the population subgroup 

highlighted in this report is the same 

as that in the 1988 report on Hispariic 

Americans, the comparison groups 

differ. In 1988 the comparison group 

of non-Hispanics included alI races. 

In this report, the comparison group 

is restricted to non-Hispanic white 

persons, It is important to note that 

persons classified as Hispanic maybe 

white, black, or other race. Three 

Hispanic subgroups (Puerto Ricans, 

Mexicans, and other Hispanics) are 

featured in this report as a result of 

the increasing need for information 

about specific Hispanic subpopulations. It should be noted that 

the Puerto Rican subgroup in this 

report includes only Puerto Rican 

adults residing in the United States 

and not those residing in Puerto Rico 

or other U.S. territories. In addition, 

some of the AIDS survey questions 

were revised in actual wording or in 

context and location between 1988 

and 1990. For these reasons, 

comparisons between this report and 

the 1988 report must be made 

cautiously. Several of the more 

dramatic changes across time will be 

highlighted in this analysis. 

Selected findings 

Patterns of knowledge and 

attitudes about AIDS and HIV were 

similar within the Hispanic 

population and the U.S. population 

as a whole, with the greatest levels of 

knowledge occurring among the 

young and the well-educated. There 

are exceptions, though, especially in 

the area of general knowledge about 

AIDS. The folIowing highlights 

describe various aspects of AIDS 

knowledge and attitudes from the 

NHIS data for 1990, focusing on 

differences within. the Hispanic 

population and differences between 

Hispanic and non-Hispanic white 

adults. Urdess otherwise noted, all 

differences cited in the text are 

statistically significant at the .05 level 

(see tables II and HI for approximate 

standard errors of estimates). 

Sources of information and 

communication about AIDS and 

L/lV-During 1990, 88 percent of 

Hispanic adults reported having 

received information about AIDS 

from any source in the month 

preceding the NHIS. Of those who 

did receive information, television 

was not only the most frequently 

cited source (77 percent) but also the 

source which varied little among 

sociodemographic groups. Written 

sources were the next most reported 

sources of AIDS information: 

43 percent read about AIDS in 

newspapers and 37 percent received 

AIDS information in magazines. A 

noticeable difference emerged 

between Hispanic and non-Hispanic 

white individuals in the proportion 

who had read about AIDS in 

newspapers (43 percent compared 

with 56 percent) and in magazines 

(37 percent compared with 

44 percent). Almost one-third 

(32 percent) of Hispanic adults 

received information about AIDS on 

the radio – a figure comparable to 

that within the non-Hispanic white 

population. 

Differences in mediums of 

information about AIDS among 

Hispanic subpopulations were aIso 
--

7R 

Advance Data No. 207. 

100r 

ReoeivedinformationaboutAIDS from television 

Rn 81 

ao 74 

60 

40 

20 

r 

100 

So 

0 1

t 

60~ ReoeivedinformationaboutAIDS from magazines 

I 50 

40 

20 

0 

October 17.1991 3 

~Mexican =P.erto Rican m other .isp..i. 

Received informationabout AIDS from newspaper 

59 

Children 10-17 years of age received AIDS 

educationin school 

.- ?4 

65 

SOURCE: National Cemef fw liesflh Stetistiq DMsbn of Health Interfkw StaUsItcs, Nat$onal Health Intewiew Surfey. 

. . . 

Figure 1: Provisional estimates of percent of Hispanic adults exposed to selected sources of AIDS information, by Hispanic subgroup: 

United States, 1990. 

evident, especially for written sources 

(see figure 1). For example, Mexicanorigin adults were the least likely and 

Puerto Rican adults were the most 

likely to have read about AIDS in a 

newspaper (37 percent compared to 

59 percent). This was also true for 

those who read about AIDS in a 

magazine. Puerto Rican and other 

Hispanic adults were equally likely to 

receive information about AIDS via 

television, but Mexican-origin adults 

had the lowest percentage of hearing 

about AIDS through this medium. 

Overall, some of the most 

noticeable differences in sources of 

AIDS information were by education 

level, especially for written sources. 

For example, the proportion of 

individuals who had ever read about 

AIDS in a magazine, increased from 

one quarter (25 percent) of Hispanic 

adults with less than 12 years of 

school to more than half (55 percent) 

of those adults with more than 12 

years of school. There were no 

significant differences by education 

level for either radio or television. 

Only 57 percent of Hispanic 

parents with children between the 

ages of 10 and 17 years reported that 

they had ever discussed AIDS with 

their children, compared with almost 

70 percent of their non-Hispanic 

white counterparts. Mexican~origin 

pzyents were much less likely to have 

ever discussed AIDS with their 

children ,(50 percent) relative to other 

Hispanic adults (64 percent) and 

Puerto Rican parents (74 percent). 

There was a strong positive 

association between the proportion of 

Hispanic- parents who ever’ discussed 

AIDS with their children and ~ 

parental’ education. Gender 

differences were also substantial 

among Hispanic adults: two-thirds 

(66 percent) of women compared 

with less than half (45 percent) of 

men had ever discussed AIDS with 

their children. Hispanic parents were 

also less likely than non-Hispanic 

white parents to report that their 

childr~n had receiv~d AIDS 

education in school (69 percent 

compared \vith 74 percent). 

When asked if they have ever 

personally known anyone with AIDS 

or the AIDS virus, 15 percent of 

Hispanic adults responded that they 

. had – the same proportion as for 

non-Hispanic white adults. Yet there 

were particularly striking differences 

among Hispanic subpopulations. 

Almost one-third (30 percent) of 

Puerto Rican individuals had ever 

known someone with AIDS compared 

with 19 percent of other Hispanic 

persons and just 10 percent of 

1 
4 Advance Data No. 207. October 17, 1991 

~ Less than 12years WI* years R kfore than 12years 

AIDS can reduce tie (Sq 

body’s 

againstdisease. 84 (92) 

AIDS is an infectous (54) 

disease caused by (6a) a virus. 

(79) 

natural protection (81) 

A person can be infected (48) 

with the AIDS virus and not (65) 

have the dk.eese AIDS. 

(79) 

There are drugs available to (34) 

treat AIDS or the AIDS virus 

rnfection which can lengthen (44) 

the [ifOof an infected parson. (57) 

(39) 

AIDS can damage the brain. 47 (42) 

(44) 

o 20 40 60 80 lCO 

SOURCE: Natbnel CenIer for Heafth Stxls+cs, Dtvisbn c# Healrn Intewiew etatbdcs, Naticaal HeeivI Interview Survey. 

NOTE: Figures in parentheses are mmpw.gble e611matesfor non.Hkpank whlfe adul!e. 

Fiaure 2. Provisional estimates of Percent of Hispanic adults who thought selected statements about AIDS definitely true, by years of 

ed-ucation: United States, 1990. “ 

persons of Mexican origin. Hispanic 

adults with more than 12 years of 

education were much more likely to 

have known someone with AIDS or 

the AIDS virus than those persons 

with less than 12 years of education 

(26 percent compared with 9 

percent). 

General AIDS knowledge - In 

terms of self-assessed knowledge 

about AIDS, 19 percent of Hispanic 

adults stated that they knew a lot 

about AIDS, 38 percent some, 

29 percent a little, and 14 percent 

nothing. Of those Hispanic adults 

tvith less than 12 years of education, 

3S percent felt they knew a lot or 

some about AIDS compared with 

80 percent of those with over 12 years 

of education. A significant difference 

in self-assessed knowledge about 

AIDS by Hispanic subpopulation was 

also evident: 49 percent of Mexicanorigin adults thought they knew a lot 

or some compared with 66 and 67 

percent of other Hispanic ‘and Puerto 

‘Rican adults, respec~ively. In 

comparison, non-Hispanic white 

adults were as likely to feel that they 

knew a Iot about AIDS (19 percent), 

more likely to know some 

(49 percent), and less likely to feel 

that they knew little or nothing (23 

and 9 percent). 

The proportion of Hispanic 

adults who correctly identified the 

major modes of AIDS transmission 

(sexual intercourse, perinatal contact, 

and shared needles for drug use) was 

relatively high for aIl sociodemographic groups, although 

persons of Mexican origin were least 

likely to correctIy identify these 

routes of transmission compared with 

Puerto Rican or other Hispanic 

adults, For other facts about AIDS, 

education differentials were evident, 

regardless of Hispanic origin. Adults 

50 years of age and over were aIso 

less likely to identify correctly 

selected statements about AIDS and 

the AIDS virus as definitely true or 

false. 

Figure ~ illustrates the variations 

in objective measures of general 

knowledge about AIDS by education 

level w’ithin the Hispanic population 

(comparable percentages for the 

non-Hispanic white population are in 

parentheses). In general, adults with 

less than 12 years of school were less 

knowledgeable about the basic facts , 

about AIDS than were those aduIts 

with 12 or more years school. For 

example, the proportion of Hispanic 

adults who knew that a person can be 

infected with the AIDS virus and not 

have the disease AIDS varied from 

38 percent of individuals with less 

than 12 years of education to 71 

percent of those with more than 12 

years of education. Furthermore. less 

than half (46 percent) of Hispanic 

adults with under 12 years of school 

knew that AIDS can reduce the 

body’s natural protection against 

disease compared with 84 percent of 

those adults with more than 12 years 

of education. 

From 198S-90, there were several 

noticeable increases in the proportion 

of Hispanic adults who correctly 

identified the facts about AIDS and 

the AIDS virus. The largest change 

occurred in the proportion of 

Hispanic adults who knew that AIDS 
Advance Data No. 207 ● October 17,1991 5 

~L.ess than 12years &j12yesrs - Mxethan 12years 

(43) (33) 

(51) (42) 

(63) (49) 

(67) (68) 

(79) 5 (76) 

83 (ri.q 78 (84) 

Sharing plates, forks, or glasses with someone Seing coughed on or sneezed on by 

who has the AIDS virus some who has the AIDS virus 

(36) (36) 

5!5 (s4) 

o 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 80 80 100 

SOURCE National Center for Heam Stal’ktks, Ok’islon of Health Interview Statiatks,NationalHealth Interview Sufvey, 

NOTE Figures m paramhese+ ●re comparable est!mates for non.l+ispfmk while adults. 

-.. . . . . . . . . I-lgure 3. provisional estimates of percent of Hispanic aduits who thought it very unlikeiy or definitely not possibie to become Infectea 

with the AIDS virus in selected ways, by years of education: United States, 1990. 

can damage the brain: only onequarter (25 percent) correctly 

identified this statement as true in 

1988 compared with 43 percent of 

Hispanic adults in 1990. A further 

substantial increase in AIDS 

knowIedge over time occurred for the 

statement concerning individuals who 

have the AIDS virus and who do not 

have the disease AIDS - correct 

responses rose from 41 percent to 

52 percent of Hispanic adults from 

198$90, 

A new questionnaire item was 

added to the general AIDS 

knowledge section in the 1990 survey 

to ascertain responses to the 

statement that there are drugs 

available that can extend the life of 

an HIV-infected person. Hispanic 

persons were less likely than 

non-Hispanic white persons to state 

that this was true, 36 percent 

compared with 48 percent. As 

illustrated in figure 2, the percent 

correctly responding to this statement 

significantly incrcascd as education 

level increased for both groups. 

&fi.fpcrcq>[ions ubout HIV 

fratistni.s.sion– The NHIS AIDS 

questionnaire asked respondents to 

estimate the risk of HI\7 transmission 

associated with several forms of 

casual contact with HIV-infected or 

potentially infected individuals, such 

as working near someone who has 

AIDS or using public toilets. Of the 

five response options for the likelihood of transmission, both “very 

unlikely” and “definitely not 

possible” were interpreted as correct 

responses, even for forms of contact 

where our current understanding of 

the virus indicates that there is 

definitely no possibility of transmission. The decision to accept “very 

unlikely” as correct was based on the 

large numbers of respondents who 

chose that option, seemingly unwilling 

to commit themselves to the concept 

of a zero probability. 

Despite the generally high Ievcls 

of understanding about the three 

m:ljor modes of tr:insmission of 

AIDS, misperceptions about the 

likelihood of transmission through 

casual contact persisted, with 

particu[ariy striking differences 

bctwccn Fiispanic and non-Hispanic 

white aciults. In contrast to other 

areas of AIDS knowlc(ige and 

attitudes. diffcrcnccs between 

Hispanic subpopulations with regard 

to misperceptions of AIDS 

transmission were small and almost 

always insignificant. Figure 3 shows 

the proportions of Hispanic adults 

and non-Hispanic white aduIts by 

education level who correctIy 

identified the low or nonexistent risks 

associated with various forms of 

casual contact with HIV-infected 

persons. In general, as the Ievcl of 

education rises, the proportion of 

aclults with misperceptions about HIV 

transmission declines. For example, 

55 pcrccnt of Hispanic adults with 

less than 12 years of education 

thought it very unlikely or definitely 

not possible to bccomc infected ~vith 

the AIDS virus from “working near 

someone with the AIDS virus” 

compared with 78 pcrccnt of Hispanic 

a(iults with more than 12 years of 

education. 

The forms of contact pcrceivcd as 

most threatening by both Hispanic 

adults and non-Hispanic white adults 

were those that involved potential 

cxchangc of saliva or blood. Even 

among the most cducatcd, under half 

(49 pcrccnt) of Hispanic adults ~vith 

more than 12 years of cciucation 

thought it very unlikely or definitely 

not possible to get AIDS or the AIDS 

virus from mosquitoes or other 
6 Advance Data No. 207. October 17, 1991 

insects; for non-Hispanic white adults, 

the comparable proportion was 55 

percent. Hispanic and non-Hispanic 

white adults with more than 12 years 

of school were about equally likely to 

correctly identify the low to nonexistent risk of becoming infected 

with the AIDS virus for most of the 

casual contact questions. 

Blood donation and HIV 

testing – Approximately one-quarter of 

Hispanic adults reported that they 

had ever donated blood. Hispanic 

males \vere more likely than Hispanic 

femaIes to have been past blood 

donors (32 percent compared with 

21 percent); the proportion who 

reported ever donating also increased 

by years of education. Non-Hispanic 

white adults were more likely than 

Hispanic adults to have reported ever 

donating blood (43 percent). The 

demographic patterns of blood 

donation noted among the Hispanic 

population were also seen in the 

non-Hispanic white population. 

Eleven percent of Hispanic adults 

indicated they had donated blood 

since hiarch 1985 when routine 

screening of donated blood for HIV 

antibodies began. Of these, 5 percent 

had donated only once and the 

remaining 6 percent donated on two 

or more occasions. Again, blood 

donations increased with education, 

By comparison, 17 percent of 

non-Hispanic white aduks donated 

blood since March 19S5. Four percent 

of Hispanic adults and 7 percent of 

non-Hispanic white adults donated 

blood in the past year, For each 

group, most had donated only once 

nnd the same pattern of increased 

clonations by education was noted. 

More than two-thirds 

(69 percent) of Hispanic adults had 

heard of the blood test to detect HIV 

antibodies, This figure is not 

statistically different from the 

65 percent who had heard of the test 

in 198S. The percent who were aware 

of the test in 1990 varied by age, 

education, and Hispanic origin. Only 

58 percent of Hispanic persons 

50 years of age and over had heard of 

the test compared with 76 percent of 

Hispanic adults 30-49 years of age. 

The proportion w410had heard of the 

test ran:cd from 57 percent of those 

with less than 12 years of education 

to 85 percent of those with more than 

12 years. By ethnic group, Puerto 

Rican adults were the most 

knowledgeable about the test 

(78 percent aware), and Mexican 

Americans were the least aware 

(65 percent). Awareness of the 

antibody test was higher among 

non-Hispanic white adults (81 

percent). The same patterns of 

awareness by age and education were 

also noted among non-Hispanic white 

persons, but within all 

sociodemographic categories, 

awareness was higher among 

non-Hispanic white adults than 

among Hispanic adults. 

Slightly more than half 

(55 percent) of Hispanic adults knew 

that blood donations are routinely 

tested for HIV infection. This figure 

is similar to that reported in 1988 

(51 percent). Again, the proportion of 

Hispanic adults who believed blood 

donations are tested varied widely by 

years of education, from 43 percent 

of those with less than 12 years to 

71 percent of those with more than 

12 years of education. Overall, a 

higher proportion of non-Hispanic 

white adults (71 percent) knew that 

blood donations are screened. Some 

of this difference is due to the lower 

percentage of Hispanic adults who 

knew of the HIV antibody test 

compared to non-Hispanic white 

adults. However, even among those 

aware of the HIV test, Hispanic 

persons were still less aware than 

non-Hispanic white persons that 

donations are tested. 

In the 1990 survey, a new 

question assessed what percentage of 

those who had donated blood since 

HIV screening began in 1985, did so, 

at least in part, to be tested for 

AIDS. For Hispanic adults who had 

donated during that time, the figure 

was 2 percent, essentially the same as 

that reported for non-Hispanic white 

donors. In both groups, no 

differences were noted by other 

sociodemographic characteristics. 

Excluding testing performed as 

part of bIood donation, 16 percent of 

Hispanic adults reported that they 

had been tested for antibodies to 

HIV. For non-Hispanic white adults 

the figure was lower, 9 percent. The 

difference between these two racial 

and ethnic groups is even more 

striking when one considers that 

fewer Hispanic adults were aware of 

HIV testing. Almost one-quarter 

(23 percent) of Hispanic persons who 

were aware of the antibody test have 

been tested compared with 11 percent 

of knowledgeable non-Hispanic white 

adults. In both groups, testing 

increased with years of education and 

was highest among those 18-29 years 

of age compared with older adults. If 

testing through blood donation is also 

included, then a total of 25 percent of 

Hispanic adults and 24 percent of 

non-Hispanic white adults have been 

tested for antibodies to HIV. These 

figures are higher t,han those seen in 

1988; 14 percent overall for Hispanic 

adults and 17 percent for 

non-Hispanic white adults. 

The remainder of this section 

deals only with HIV antibody testing 

exclusive of testing done in 

conjunction with blood donation. For 

both Hispanic and non-Hispanic 

white adults, the majority (69 percent 

and 67 percent, respectively) who had 

been tested, had been tested ordy 

once. Overall, for both Hispanic and 

non-Hispanic white adults, HIV 

antibody tests were more likely to be 

required than voluntary. However the 

proportion required for Hispanic 

adults was higher than for 

non-Hispanic white adults (61 percent 

compared with 52 percent of tests 

required). Within the Hispanic 

population, 70 percent of the tests 

done for Mexican &nericans were 

required, while for Puerto Ricans the 

proportion of required tests was much 

smaller, 21 percent. Examination of 

the reasons for required testing 

provides some insight into these 

differences. ‘For Hispanic individuals 

in general, the most commonly cited 

reason for required testing was 

immigration (mentioned as the reason 

for testing by 39 percent of all 

Hispanic adults tested). For Mexican 

Americans, immigration accounted 

for 55 percent of all nonblood 

donation-related HIV antibody tests. 

Since Puerto Rican adults are not 

immigrants, they were not tested for 

this reason. Employment was 
Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 7 

mentioned as the reason for testing 

by 6 percent of Hispanic adults tested 

and hospitalization or surgery was 

reported by 5 percent. For 

non-Hispanic white adults, the 

reasons were somewhat different. 

Hospitalization or surgeq was cited 

most often (12 percent), military 

induction was next (11 percent), 

followed by life insurance 

(10 percent) and employment (7 

percent). Immigration accounted for 

only 1 percent of those tested. Similar 

figures were noted for the proportion 

of tests required and the reasons 

mentioned for required testing when 

only the last HIV antibody test was 

focused on. 

Despite the differences in the 

reasons for testing between Hispanic 

aduhs and non-Hispanic white adults, 

the two most frequently reported 

places for the last antibody test for 

both groups were doctor’s office or 

HMO (listed by 45 percent of 

Hispanic adults and 31 percent of 

non-Hispanic white adults), and 

hospital, emergency room, or 

outpatient clinic (mentioned by 

13 percent and 26 percent, 

respectively). The third most common 

site among Hispanic persons tested 

was a pubIic health department 

(mentioned by 10 percent), while 

among non-Hispanic white aduIts it 

was a military induction site reported 

by 11 percent. 

Of Hispanic adults who were 

tested, 39 percent reported also 

receiving pretest counseling about 

AIDS and the meaning of the test. 

This figure was similar for 

non-Hispanic white adults tested 

(38 percent). The majority of both 

Hispanic adults and non-Hispanic 

white adults who were tested got 

their results (83 percent and 

75 percent, respectively). Those who 

did not get their results may inciude 

some individuals whose results were 

not yet available at “the time of 

interview. For both groups, about 

one-third of those who had not gotten 

their results reportedly wanted them. 

Only about. one-third (35 percent) of 

Hispanic adults who got their results 

also indicated that they received 

posttest counseling about risk 

reduction and/or prevention of HIV 

transmission. For non-Hispanic white 

persons who were tested and got their 

results, the percentage who ako 

received posttest counseling was even 

lower at 24 percent. Hispanic persons 

were more likely to have received 

their results in person (87 percent) 

when compared with non-Hispanic 

white persons (58 percent), while 

non-Hispanic white persons were 

more likely to have received their 

results in the mail (16 percent 

compared with 5 percent) or by 

telephone (19 percent compared with 

5 percent). This larger proportion of 

Hispanic adults who got their results 

in person may help explain in part 

the somewhat larger proportion who 

also received posttest counseling. 

Over 90 percent of both Hispanic 

adults and non-Hispanic white adults 

who were tested felt their results 

were handled properly in terms of 

confidentiality. 

Ten percent of Hispanic adults 

reported that they plan to be tested 

for HIV infection in the next year. 

This figure was somewhat higher for 

those 18-29 years of age compared 

with those 50 years and over 

(12 percent compared with 5 

percent). No other sociodemographic 

differences were noted. Only 

5 percent of non-Hispanic white 

adults reported that they planned to 

be tested. 

Among Hispanic persons with 

plans to be tested, 81 percent said 

they would do so voluntarily because 

they personally wanted to know if 

they were infected. Twenty-three 

percent indicated the reason would 

be for blood donation and 16 percent 

said they would be tested as a 

requirement for a nonmilitary job 

(note: percentages sum to more than 

100 percent because respondents may 

choose more than one reason for 

being tested). Among non-Hispanic 

white individuals with plans to be 

tested, the top three reasons cited 

were the same: 58 percent indicated 

it would be voluntary because they 

wanted to know their infection status, 

2S percent listed blood donation as 

the reason for their future test, and 

13 percent stated it would be a 

requirement for a nonmilita~ job. As 

with HIV testing that has already 

been done, a private doctor or HMO 

was mentioned most often as the site 

for future HIV testing followed by 

hospital, emergency room, or 

outpatient cIinic by both nonHispanic white and Hispanic adults. 

Prevention and perceived risk of 

HIV infection –The 1990 NHIS again 

asked respondents about their 

perception of the efficacy of condoms 

as a means of preventing the sexual 

transmission of the AIDS virus. 

Hispanic adults were less likely than 

non-Hispanic white adults to state 

that condoms were “very effective” or 

“somewhat effective” (71 percent 

compared with 81 percent). An even 

larger difference in response occurred 

among Hispanic subgroups: 

32 percent of Puerto Rican adults 

rated condoms as “very effective” 

compared with only 22 percent of 

Mexican or other Hispanic persons. 

Differences in response to the 

question of perceived effectiveness of 

condoms were not evident among 

sociodemographic groups, except by 

education Ievel where the proportion 

who rated condoms as “very 

effective” or “somewhat effective” 

increased as years of school 

increased. Furthermore, the gender 

difference noted in the non-Hispanic 

white population in the proportion 

perceiving condoms as “very 

effective” was not evident in the 

Hispanic population. 

Four percent of Hispanic 

individuals reported that they had 

received a blood transfusion between 

1977 and 1985, the period before the 

blood supply was screened for HIV. 

This figure is similar across all 

sociodemographic and Hispanic 

subgroups. 

Overall, 73 percent of Hispanic 

adults felt there was no chance of 

their becoming infected with HIV, 

and 17 percent assessed their chance 

of infection as low. Three percent felt 

their risk was medium, and only 

1 percent reported a high risk. 

Another 1 percent of Hispanic adults 

felt that there was a high chance that 

they were already infected with HIV. 

The proportion of Hispanic adults 

who beIieved that there \vas no 

chance of their getting HIV w’as much 

greater among \vomen than among 
8 Advance Data No. 207. October 17.1991 

men (78 percent compared with 

67 percent). Perceived risk of 

infection increased \vith education 

and decreased with age for Hispanic 

adults, yet there were no discernible 

differences by specific Hispanic 

origin. 

Only 2 percent of Hispanic 

persons reported being in any of the 

behavior categories highly associated 

with an increased risk of HIV 

infection and AIDS, a figure 

comparable to previous estimates in 

1988 for Hispanic adults, The same 

percentage of non-Hispanic white 

persons identified themselves as 

belonging to at least one of the 

behavior categories. This proportion 

was relatively similar across various 

sociodemographic categories for both 

non-Hispanic white and Hispanic 

populations. 
Advance Data No. 207 ● October 17,1991 9 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes 

from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990” 

[Data are based on household interviews of the cMlian noninstitutionatiied population. The survey design, general qualifications, and Information on the rellabitity of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

AIDS knotvfedge or attkude 

Total, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4a. 

4b, 

4C. 

4d. 

4e. 

4f. 

How much would you say you know about AIDS? 

Alit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Some 

Ahflle~:::::::~:::::::::: ::::::::: 

Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

In the past month, have you received information 

about AIDS from any of these sources?l 

Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Magazines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Streetsigns/billboards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Storadisplaysktored ietributedb rochures . . . . . 

Bus/streetcar/subwaydisplays. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Health cfeparlmentbrochures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Workplace diskibutedbrochures . . . . . . . . . . . 

Schooldistributed brochures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Church distributed brochures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Communityorgsnization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Friend/acquaintance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Fleceived no AIDS information inpaet month. . . . 

Have you heard the AIDS virus called HIV? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AtDS can reduce the body’s naturat protection 

against disease. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalsa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS can damage the brain. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS is an infectious disease caused by a virus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probabtytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

A person can be infected with the AIDS virus and 

not have the disease AIDS. 

Detinitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ANY person with the AIDS virus can pass it on to 

someone else through sexual 

Intercourse. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Dafinitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don”tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

A crreanantwomen who has the AIDS virus can oive 

ft io h;r baby. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Age Sex Hispanic origin Education 

18-293049 50 yaara Puerto Othar Less than More than 

Total years yeara and over Male Female Rican Mexican Hispanic 72 years 12 years 12 yeara 

Percent distribution 

100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

19 

38 

20 

41 

21 

39 x 2 21 28 

37 39 ; 

25 

41 

10 

28 

21 

45 

34 

46 

29 26 29 28 29 29 27 32 23 35 26 19 

14 11 10 28 16 13 6 18 11 27 7 1 

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 

77 76 78 77 75 78 80 74 81 74 76 62 

32 30 28 34 29 45 28 34 29 33 36 

37 39 : 32 35 39 50 31 42 25 40 55 

43 39 46 44 46 40 59 37 47 33 46 57 

14 16 14 10 15 13 19 13 12 11 15 18 

8 9 10 4 9 8 12 8 8 7 9 10 

7 7 4 8 6 5 5 8 9 

19 21 2; 12 14 22 :! 17 1; 12 24 24 

12 10 15 9 12 12 16 11 12 7 13 20 

11 14 12 4 10 12 15 10 11 9 11 15 

7 4 7 7 9 6 8 7 7 7 

6 : ; 4 5 7 la 5 6 4 6 9 

15 17 15 9 16 14 18 14 15 11 16 18 

3 3 3 2 2 3 4 2 4 1 3 5 

1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 

12 11 11 14 13 11 7 14 8 15 12 7 

50 52 52 42 48 52 63 44 55 29 60 76 

47 44 45 56 49 45 33 52 42 66 38 22 

3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 2 2 

64 64 67 56 62 65 72 58 72 46 74 84 

19 18 19 20 20 18 13 21 16 26 14 11 

2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 

3 3 3 2 3 3 : 4 1 4 3 ; 

13 12 9 19 13 12 10 15 8 21 7 2 

43 39 46 42 44 54 38 49 40 47 44 

27 28 :: 26 2s 26 24 29 24 27 25 29 

8 9 7 5 8 8 5 8 8 6 9 10 

4 5 3 3 5 2 5 4 5 5 

18 19 1; 21 19 18 14 2: 15 24 ~4 11 

65 67 67 58 64 66 80 61 68 56 70 77 

19 19 20 20 21 18 12 21 18 21 19 17 

1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 

1 ; 1 1 2 1 : 2 1 ; 

11 10 20 13 12 6 14 11 20 8 : 

52 52 48 49 55 64 45 61 38 59 71 

20 19 z 19 21 18 16 21 19 21 19 18 

4 4 3 5 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 2 

6 4 2 5 4 5 5 3 5 6 2 

2; 19 17 26 21 19 12 24 15 32 12 6 

82 83 63 77 77 85 90 77 86 74 86 88 

13 12 13 14 17 10 8 16 10 17 9 11 

1 0 0 1 1 .0 0 1 1 0 

1 1 0 1 0 1 0 : 1 0 1 0 

4 4 3 7 4 4 1 5 3 6 2 1 

79 81 79 73 74 83 88 75 81 69 86 86 

15 13 15 18 16 13 10 17 14 20 10 13 

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

0 0 0 : 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

6 5 5 8 7 4 1 7 4 10 3 1 

Seefootnotesst end of table. 

..-. 
10 Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes 

from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstiiutionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Hispanic origin Education 

18-29 3&f9 50 years Puerto Other Less than More than 

AIDS knowfedge or atfifude Total years years and over Male Femele Rican Mexican Hispanic 12 years 12 yews 12 yeara 

4g. There are drugs available to treat AIDS or the AIDS 

virus which can lengthen the Iiie of an infected Percent distribution 

person. 

Definitely true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 35 39 30 34 37 39 31 44 25 42 49 

Probably true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 29 25 26 26 27 27 27 25 25 26 30 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 5 6 6 5 9 6 4 5 7 5 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 10 7 10 10 6 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 22 21 30 24 22 17 26 20 35 15 11 

4h, There is a vaccine available to the public that 

protectsaperson from gettingtheAIDS virus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 5 6 4 6 7 4 6 6 6 3 

Probabiytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 8 6 10 8 6 9 8 6 11 6 4 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 13 9 11 11 11 11 11 11 9 11 13 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 51 56 44 49 53 52 49 55 36 62 67 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 24 24 29 28 23 21 28 22 37 15 14 

4i. There is no cure for AIDS at present. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 76 79 75 74 79 81 74 82 67 85 87 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8 7 8 8 7 7 8 7 9 6 7 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 2 2 4 1 2 2 2 2 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 2 : 2 4 3 2 4 2 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 10 13 13 10 4 14 7 19 6 4 

5. How fikely do you think it is that a person will get 

AIDS, or the AIDS virus infection from5a. Working near someone with the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 5 3 5 3 3 4 6 2 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 8 10 11 10 8 ; 10 8 12 7 : 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . t2 13 13 9 12 13 12 13 11 13 10 12 

Veryunfikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 27 30 29 29 28 26 27 32 22 32 36 

Dafinitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 42 36 33 34 41 41 37 39 33 43 42 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 7 14 10 7 7 10 7 14 5 2 

5b. Eating in a restaurant where the cook has the AIDS 

virus? 

Veryllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 7 6 7 6 7 7 7 s 5 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 15 20 22 19 19 18 18 19 2; 17 16 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 17 9 14 13 17 14 10 14 12 13 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 24 E 25 25 24 21 24 28 28 33 

Definitelynotpossible, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 29 25 20 23 28 27 25 26 : 25 29 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 9 11 16 12 11 11 12 10 16 10 5 

SC. Sharing plates, forks, or glasses with someone who 

has the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9 10 13 10 10 13 10 9 10 12 8 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 18 21 27 23 20 19 21 23 24 20 16 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14 12 12 13 13 11 13 12 12 12 14 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 22 25 18 21 23 23 21 24 17 24 31 

Definitelynot possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 26 21 17 21 25 25 23 23 21 25 24 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 9 11 15 12 10 8 12 9 17 7 5 

5d. Using public toilets? 

Very likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7 10 12 9 9 70 10 8 12 10 4 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 17 19 25 21 18 16 20 20 25 13 15 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 10 11 11 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 22 28 19 23 24 23 22 27 27 34 

Definitelynot possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 32 25 17 24 28 30 25 26 : 31 31 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 8 17 12 10 9 12 9 16 9 4 

Se. Sharing needles for drug use with someone who has 

the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 94 94 91 92 95 94 93 95 89 97 97 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 4 1 1 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 : 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

Veryunlikaly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 

Definitelynotpossible, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 

Don’t know...........,.. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 2 6 4 2 1 4 2 6 1 0 

5f. Beinq couqhed or sneezed on by someone who has 

the~DSv~rus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 6 8 12 8 9 9 9 9 5 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 14 19 22 19 17 16 18 1: 1: 16 17 

Somewhat unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14 13 12 13 14 17 13 13 13 11 16 

Veryunlikely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 26 26 18 26 23 22 24 26 20 27 30 

Definitelynot possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 30 21 16 21 25 25 22 25 21 26 25 

Donlknow., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11 12 19 13 13 10 14 11 18 11 7 

See foomolesa: end of table. 
Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 11 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with seiected AIDS knowiedge and attitudes 

from the 1990 National Health interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Date are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstltutionafized population. The survey design, generaf qualifications, and information on the reliabiiii of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Hispanic origin Education 

18-2930-49 50 years Puerto Other Less than More than 

AIDS knowfedge or attitude Total years years and over Male Female Rican Mm-can Hispanic 72 years 12 years 72 years 

5g. 

5h. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

ha. 

llb, 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

Attending school with a child who has the AIDS virus? 

Very likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Somewhat fikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Somewhat unfikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Very unlikely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Definitely not possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Mosquitoes or olher insects? 

Verylikely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Somewhatfikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Veryunlikety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Definitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Have you ever discussed AIDS w“ti any of your 

children aged 10-17?2 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

Have any or all of your children a~ed 10-17 had 

Instruction at school about AIDS? 

Yes, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Have you ever donated blood? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Have you donated blood since March 1965? 

‘tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

NO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 

Don”tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Have you donatad blood in the past 12 months? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

How many times have you donated blood since 

March 19E!5? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Didnotdonate blood since March 19853. . . . . . 89 

How many times have you donated blood in the past 

12 months? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Threefimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Didnotdonate blood inthepast12months4 . . . 96 

Haveyou overheard ofabloodteetthat can detect 

the AIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 

No. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

To the best of your knowledge, are blood donations 

routinely tested for the AIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Neverheardofteet5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Was one of your reasons for donating blood because 

you wanted to be tested for the AIDS virus infecfion?6 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Neverheard oftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Except for blood donations since 1965, have you had 

your blood tested for the AIDS virue infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

Donlknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 3 

Neverheardoftes? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Percent distribution 

2 1 5 2 3 4 2 2 3 2 1 

6 8 12 9 7 5 7 10 11 5 6 

8 9 6 9 7 8 7 9 9 7 

29 33 28 32 30 $ 30 31 25 34 36 

48 41 34 37 46 42 41 43 38 44 47 

8 9 13 11 8 7 10 7 15 6 3 

15 15 17 15 15 13 16 14 16 15 10 

24 22 27 25 22 19 24 24 27 23 20 

6 6 4 6 7 6 6 6 7 

15 19 18 18 1? 16 20 12 19 2: 

22 18 15 17 z 24 18 19 16 20 24 

17 19 19 78 18 18 19 16 21 17 14 

57 58 49 45 66 74 50 64 46 64 70 

43 42 51 55 34 28 50 36 54 36 30 

70 70 66 67 71 76 65 74 62 74 77 

12 11 7 8 12 8 8 14 6 6 

18 20 26 25 17 14 ; 17 24 20 15 

19 29 33 32 21 25 27 16 29 4f 

81 70 67 68 79 E 75 73 84 70 59 

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

12 5 12 14 10 21 

87 : 95 88 :: 86 2 89 9: z 79 

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 o 0 

4 5 2 4 4 4 4 4 1 6 

95 95 98 95 96 96 98 98 92 91 

1 0 0 1 0 . 9; 0 0 0 1 

6 4 2 4 5 4 5 4 2 5 8 

2 2 3 1 3 2 2 1 2 4 

4 6 ; 4 4 4 1 6 8 

0 : : 0 

88 8: 9: 88 9: 86 90 90 9; 87 79 

3 3 1 3 3 3 3 2 1 3 5 

1 1 1 0 1 0 1 2’ 

1 ; : 1 0 : 1 1 

0 o 0 0 : 

95 95 98 9: 96 96 96 9i 99 9; 92 

67 76 58 67 70 78 65 73 57 73 85 

31 23 38 30 28 20 33 25 39 25 14 

2 2 4 3 2 2 3 1 4 2 1 

55 60 43 53 56 58 54 54 43 56 71 

4 6 6 5 5 7 4 8 4 7 6 

7 10 9 9 13 7 11 10 8 

33 24 42 33 3: 22 35 27 43 2; 15 

1 4 3 2 3 2 3 2. 

78 73 68 71 76 73 71 83 6j 6; 83 

2 1 0 .- .0 2 2 0 

9 15 27 14 13. 13 16 10 22 18 6 

15 21 6 18 14 14 16 16 17 13 16 

50 52 48 47 54 60 4a 53 38 56 65 

1 3 4 3 2 4 1 2 .$ 

33 24 42 33 30 22 35’ 2; 43 2; 15 

SeerootnolesStendCftable. 
12 Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of Hispanic persons 18 yeara of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudee 

from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household intewiews of the civilian noninstitutionaliied population. The survey design, general quslbicatlons, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Hispanic otigln ,Educaf/orr 

18-29 30-49 50 years Puerto Other Less ffran More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total yesrs yeare and over Male Female Rican Mew-can Hispanic 12 years 12 yeara 12 yeara 

18. How many times have you had your blood tested for 

the AIDS virus infection, not including blood 

donations? Percentdiatribution 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 16 4 13 10 9 12 11 13 10 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 0 4 2 4 2 3 3 2 

Three times or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 

Don? know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Never heard of/had fest7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 85 79 94 82 86 8: 64 84 6: 87 

19, How many times In the past 12 months have you had 

your blood tested for the AIDS virus Infection, not 

including blood donations? 

None ., . .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 3 6 5 7 7 4 8 

Once .,. ,., ... .o, , . . . . ..<tl .. O$. . 8 10 3 ; 6 7 7 8 : 8 

Twice, ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,, ..,,. , .,,..,,,. 2 

Threetlmes ormore, ,.,..,. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow. .,,.,, , ...,,.,,,,, 

: : 

0 

: : ; 

o 

0 : 

0 : 

0 

: 

0 

: 

Neverheardof/hedte#:::~,. ., ..,,,.,. 85 79 94 8: 86 86 84 04 63 87 

20a, Were the blood tests, including those you had before 

thepast 12months, required ordid you oforthem 

voluntarily, orwerethere some of each? 2 

All required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , .,,....,, 61 63 59 62 60 21 70 56 70 55 49 

Allvolunteered . . . . . . . . . . . . .,, ..,,,.. 37 33 40 : 35 38 77 27 42 27 43 49 

Some ofeach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 0 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 7 1 1 0 0 1 0 

20b. Were any of the blood tests required fo# 

Hospitalization orasurgical procedura?. , . . . . . 8 3 11 2 9 5 5 6 7 

Health insurance? .,.,.... . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 4 1 2 4 : ; 5 

Life insurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 2 1 0 1 0 4 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 19 5 : a 3 1; 5 4 10 

Militay induction or military service?. . . . , . . . 3 2 4 1 5 2 

Immigration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 45 23 45 32 55 2: 54 3: 1: C)$her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 4 15 7 13 5 7 15 9 13 8 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

21, When was your last blood test for the AIDS virus 

infection?e 

1990, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 24 27 39 23 31 36 22 32 23 35 

1989, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 47 36 30 41 39 44 47 37 41 41 

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 20 16 18 22 6 22 19 22 12 

1987, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 7 6 4 8 4 4 9 

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 3 1 3 3 2 3 1 

1965. ..,......,......,.. ., ..,,,!. 2 1 2 i : 1 4 1 4 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., ..,,,.., 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 : 

22a. Was your last test required or did you go for It 

voluntarily?e 

Required, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 65 59 64 62 61 23 70 58 70 56 50 

Voluntary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 34 40 36 37 37 75 28 42 29 42 49 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 

22b, Was the test required for:* 

Hospitalization ora surgical procedure?. . . , . . . 5 6 3 11 2 9 7 5 7 4 

Health insurance?, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 4 2 4 0 2 0 1! 

Life insurance?, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ; 1 : 1 1 0 4 1 o 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 4 19 4 e 2 10 4 

Milita~induction or military service?. . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 4 : 4 2 2 : 

Immigration?, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 32 46 23 44 32 55 21 5s 32 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 15 3 15 6 11 1 6 15 9 10 

Don’! know, . ., . .,, ,....,. . . . . . . . . . . 

23. Not including a blood donation, where was your last 

blood test for the AIDS virus done?8 

AIDS clinic/counseling/testingsite . . . . . . . . 4 2 4 4 2 6 5 3 4 4 3 

Clinic run byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 3 i 3 5 3 

Doctor/HMO.,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 ’40 5: :: 47 44 38 53 3: 44 46 4: 

Public health department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 8 22 10 10 17 8 12 10 12 9 

Hospital/emergency room/outpatient clinic. . . . . 13 14 11 20 9 17 24 6 17 10 13 19 

STDclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 2 

Family planning clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 2 2 5 2 1 4 1 

Prenatal clinic, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 1 1 1 

Tuberculosis clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Otherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7 10 7 12 5 2 9 11 12 6 5 

Drug treatmentfacility . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 

Milltaryinduction/sew!cesite. . . . . . 3 4 2 5 1 4 3 3 5 ; 

Immigration site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 6 2 6 4 7 4 7 5 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 4 8 2 3 6 3 2 6 3 4 ; 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

See !OC )Inotese! end of table
.

Advance Data No. 207. October 17.1991 13 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with seiected AIDS knowledge and attitudes 

from the 1990 Nationai Heaith interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United Statea, 1990-Con. 

[Date are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionallzed population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Hispanic orfgin Education 

18-2930-49 50 yeara Puerto Other Less than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years years and over Male Female Rican Mex”cen Hisp-snic 12 years 12 years 12 years 

24. Before your last blood test for the AIDS virus 

infection, were you counseled about the AfDS virus Percent distribution and the meaning of the test?8 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 44 35 34 41 36 40 34 46 36 35 47 No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 56 63 66 56 63 56 65 54 63 65 51 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 3 1 1 1 

25. Did you get the results of your last test?e 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 85 82 78 86 79 70 64 84 86 82 77 

No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 14 16 22 12 20 25 14 16 , 12 17 23 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 

26, Did you want the resuits of your last test?g 

Yes, , .,, , . .,, ,,, , ..,,,.... ., .,,, 33 49 25 24 24 39 59 36 30 37 33 

No, ,,, do,,,,.,,...,,,,,. . . . . . . . . 66 48 75 76 76 69 41 64 & 70 63 e4 

DonYknow, , .,,,,,,.,.,,,,. . ...:,,, 1 4 2 4 4 

27, When you received the results o~your last teat, dld 

you receive counseling or talk with a heafth 

professional shout how to lower your cnancea of 

becoming infected with the AIDS virus o: how to 

svoid passing it on to another person?10 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 36 31 48 41 27 45 30 41 36 

No... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 62 69 52 59 73 55 70 59 64 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

28. Were the results given in person, by telaphone, by 

mail,orinsome otherwa~10 

In person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 85 86 100 90 a2 72 90 68 91 81 

Bytelephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 6 3 7 17 3 5 4 6 

Bymail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 8 4 4 4 8 4 7 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 2 : 2 2 0 6 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 : 1 1 

29. Doyoufeelyourlast testforthe AIDS virus infection 

was handled properly in terms of the confidentiality 

of your teat results?e 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 93 90 92 93 90 94 91 91 89 92 95 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 3 5 4 3 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 : : 4 5 : : : 5 1 

30. Do you expect to have a blood tast for the AIDS virus 

infection In the next 12 months? 

Yes, ...,.,.......,.;.. . . . . . . . . . . 10 12 5 11 15 11 8 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 49 :; 45 49 5: 53 5: 5: 40 67 

Don’tknow. ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 8 8 6 10 

Neverheardoftests. .,...... . . . . . . . . . . 31 33 24 42 3: 3: x 35 2; 2 15 

31. Tell me which of these statements explain why you 

will have the blood testll 

Voluntarily, because you personally want to know 

Ifyouareinfected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 79 86 73 84 78 88 82 77 91 69 75 

Aapartofablood donation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 23 20 33 27 16 17 24 22 20 21 33 

As part of a hospltafization or surgical 

procedure, . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 13 19 8 12 11 7 9 13 6 

Aaarequirementforhealth insurance. . . . . . . . 13 12 1; 18 13 13 : 18 5 14 9 16 

Asarequirementforlife insurance. . . . . . . . . . 9 9 8 16 10 9 1 13 10 15 

Aaarequirementfora job, otherthan mllltaty. . . 16 15 14 26 16 16 10 15 2: 17 1: 15 

Aearequirementforthe military . . . . . . . . . . . 7 15 1 9 6 5 11 5 15 4 

Aearequirementfor immigration . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 7 9 6 7 7 : 7 4 9 

As a raquired part of some other actiiity that 

includes a blood sample and automatic AIDS 

testing. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 16 7 21 12 14 9 15 10 14 15 6 

32. Where will You go to have a blood test for the AIDS 

vkus infection?n 

AIDS clinlc/counseling/testingaite . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 2 3 1 2 2 1 

Clinicrunbyemployer .,....... . . . . . . . . 6 6 4 16 4 ; 6 4 6 8 5 

Doctor/HMO...,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 42 46 27 43 41 42 47 :: 36 45 4s 

Hospital/emergency room/outpatient clinic. ., . . 15 16 14 17 11 19 30 8 20 17 12 16 

Othercllnic . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 14 15 14 8 14 13 3 15 19 18 13 4 

Publlchaalth depaflment. ..,... . . . . . . . . . 6 7 8 14 10 7 9 8 9 10 4 9 

RedCross/bloodbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 6 8 4 5 7 3 3 11 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 2 : 2 5 1 7 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 5 9 6 3 9 5 4 A 7 8 

SWfootnolssatend eftable. 
14 Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes’ 

from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviewa of the civilian nonlnstiiutionaIized population. The surveydesign,generalquatiioations,and informationon the rallabllilyof 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age sex Hispanic origin Education 

18-293049 50 years Puefto Otfrer Less tfran More fhan 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years yeara and over Male Female Rican Mexican Hispanic 12 years 12 yeare 12 years 

33. Did you have a blood transfusion at any time Percent distribution between 1977 and 1985? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 4 4 3 4 5 3 3 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 97 95 94 96 95 94 96 9: 98 9: 9: 

Cmn’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

34. Do you think the present supply of blood ia safe for 

transfusion? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 40 33 37 33 35 33 40 2s 40 41 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 39 41 :: 37 42 39 43 35 41 40 36 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 21 26 31 26 24 26 25 25 31 20 21 

35. How effective do you tb:nk the use of a condom is to 

preven: getting the AIDS virus through sexual 

activity? 

Veryeffecfive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 23 25 18 25 21 32 22 22 20 24 26 

Somewhateffective, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 52 49 41 48 46 46 45 53 39 56 57 

No!atall effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 6 7 5 7 0 6 6 5 4 

Don’tknowhoweffecfive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 14 13 22 14 17 9 18 13 2: 12 10 

Don’t knowmethod, ..,..... . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 7 11 7 7 4 9 6 13 3 3 

36. What are your chances of having the AIDS virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 2 2 4 2 2 3 2 : : 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 10 5 10 10 12 9 1: 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 61 :: 86 79 84 80 82 62 8: E :: 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 4 4 6 3 4 4 3 7 2 1 

37. What are your chances of getting the AIDS virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 ; 4 : : 4 : 4 : 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 18 19 10 19 15 15 Ie 13 2: 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 69 71 6~ 67 76 76 ; 72 74 : 71 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 s 4 5 7 3 4 5 5 6 3 3 

N;A - High chance of already having the AIDS 

virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

38. Have you ever personally known anyone with AIDS or 

the AIDS virus? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 13 18 13 16 30 10 19 9 16 2s 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 85 81 86 :: 82 67 89 79 89 84 73 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 2 3 ,. 1 

39. Are any of these statements true for you? 

a. You have hemophilia andhave received clotting 

factor concentrates since 1977. 

b. You are a native of Haiti or Central or East Africa 

whohasentered the United States since 1977. 

c. You are a man who has hadsexwlth another 

man at sometime since 1977, even 1 time. 

d. You have taken illegal drugs by needle at any 

time since 1977. 

e. Since 1977, youareor have been the sex partner 

of any person who would answer yes to any of 

theitemsabove(39 a-d). 

f. Youhave hadsexfor money ordrugs at anytime 

since 1977, 

Yes toatleast l statement..,.. . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 2 1 3 2 4 2 3 2 3 

No toall statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 96 96 99 97 98 96 9s 97 97 9: 97 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 1 

lMulllple fespon$es maysum!o morelhan 100. 

2Based on persons answering yes to question 6, “DO you have any children aged 10 through IT Ouestion 7 was “How many do you have?” 3Per~o”s a“$weting no or don’t know 10 question 10 or 1la. 

4Persons answemsg no or don’t know to question t O, 1la, or 11 b. 

5Persons answering noordonl know toqueation 14. 6Based on persons answering yes to question 11a. 

7Parsons answering no or don’t know to questions 14 or 17. 

69med on persons answering yes to quesl!on 17, 9perso”s ~“swe,,ng no or donut know to question 25. 

1~&~ed ~“ pefso”S an SWering Yss to question 25. 

11 ~ssed on pe~~ons answering yes to question 30. 
Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 15 

Table 2, Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Intewiew Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990 

[Data are based on housel?cdd interview of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, generaf qualiic+ons, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical nc!es] 

Age sex Education 

18-29 3049 50 yeara Less than More than 

AfDS knowedge or attitude Total yeara yaara and over Male Female 12 yeara 12 yeara 12 yeara 

Percent distribution 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

1. How much would you say you know about AIDS? 

A lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 23 23 13 18 19 9 14 28 

Some . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 57 56 36 48 50 31 51 55 

Alittle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 18 19 31 24 22 32 28 15 

Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2 2 20 9 9 26 7 2 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

2. In the paat month, have you re:eived information about AIDS from any of 

these sources?l 

Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. 78 79 78 77 79 77 74 78 79 

Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 37 34 23 35 27 21 29 37 

Magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 46 48 37 42 46 27 41 54 

Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 51 59 55 57 39 54 65 

Straetsigns/biHboards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 18 12 6 12 .5: 6 9 14 

Store displays,%tore distribKed brochures. . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 10 6 4 7 6 4 6 7 

Bus/streetcar/subwaydisF:ays... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 4 2 4 3 2 2 5 

Healthdepartm.entbrochu:es... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 24 17 11 18 18 11 16 20 

Workplace distri!mted brochures.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 12 16 6 11 11 4 10 16 

Schooldistributed brochures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 14 9 3 7 9 5 6 11 

ChurchdistribuIed brochures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 

Comrnun.~organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 5 3 4 4 2 4 6 

Friend/acquaintance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 19 13 7 12 12 9 11 14 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 4 2 3 3 1 2 5 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 

ReceivednoAIDS infonmafioninpast month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 9 10 14 11 12 17 11 “8 

3. Have you heard the AIDS virus called HIV? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . 76 82 83 63 75 76 52 73 88 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 17 16 33 23 21 44 25 11 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 4 2 2 5 2 1 

4a. AIDS can reduce the body’s natural protection against disease. 

Dafinltelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2 87 89 70 82 81 58 81 92 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 8 7 13 9 9 16 11 5 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 2 0 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 1 1 ; ; 3 ; 0 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 : 2 13 : 7 20 6 2 

4b. AIDS can damage the brain. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 40 44 42 43 42 39 42 44 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 27 25 26 26 26 28 28 23 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 11 9 5 8 6 4 10 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6 5 2 5 4 3 ; 6 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 16 16 25 18 21 27 20 16 

4C. AIDS isaninfectious diseasecausedby avirus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 80 76 56 72 68 54 68 79 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 12 12 19 14 15 19 16 12 

Probablyfalae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 3 3 : : 3 3 3 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 4 5 19 9 11 21 10 5 

4cL A person can be infected with the AIDS virus and not have the disease 

AIDS. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 74 7s 67 66 48 65 79 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 14 14 E 17 16 20 18 13 

P:obablyfalse . . .’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 6 6 20 11 11 26 11 5 

4e. ANY person with the AIDS virus can pass it on to someone else through 

sexual intercourse. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 93 91 82 87 89 82 88 90 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 s 7 12 10 8 10 9 8 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 1 5 : 3 7 2 1 

4f. A mecnant women who has the AIDS virus can crive if to her baby. 

‘D;finitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 90 69 80 84 86 77 86 90 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 8 8 13 12 6 14 10 8 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’lknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 2 6 4 3 8 3 2 

.Seefootmtes xendoftaile. 
16 Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispartlc persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge end 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are baaed on household interviews of the civilian noninstltutionalized population. The survey design, general quatiications, and information on the reliabllii of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowfedge or attitude Total yaars years and over Male Female 12yeara 12years 12years 

4g. There are drugs available to treat AIDS or the AIDS virus which can Percent distribution lengthen the life of an infectedperson. 

Definitely true . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 51 53 40 48 47 34 44 57 

Probabfytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 26 27 29 27 27 25 30 26 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S 7 5 5 6 6 5 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 : 4 : 4 6 6 4 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 10 9 22 13 15 30 15 7 

4h. There Is a vaccine available to the public that proteots a person from 

getting the AIDS virus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 2 : 3 3 5 3 2 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 10 9 11 10 10 11 11 9 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 76 79 61 74 70 54 70 81 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 9 6 23 12 16 28 15 7 

4i. There is no c~re for AIDS at present. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7 90 91 82 67 87 78 87 92 

ProbablyVue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 6 5 5 8 6 6 8 7 5 

Probably false . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Definitely false. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 ; ; 2 2 ; 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 2 7 4 4 10 4 : 

5. How likely do you think t is that a person will get AIDS or the AIDS 

virus infection from– 

5a. Working near somaone with the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 1 

Somewhatlikely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 : 5 6 6 5 7 6 4 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 8 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 42 43 41 43 41 41 44 

Definitely not possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 41 39 31 35 36 : 35 40 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 3 10 5 5 13 5 2 

5b. Eating in a restaurant where the cook has the AIDS virus? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 5 6 5 5 3 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 18 17 1s 18 17 2: 2: 15 

Somewhat unlikaly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 15 14 12 14 13 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 36 37 30 34 34 1; :: ; 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 23 22 1s 20 21 17 19 24 

Don’tknow . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 4 6 16 s 10 19 10 5 

5C. Sharing plates. forks, or glasses with someone who has the AIDS virus? 

Vefy likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 8 10 11 10 10 13 11 7 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 19 21 22 22 20 23 22 19 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 16 13 14 13 11 14 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 32 ; 25 30 29 22 28 :: 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1S 22 19 14 17 19 14 17 20 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S 4 5 14 8 9 17 8 5 

5d. Using public toilets? 

Very likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 4 6 4 5 8 5 3 

Somewhatfikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 11 11 15 12 13 17 14 9 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 12 11 12 12 10 12 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 ;: 40 34 39 36 28 : 42 

Definitely notpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 30 29 20 26 26 19 24 31 

Donl know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4 4 13 7 6 16 7 4 

5C. Sharing nccdlcs for drug use with someone who has ihc AIDS virus? 

Very likely..,.....,...,,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 98 98 93 96 96 91 97 98 

Somewhat likely,.......,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 3 2 2 3 

Somewhat unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 0 II 0 0 0 0 : : 

VeWun)jkely, ..,.,..,,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Dcfimtclyn otposaible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’tknsw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 0 4 1 2 5 1 1 

5f. Being coughed or sneezed on by someone who has the AIDS virus? 

Very likely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 6 7 10 7 8 11 8 6 

Somcwha! likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 17 19 23 20 20 21 21 18 

Somcwhatunlikel y......,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 16 16 13 15 14 12 14 16 

Vc~unl!kcly, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 35 34 26 32 30 23 30 36 

Dcfmitelynot possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 21 Is 12 16 17 13 16 19 

Don’t know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5 6 17 9 11 19 10 5 

Sg. Aftendmg school with a child whohrrs lllc AIDS vir(js? 

Vcryltkcly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 

Some’what likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 4 6 5 4 7 5 4 

Somcwha: unl,kcly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 s 

Vcryunlikcl y, ., .,,...., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 43 45 ~~ 44 42 37 43 4s 

Defmncly nolposs,blc, ,..,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 43 38 30 35 37 30 36 39 

Don”! know, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1 3 12 5 6 15 5 2 

Se@Ico!nolcs fit onfl c1!3$Ic. 
Advance Data No. 207. October 17, 1991 17 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civifian noninstitufionatized population: The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliabifii of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less than More than 

AIDS knowletige or attitude Total yeare years and over Male Female 12 yeare 12 yeare 12 years 

5h. Mosquitoes or other insects? 

Very likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10” 8 8 10 6 12 10 6 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . la 21 17 16 19 17 20 20 15 

Somewhat unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S 10 9 7 9 8 6 8 10 

Very unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 26 28 24 27 25 20 24 31 

Definitely not,possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 20 22 16 19 21 13 la 24 

Dorr”t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 13 15 26 17 21 28 20 14 

8. Have you ever discussed AIDS w!!!7 any of your children aged 10-17?2 

yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 58 71 62 58 80 58 76 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 41 29 37 42 20 42 :: 24 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

9. Have any or all of your children aged 10-17 had instruction at school 

about AIDS?2 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 60 74 74 70 77 66 73 76 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 7 10 13 10 8 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ;; 17 16 2: 13 21 17 16 

10. Have you ever donated blood? 

Yes.. . ’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 36 48 43 S4 32 31 38 52 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 64 54 56 45 68 69 62 48 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

ha. Have you donated blood since March 1985? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 26 21 8 21 73 7 24 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 74 79 92 78 86 92 2 76 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 

Ilb, Have you donated blood in the past 12 months? 

Yes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...’ 7 11 9 3 9 5 3 6 10 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 89 90 96 90 94 97 93 89 

Don’tkn.ow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 t 1 0 1 0 1 

. 

12. How many times have you donated blood since March- 1985? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 10 5 2 5 5 3 6 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 4 1 4 2 ; 4 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 11 12 4 11 6 : 7 13 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Did notdonate bloodslnce March19853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 74 79 92 79 S7 9: se 76 

13. How many times have you donated blood in the past 12 months? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7 5 2 5 3 2 4 5 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 1 2 1 0 1 3 

Th~eetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Did notdonate bloodinthepast12 months4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 89 91 97 91 94 97 94 90 

14. Have you ever heard of a blood test that can detect the AIDS virus 

infection? 

yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 87 89 69 82 80 64 80 90 

No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 12 9 26 16 17 32 17 9 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 5 2 3 4 3 1 

15. To the best of your knowledge, are blood donations routinely tested for 

the AIDS virus infedlon? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 80 79 57 72 71 52 69 81 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 5 8 6 8 5 

Neverheard oftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 13 11 31 18 2: 36 2; 10 

16. Was one of your reasons for dona!!ng blood because you wanted to be 

tested for the AIDS virus infection?” 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...1..... . . 2 3 2 1 2 1 3 2 2 

No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 84 a6 7a 83 86 73 80 87 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O o 0 0 0 0 

Neverheard obtests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ,8 6 !4 6 8 18 11 5 

17. Except for blood donations since 1985, have you had your blood teated 

for the AIDS virus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 15 12 11 8 7 8 12 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 70 75 6: 69 70 55 70 76 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 

Never heard oftest5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 13 11 31 18 20 36 20 10 

10. How many times have you had your blood tested for the AIDS virus 

infection, not including blood donations? 

Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 10 8 2 7 6 4 5 8 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 

Threetimesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 0 2 1 2 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 0 : 0 c1 0 

Neverheardof/hadtast7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 85 8: 97 8: 92 93 92 68 

See fow-des at end c! taale. 
18 Advance Data No. 207 ~ October 17.1991 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non. Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninsfiiutionafized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Leas than More than 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years yeara and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 12 years 

19. How many times in the past 12 months have you had your blood tested Percent distribution for the AIDS virus infection, not including blood donations? 

None. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 6 2 5 4 3 4 6 

Once. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 5 1 ,5 3 3 4 5 

Twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 

Threetimesor more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Neverheardof/hadtest7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 65 86 97 89 92 93 92 68 

20a. Were the blood tests, including those you had before the past 12 

months, required or did you go for them voluntarily, or were there some 

of each?a 

All required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 55 51 47 55 48 51 50 54 

All volunteered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 41 44 46 40 47 46 45 41 

Some ofeach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 2 4 3 2 4 4 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 

20b. Were any of the blood tests requi;ed for:a 

Hospitalization ora surgical procedure? . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . 12 11 10 22 9 16 22 13 10 

Health insurance?. .,....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 4 2 6 2 5 2 3 3 5 

Life insurance? . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 6 14 6 13 6 4 6 ~4 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8 7 5 7 6 4 6 8 

Military inductionormifitaryservice? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 19 7 5 16 3 3 13 12 

Immigration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 16 13 8 9 le 16 14 11 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

21. When was your last bloodtestforthe AIDSvirus infecfion?8 

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 28 29 27 29 28 32 30 27 

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 38 33 31 35 34 30 34 36 

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 18 16 16 16 18 18 16 17 

1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 8 11 11 10 10 8 11 10 

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 

Don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 2 6 3 3 4 2 : 

22a. Was your last test required or did you go for if voluntarily?6 

Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 57 53 48 57 50 52 52 56 

Voluntary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 42 46 48 41 48 46 47 43 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 

22b. Wasthetest required for:s 

Hospitalization ora surgical procedure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 11 10 21 16 21 13 9 

Health insurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 6 2 ! 3 2 3 5 

Life insurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5 13 7 13 6 4 13 

Employment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 6 5 7 6 4 : 7 

Mifiiaryinductionormilitaryservice? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 i8 7 5 17 3 3 13 11 

Immigration? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 14 11 8 : 16 17 13 10 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘. -

23. Not including a blood donation, where was your last blood test for the 

AIDS virus done?8 

AIDSclinic/counseling/tastingsite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 4 

Cfinicrun byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 2 4 3 2 3 4 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 29 32 34 27 35 30 29 33 

Public health department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 5 3 5 7 9 6 5 

Hospital/emergencyroom/outpatient clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 23 25 36 21 31 37 29 21 

STD clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Family planningciinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Prenatal clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 1 0 0 1 2 0 

Tuberculosis clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -

Otherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 5 4 5 5 3 4 6 

Drugtreatmentfacility, ...,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Mifitaryinduction/servicesite... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 18 7 6 J8 3 3 14 11 

Immigration site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 o 1 1 0 0 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 9 16 10 16 9 10 11 15 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 

24. Before your last blood test forthe AIDS virus infection,wereyou 

counseled about the AIDS virus and the meaning of the test?8 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 40 41 24 40 36 34 39 39 

No, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 59 58 75 59 63 64 61 59 

Don’t know. .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

25, Did you get the results of your last test?s 

“Yes; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 76 75 73 74 77 73 76 75 

No . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 23 24 26 25 22 26 24 24 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 

See footnotes at end of table. 
.

Advance Data No. 207. October 17.1991 19 

Table 2. Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selacted AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics United States, 1990-Con. 

~ata are based on household interviewa of the civilian noninstftutionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

me estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 3049 50 years Less than More than 

ADS know/ed;e or affitude Total years yeara and over Male Femala 12 years 12 years 12 years 

Percent distribution 26. Did you want the results of your 1ss: test?g 

Yes . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 36 34 19 34 30 42 27 34 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 60 63 74 62 66 53 71 62 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 3 7 4 4 5 3 4 

~~, When you recejved the results of yzmr last test, did you receive 

counseling or talk with a health prc’essional about how to lower your 

chances of becoming infected with the AIDS virus or how to avoid 

passing it onto another person?10 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 30 23 13 23 25 27 26 22 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 70 77 86 76 74 72 74 77 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 1 

29. Were the results given in person, by telephone, by mail, or in some 

other way?10 

Unperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5S 60 53 66 57 58 71 62 52 

Bytelephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 17 21 16 17 21 13 17 21 

Bymail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 15 18 13 18 14 10 15 IE 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 7 4 8 6 4 6 3 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 

2s. Do you feel your last test for the A!X virus infection was handled 

properly in terms of the confidentiii of your test resutts?8 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 93 90 91 90 93 90 92 91 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 6 6 6 4 6 5 5 

30. Do you expect to have a blood tes for the AIDS virus infection in the 

next 12 months? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 10 5 2 6 4 5 5 6 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...’..... 73 73 81 65 73 74 56 72 82 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 

Neverheardoftests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 13 11 31 18 20 36 20 10 

37. Tell me which of these statements explain why you will have the blood 

testll 

Voluntarily, because you personally want to know if you are 

infected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 64 55 43 54 63 67 83 51 

As partofablood donation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 27 28 30 30 25 24 27 30 

As part of a hospitalization or surgical procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9 10 18 9 13 13 12 9 

As arequirementfor health insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 8 6 9 6 11 10 6 

Asarequirementforlife insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 7 9 8 6 9 7 7 

Asarequirementforajob, otherthan military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 12 14 9 12 13 11 13 12 

Asarequirementforthe milita~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 14 10 5 15 5 10 11 12 

Asarequirementforimmigrat:2n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 

Aa a required part of some other activity that includes a blood 

sampleandautomaticAIDStesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 17 13 11 14 15 15 14 15 

32. Where will you go to have a blood test for the AIDS virus infection?ll 

AIDSclinic/counseling/testing site.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 

Clinicrun byemployer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2 4 : 4 1 1 : : 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 40 35 41 37 39 35 44 34 

Hosptial/emergencyroom/outpatientclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 18 20 1s 16 23 27 18 16 

Otherclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 4 3 4 7 6 4 6 

Publicheatthdepartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 5 4 5 8 12 7 4 

RedCross/bloodbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 7 15 18 14 9 6 10 15 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 12 9 14 7 6 9 14 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 3 3 4 4 5 4 4 

33. Did you have a blood transfusion at any time between 1977 and 1985? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3 5 s 6 6 7 5 5 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 97 94 90 93 93 91 94 94 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 

34. Do you think the present supply of blood is safe for transfusions? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 58 53 41 54 46 36 47 56 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2a 26 2s 30 25 31 33 31 25 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 16 19 28 20 23 31 22 16 

35. How effective do you think the use of a condom is to prevent getting the 

AIDS virus through sexual activity? 

Veryeffeotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 33 30 20 30 24 17 25 33 

Somewhateffeclive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 57 57 50 54 55 46 55 57 

Notatalleffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 4 3 5 4 3 

Don’tknowhoweffectiie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 6 6 2; 11 15 2: 13 7 

Don’t knowmethod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 4 2 2 5 2 1 

36. What are your chances of having the AIDS virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 : 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 

Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 24 16 9 18 14 10 14 21 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 72 79 68 78 82 85 63 77 

Don’tknow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 0 

See foomotes x enc! c! table, 
20 Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 

Table 2, Provisional estimates of the percent of white non-Hispanic persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics United States, 1990-Con. 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstiiutionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in Technical notes] 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less tfran More than 

37. 

38. 

39. 

AIDS knowledge or attitude 

What are your chances of getting the AIDS virus? 

High, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Low, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Dcm? know...,.......,., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

N’A-High chance ofalreacyhaving theA12Svirus. . . . . . . 

Have you ever personally known anyone with AIDS or the AIDS virus? 

Yes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No. ., ., .,, . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’t know. , ., .,, .,...,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 

Are any of these statements true for you? 

a. You have he.mophilia and have received clctting factor concentrates 

since 1977, 

b. You are a native of Haiti or Central or East Africa who has entered the 

United States since 1977, 

c, You area man who has had sex with another man at sometime 

:mce 1977, even 1 time, 

d. You have taken Illegal c+rugsb yneedlea tanytimesince 1977. 

e. .%ce 1977, youare or have been thesexpartner ofany person who 

would answer yestoany of the items above (39a-d). 

f, Youhave haosexfor money ordrugs atanytime since 1977. 

Yes toatleast l statement, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notoall statemente . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Total years years and over Male Female 12 years 12 years 1.?years 

Percent distribution 

0 1 0 0 3 2 

22 3; 2: 13 

73 63 69 82 

2 1 1 2 

0 0 0 0 

15 14 

84 S4 : :: 

2 1 2 2 

2 4 2 

98 96 97 9: 

0 0 0 0 

0 0 0 0 0 3 2 3 3 

25 20 12 1: 30 

70 75 81 76 66 

2 1 4 1 1 

0 0 0 0 0 

7 11 21 

91 87 77 

2 1 2 

3 2 2 2 

97 9: 9s 98 98 

0 0 0 0 0 

~Multiple res>onses maysumtomoretnan 100 

‘Basedon persons answemg yestoquest!on 6, “DOYOU ha~,e any children aged 10 through 17?” Oueslion 7was S’How many do youhave~ 

~PersOnsans.venn~ no c, aon’t know toqueaxm 10or Ila, 

Persons answering no c: Con’! know taques:,o~ 10, ha, @- :13 

5Persons ax..ver:ng noordon’t know toques:,on 14, 6Ba~edonpe:50ns answering yea to question :Ia. 

‘Persons answenngnoo:con’t know ioqueaxons 140117, 8Ba~edon Per~onsanawering yestOqUest,On 17. 

‘~eraona answering no m don’t know to q.es:ion 25, 

1 Based onpersonsanswe:ing yestoqueauo?25, 11Baaed ~“ oersO”S ahaWefing yea to question 30. 
---

---

--- ---

Advance Data No. 207 ● October 17,1991 21 

Technical notes Hispanic and 30,996 non-Hispanic at those persons who did not receive 

white individuals, about 87 percent of the results of their HIV antibody 

The National Health Interview eligible respondents. test). Both the estimates in tables 1 

Survey (NHIS) is a continuous, cross- Table I contains the estimated and 2 and the standard errors in 

sectional household interview survey. population size of each of the tables II and III are provisional. They 

Each week, a probability sample of demographic subgroups included in may differ slightly from estimates 

the civilian noninstitutionalized tables 1 and 2 to allow readers to made using the final 1990 data file 

population residing in the United derive provisional estimates of the because they were calculated using a 

States is interviewed by personnel of number of people in the United simplified weighting procedure that 

obtain information on the health and example, the number of Hispanic used in weighting the final data file. 

other characteristics of each member women who have had their blood A final data file covering the entire 

of the household. Information on tested for HIV. The population 1990 data collection period will be 

special health topics is collected for 

all or a sample of household 

figures in table I are based on 1989 

data from the NHIS; they are not 

available at the end of 1991. 

the U.S, Bureau of the Census to States with a given characteristic, for does not adjust for all the factors 

members. The 1990 National Health official population estimates. Tables 

Interview Survey of AIDS Knowledge 11 and III show approximate standard 

and Attitudes is asked of one errors for most of the estimates 

randomly chosen adult 18 years of presented in tables 1 and 2. The 

age or over in each family. The reader is cautioned about comparing 

estimates in this report are based on estimates when the denominator is 

completed interviews with 2,501 small (for example, when looking only 

Table L Hispanic and non-Hispanic white sample sizes for the 1990 National Health Interview Survey of AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes 

“ and estimated Hispanic and non-Hispanic whi~e adult populations 18 years of age and over, by selected characteristic& United States, 

1990 

Sample size Estimated population in thousands 

Characferistk Hispanic Non-Hbpanfc White Hispanic Non-Hispanic White 

Alladu[ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,501 30,996 13,361 140,451 

Age 

18-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 851 6,666 5,154 32,918 

30-49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,136 12,159 5,424 55,521 

50years and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512 12,171 2,782 52,012 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,026 13,292 6,106 67,116 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.475 17,704 7,254 73,336 

Education 

Less than 12 years . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 1,101 5,545 6,085 24,319 

12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 751 12,055 3,979 56,256 

Morethan 12years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 640 13,318 3,249 59,498 

Hispanic origin 

Puerto Flican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326 1,465 _— -

Mexican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,375 ,--- 7,730 

Other Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 789 4,117 

Table Il. Standard errors, expressed in percentage points, of estimated percents for Hispanic adults from the 1990 National Health 

Interview Survey of AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990. 

Age Sex Education Hispanic origin 

18-29 30-49 50 years Less than 12 More than Puerto Other 

Estimated percent Total years yeara and over Male Female 12 years yeara 12 years Rican Mexican Hisparrlc 

5or 95....... 0.6 1.0 0.8 1.2 0.9 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.6 0.8 1.0 

100? 90,..... 0.8 1.3 1.1 1.7 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.5 2.1 1.0 1.4 

150r 85...... 0.9 1.6 1.4 2.0 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.8 2.5 1.2 1.6 

200r 80...... 1.0 1.8 1.5 2.3 1.6 i .3 1.6 1.9 2.0 2.9 1.4 1.8 

250r 75...... 1.1 1.9 1.7 2.5 1.7 1.5 1.7 2.0 2.2 3.1 1.5 2.0 

300r70 . . . . . . 1.2 2.0 1.7 2.6 1.8 1.5 1.8 2.2 2.3 3.3 1.6 2.1 

350r65 . . . . . . 1.2 2.1 1.8 2.7 1.9 1.6 1.8 2.2 2.4 3.4 1.7 2.2 

400r 60...... 1.3 2.2 1.9 2.8 2.0 1.6 1.9 2.3 2.5 3.5 1.7 2.2 

450r55 . . . . . . 1.3 2.2 1.9 2.8 2.0 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.5 3.5 1.7 2,?. 

50 . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 2.2 i.9 2.6 2.0 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.5 3.6 1.7 2.3 
22 Advance Data No. 207. October 17,1991 

Table Ill. Standard errors, expressed in percentage points, of estimated percents for non-Hispanic white adults from the 1990 National 

Health Interview Survey of AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes, by selected characteristics: United States, 1990 

Age Sex Education 

18-29 3C4r9 50 yeara Less than More than 

Estimated percent 

5or95 . . . . . . . . . 

100r 90 . . . . . . . . 

150r85 . . . . . . . . 

200r80 . . . . . . . . 

250r75, . . . . . . . 

300r70 . . . . . . . . 

350r 65 . . . . . . . . 

400r60 . . . . . . . . 

450r 55 . . . . . . . . 

50 . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Total yeara yeara and over Male Famle 12 yeare 12 yeara 12 years 

0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.3 .0.2 

0.2 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 

0.3 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.4 

0.3 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.4 

0.3 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.5 

0.3 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.5 

0.3 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.5 

0.4 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 

0.4 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.6 

0.4 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.6 
---

Advance Data No. 207. October 17.1991 23 

Symbols 

Data not available 

. . . Category not applicable 

Quantity zero 

0.0 Quantity more than zero but less 

than 0.05 

z Quantity more than zero but less 

than 500 where numbers are 

rounded to thousands 

* Figure does not meet standard of 

reliability or precision 

# Figure. suppresse to comply with 

confidentially requirements 
24 Advance Data No. 207. October 57, 19S1 ,. 

,., 

,., , 

Suggested cltatlon 

Biddlecom AE, Hardy AM. AIDS knowledge 

and attitudes of Hispanic Americans: United Copyright Information 

States, 1990. Advance data from vital and 

health statistics; no 207, Hyattsville, Maryland: This report may be reprinted without further 

National Center for Health Statistics. 1991. permission. 
Number 208 . January 17, 1992 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

Office Visits to Pediatric Specialists, 1989 

by David Woodwell, Division of Health Care 

This report examines data 

concerning visits made to 

pediatricians sampIed in the 1989 

National Ambulato~ Medical Care 

Survey (NAMCS). This survey is a 

year-long probability sample survey of 

office-based non-FederaI physicians 

practicing in the United States and 

excludes visits that took pIace at 

emergency rooms or hospitaI 

outpatient departments. The NAMCS 

was conducted annually from 1973 to 

1981, in 1985, and annually again in 

1989 by the Division of Health Care 

Statistics, National Center for Health 

Statistics, Centers for Disease 

Control. 

The figures presented in this 

report are estimated from a sample, 

not the entire universe of visits to 

ambulatory physicians, and therefore 

are subject to sampling variability. 

The technical notes at the end of the 

report provide guidelines for judging 

the precision of the estimates. The 

patient record form used for data 

collection is shown in figure 1, which 

will serve useful while reading the 

survey results. 

During the 12-month period from 

March 1989 to March 1990, visits to 

pediatricians accounted for an 

estimated 87.4 million, or 

12.6 percent, of the 692.7 million 

ambulatory care office visits made to 

physicians in the United States. Data 

from the 1989 NAMCS indicate that 

of the 13 largest specialties, pediatrics 

was the onIy specialty to show a 

significant increase in percentage of 

office visits received between 1985 (1) 

and 1989, from 11.4 percent to 

12.6 percent. Vkits made by patients 

aged 21 years and younger were 

mostly divided between two 

specialities, pediatricians and 

general/family practitioners, 

representing 74.0 percent of the total 

visits in this age group compared to a 

total of 70.2 percent in 1985. Five 

specialties (pediatricians, 

generaI/family practitioners, 

otolaryngologists, dermatologists, and 

orthopedic surgeons) have higher 

percentages of visits in the 21 and 

under age group than the other 

largest 13 specialties. Within this 21 

and under age group, pediatricians 

Statistics 

treat the largest percentage of 

patients aged 5 years oId and under 

(69.4 percent) with dermatologists 

treating the largest percentage of 

patients aged 15-21 years 

(12.1 percent) (table 1). 

Patient characteristics 

In 1989, white persons aged 21 

years and younger accounted for an 

estimated 79.4 percent of all visits to 

pediatricians whereas bIack persons 

aged 21 years and younger accounted 

for 10.9 percent of the visits; visit 

rates were 108 and 77 visits per 100 

persons per year, respectively 

(table 2). 

A negative relationship exists 

between the age of the patient and 

the number of office visits to 

pediatricians. As shown in figure 2, 

the number of visits decreased \vith 

each successive age group from about 

60 million visits in the 5 years and 

under age group to about 4 million 

visits in the 15-21 age group. This 

difference is further demonstrated by 

the percentage of visits in the 11–14 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES€

Public Health Service€

Centers for Disease Control€

National Center for Health Statistics (3x 

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL 

Manning “Feinleib, M.D., Dr. P.H., Director 
Arharsrm ------ Nn. --- ● -- ---- .Iamarv 17. IWK? 2L --.-,.”” 13ata ..-. 908 --. .--. J , 

Auuranc. of Ccdfdawl.lltv -AN mtofmalion which would Permit klenlif cation of an Department of Health and Hwnm Services 

marvid. a!. a practice. Or .s. establhhmem will be held Confidential. will b+ used On!v bv Centers for Dkwse Cmmol 

wmfaons 

o~her 

e.c!aged 

Deta.m 

ina.d 

w used 

for 

for 

the 

any 

ouwosesof 

other DulDOw. 

the s.wev Dnd *il!nOl ~ di=l~d w reoea~ed N.li.mal 

Public 

C..ter 

Hanlth 

for Health 

%1-vIC8 

Sutimics A

~ , DATE OF VISIT PATlENT RECORD OMBNo.0920-9234 

Ex@res 8.31.69 ~ NATIONAL AMBULATORY MEDICAL CARE SURVEY IPW) 6106A 

2,21P CODE ~eSEX 5, CO;:ROR 6, ErHNlclTY 7,~EX:T5D)&XJi3~(SlOF PAYMENT 8a~;:&IE& 

1 ❑ FEMALE 

lawtms HISPANIC 1 Q SELF.PAY 4 ❑ ~:: ~~E~( 7 ❑ NO CHARGE 

lJl;$;[ BY 

%J,DATEOFBSRTH 2 ❑ &AcK 1 ❑ ORIGIN PHYSICIAN? 

ASIANPACIRC 2 ❑ MEOICAR5 5 ❑ fi~UE&:O=MMERCIM 8 ❑ ‘%%) 3 ❑ ISLANDER 1 ❑ YES 2DN0

2 •l ll&PANIC ~ 2 ❑ ‘Au 4 ❑ ::fifi&AN’ 3 ❑ MCDICAI126 ~ ~~:,:~N 

9 PATlENT’S COMPLAINT(S). SYMPTOM(S), OR OTHER 10, PHYSICIAN’S DIAGNOSES q I , pf:&o:E;:yEF 

‘ REASON(S) FOR THIS VISIT //n pofien(’sown word] 

e..MOST IMPORTANT a, PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSISPROBLEM ASSOCIATE WITH ITEM 9s. 

1 ❑ YES 2DN0 

+ 

IF YES. WR THE CONOITION 

b. OTHER b. OTHER SIGNIFICANT CURRENT OIAGNOSES IN ITEM 10.? 

lDYSS 2DN0 

~ z, ;J::~:;~$~d~:$~:d:~WCES THIS VISIT I 3. pl:ylywrw:;ymviddl g 4. ytJbyJymHm$:; 

1 ❑ NONE 7 Q BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK 13 D ORAL GLUCOSE TOL. 1 ❑ NONE 1 ❑ NONE 

2 ❑ PAP TEST 8 ❑ URINALYSIS 14 ❑ CHOLESTEROL MEASURE 2 ❑ WEIGHT REOUCTION 2 ❑ PSYCHOTHERAPY 

3 ❑ P5LVIC EXAM 9 ❑ CHEST X-RAY 15 D HIV SEROLOGY 3 ❑ CHOLESTEROL REOUCTION 3 ❑ CORRECTIVE LENSES 

4 ❑ BREAST PALPATION 10 n OIGITAL RECTAL EXAM 16 C OTHER SLOOO TEST 4 ❑ SMOKING CESSATION d ❑ AMBULATORY SURGERY 

5 ❑ MAMMOGRAM 11 @ PROCT/SIGMOIDOSCOPY 17 @ OTHER lSPfrily/ 5 ❑ HIV TRANSMISSION 5 u FtlYSIOTHERAPY 

6 ❑ VISUAL ACUITY 12 ❑ STOOL BLOOO EXAM 6 ❑ BREAST SELF-EXAM 6 a OTHER ~fvl 

7 D O’THER 

1 s. MEDICATION THEWPY[Rmtiallnaormntinuedm&ica(iomo&adorprovid&.f thi.f visit. Ckrhesame 16= Dl:mDl:WI#UI~;,VISIT 17. gu~]on bmndname orgemnc name enk?sdon my Rxor ofjicemtxlicolmcwd. Include immunizing anddeww?izing age3EI.sJ

IF NONE, CHECK HERE ❑ 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4, 

5, _ 

Figure 1. Patient record form 

and 15-21 years age groups, which 

make up 12.2 percent of the total 

visits whereas the 5 years and under 

and 6-10 age groups make up 

86.0 percent, or just less than seveneighths of all visits to pediatricians. 

Another indication of the decreasing 

number of visits with each successive 

age group is the visit rate. Patients 

aged 5 years old and under have a 

visit rate more than three times 

higher than the next older age 

group – 272 per 100 persons for the 5 

and under age group compared to 80 

1 #, NEW b. FOR DX 

MEOICATION7 IN ITEM ‘E09? 

YES NO YES NO 2 

‘c! ‘cl ‘o 20 3 

, 

‘cl 20 ‘cl 20 

5 

10 20 ‘D 20 

6 

‘D 2D ‘n 20 7 

‘cl 20 ‘cl 20 S 

Vlsrr ❑ NO FOLLOWJJP PLANNEO fTime 

acntolly ❑ RETURN AT SPECIFIEO TIME spent with 

physician] 

Q RETURN IF NEEOEO, P,R.N. 

fJ ;~~tJJEOoNE FOLLOW.UP 

❑ REFERREoTO OTHER PHYSICIAN 

❑ RETURNED TO REFERRING 

PHYSICIAN 

❑ AOMIT TO HOSPITAL M,mnw 

❑ OTHER /$I?CfY/ 

- U.S. GOVERNMENT PRIN73NG 0FFlC&ISS9226-11 

per 100 persons in the 6-10 age completely accounted for by the 5 

group (table 3). and under age group (table 3). 

When comparing the total Examining the sources of 

number of visits to pediatricians by payment (item 7 on the patient 

gender, more visits were made by- record form) for visits to pediatricians 

males (52.4 percent) than females reveals that most of the visits were 

(47.6 percent). However, males had a paid for one or more of three ways: 

higher percentage of visits only in the self-payment, prepaid 

5 years and under age group pWHMO/IP~PO, or by “other” 

accounting for 54.6 percent of visits commercial insurance. Medicaid is 

in that group. In all other age groups, the source of payment in an 

the percent of female visits was about estimated 13.2 percent of the visits 

the same as that of males. Therefore, (table 4). 

the difference bet~veen gender is 
Advance Data No. 208. January 17,1992 3 

Table 1. Number of office visits and percent distribution of selected specialties by age: 

united States, 1989 

All 5 years 6-1o 11-14 15-21 22 years 

Selected Swciaties ages and under yeara yeara years and over 

Number in thousands 

Allvisits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 67,4~ O 29,337 20,755 44.124 511,076 

Percent distribution 

Pediatrics. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 69.4 16.6 7.5 4.7 1.7 

GeneraVfamilypractice. . . . . 100.0 0.6 3.9 3.4 7.7 76.5 

Otolaryngology. . . . . . . . . . 100.0 10.5 7.3 2.6 6.6 73.0 

Dermatology . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 2.0 2.6 4.3 12.1 78.9 

Orthopedic surgery. . . . . . . 100.0 3.2 2.6 3.9 10.2 80.0 

Table 2. Number, percent distribution, and rate of office visits to pediatric specialists by 

race and sex for persons under 22 years of age: United States, 1989 

Number of visits Percent Rate per 

Race and sex in thousands distribution 100 persons 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85.922 100.0 109 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,325 77 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,764 79 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,541 75 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68.237 79.4 108 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,329 42.3 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,906 37.1 102 

Another’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.510 4.1 113 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,934 2.3 125 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,576 1.8 102 

‘Include% Asian/Pacific Islander and American l?disn/Eskimo!Aleut. 

NOTE Deraildoes noi equal”total bessuse the unspecified cslegory, 4,850,CO0vMs, is insluded in total. 

60,000 

So.coo 

20,000 

10,OOO 

0 

5 years e-1o 11-14 15-21 22 yews andIInder years years yearn andover 

A@ Ofpatient 

SOUQCEwtkxdcenrWror liaest18terIma,DM~ s/l+eonhOerestasw@ NedsrWArnbu!mwy MadblCareSwvay. 

—. 

Figure 2. Office visits topediatricians byageofpatienV United States, 1989 

Patient’s reason for visit 

The primmy reason forvisitto 

the pediatrician as expressed by the 

patient or patient’s guardian is shown 

intabIes5, and 6. The principal 

reason for visit is the problem, 

complaint, orreason listed in item9A 

of the patient record form. These 

data have been classified and coded 

according to the Reason for Vkit 

Classification for Ambulatory Care 

(RVC) (2). 

The RVC is divided into eight 

modules (or groups of reasons) as 

detailed in table 5. The symptoms 

module was most frequently cited, 

64.0 percent, followed by the 

diagnostic, screening, and preventive 

module, 22.1 percent (i.e., general 

and special exams, diagnostic tests, 

screening and preventive procedures, 

and family planning). 

The 15 most common reasons for 

visit are listed in table 6 and account 

for 71.5 pe;cent of alI visits to the 

pediatrician. Visits for the weII-baby 

exam (13.5 percent), the most 

frequently reported reason, and 

physicaI exam (5.7 percent) 

accounted for approximately 

19 percent of all visits to 

pediatricians. Cough, the second 

primary reason for visit, accounted 

for 11.1 percent in 1989, an increase 

from 7.7 percent in 1985. Fever 

accounted for 8.0 percent in 1989 

and did not statistically differ from 

the 1985 percentage of 7.6. The 

reasons for visit have changed very 

littIe from the 1985 NAMCS, Of the 

top 15 reasons in 1989, 14 appeared 

in 1985 with the only exception being 

general symptoms of an infant, which 

did not appear in 1989. 

Physician’s diagnoses 

Tables 7 and”8 present data on 

the principal diagnoses rendered by 

the pediatrician. This diagnosis is the 

first listed in item 10 of the patient 

record form. These data were coded 

and classified according to the 

international Classificationof Diseases, 

9th Revision, Clinical Modification 

(ICD-9-CM) (3). 

Of the primary diagnoses, the V 

codes (or supplementary 
4 Advance Data No. 208. January 17, 1992 

Table 

sex and age: United States, 1989 respirato~ system were the two most 

Number of visits Percerrt Rate per common classes of principal 

Sex and age in thousands distribution 100 persons diagnoses rendered bythe 

Both sexes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 100.0 36 pediatrician, each representing 

5years and under . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6-10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. .,., 

11–14 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

60,696 

148487 

6,598 

69.4 

16.6 

7.5 

272 

80 

49 

approximately one-quarter ofall 

primary diagnoses (table 7). The 

15-21 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

22yeareand over, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4,141 

1,489 

4.7 

1.7 17 

1 supplementary classification contains 

categories for diagnoses other than 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Syearsand under . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6-10years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

11-14years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

15-21 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

22 years Andover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

45,818 

33,111 

7,004 

3,154 

2,029 

519 

52.4 

37.9 

8.0 

3.6 

2.3 

0.6 

38 

289 

77 

46 

17 

0 

diseases and injuries such as general 

medicaI, welI-child, and normal 

pregnancy exams. Because the most 

common reason forvisit,was the wellbaby exam, itisno surprise that the 

3. Number, percent distribution, and rate of office visits to pediatric specialists by classification) and dkeases of the 

Female, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5yearsand under . . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . 

41,593 

27,585 

47,6 

31.6 

32 

253 most common diagnosis is the health 

6-10years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,483 8.6 84 supervision of infant oichild, which 11-14 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

15-21 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . 

3,444 

2,112 

3.9 

2.4 

53 

17 explains 14.5 percent of all the 

22yearsand over ...,,.... . . . . . . . 970 1.1 1 principal diagnoses. The second and 

third most common principal 

diagnoses were suppurative and 

unspecified otitis media and acute 

Table 4. Percent distribution of office visits to pediatricians by age and expected source upper respiratory infection with 

of payment: United States, 1989 percentages of13.9 percent and 

5.2 percent, respectively (table 8). All 

Sourceofpayment ages and under years years years 

similar diagnoses in comparison to 

Percent distribution the 1985 NAMCS with minimal 

Allvisits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 differences. 

Self-pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.6 40.6 39.0 32.1 33.1 

Medicare, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.2 0.6 

Medicaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

BlueCross/BlueShield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

13.2 

8.0 

13.9 

7.7 

11.0 

10.6 

11.0 

5.3 

11.1 

9.3 Diagnostic services and 

Othercommercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Prepaidplan/HMO/lPAJPPO, . . . . . . . . . . . 

19.0 

22.9 

16.9 

21.5 

19.1 

24.5 

21.0 

32.7 

19.0 

30.1 

nonmedication therapy 

Nocharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

0.9 

3.5 

0.7 

3.8 

1.5 

2.5 

0.2 

2.9 

1.0 

3.4 One-third (32.3 percent) of the 

Unknown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6 1.5 2.3 1.7 1.7 patients who visited pediatricians 

5 years 6-1o 11-14 15–21 Data from the 1989 NAMCS reveal 

NOTE Detail does not add to total because more than one source of payment was poaaible per viait. 

Table 5. Number and percent distribution of office visits to pediatric specialists, by 

prlrrclpalreason forvlsIt module: UnitedStates, 1989 

Numberofvisits Percent 

Principal reason for visit module and RVC code’ in thousands distribution 

All principal reasons forvisitmodules. . . . . . . 67,411 100.0 

Symptom module ...,..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S001-S999 55,981 64.0 

Symptoms referable torespiratory system . . .S400-S499 20,182 23.0 

Symptoms referable toeyesand ears. . . . . .S300-S399 11,423 13.0 

General symptoms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SOOI-S099 9.060 10.4 

Symptoms referable to digestive system . . . .S500-S639 5,258 6,0 

Symptoms referable toskin, nails, and hair, . . . . . .S830-S699 4,866 5.6 

Diseaae module, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..’ . . . . . ..Doo1–Dg99 5,719 6.5 

Diagnostic, screening, and preventive module . . .Xt OO-X599 19,291 22.1 

General medical exam . . . . . . . .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..X1OO 5,003 5.7 

Well-babyexam . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..X105 11,619 13.5 

Treatmentmodule. ..,,..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..TIOO-T899 2,530 2.9 

Injury andadverse effects mooule. . . . . . . . . ,JOO1-J999 1,992 2.3 

Allothermoduleaz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,818 2.2 

~Basedon ''AResson for Usit Classi!:caton for Ambulato~ Care', (2), 

Includes lest resufts and admmis:ra!,vemodules and uncodeable and blank entnes. 

received one or more diagnostic tests. 

Of those diagnostic tests listed in 

item 12 of the patient record form, 

“other” was chosen most often with a 

percentage of 21.4 followed by other 

blood test with a percentage of 7,4 

and blood pressure with a percentage 

of 7.O(table 9). The “other” category 

was selected frequently because the 

specific diagnostic test categories 

listed on the patient record form are 

generally associated with adult visits 

and are often not appropriate for the 

types of problems and resulting 

services offered by the pediatrician. 

Similarly, the lists in items 13 and 14 

of the patient record form are 

generally not appropriate to the 

pediatrician’s practice resulting in 

relatively high percentages in the 

“other” category, 
Advance Data No. 208. January 17, 1992 5 

Table 6. Number and percent distribution of office visits to pediatric specialists by most Medication therapy common principal reason for visit United States, 1989 

Pediatricians administered or 

Most common pr!ncfpal reason Number of visits Percent 

for visit and WC code’ in thousands distribution prescribed medication including 

immunizations, duringan estimated 

Allnrincipal reasons forvisit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 100.0 67.1 percent of their patient visitsin 

Well-baby exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..X105 11,819 13.5 1989, accounting for14.O percentof Cough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S440 9,725 11.1 

Fever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S010 7,016 8.0 all medication prescribed or 

Earache orotherinfection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S355 6,411 7.3 administered in ambulatory office 

General medicalexam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..X1OO 5,003 5.7 

Symptoms referabletothroat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..s455 3,803 4.4 practices. Of those pediatric patients 

Othersymptoms referabletothe ears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S365 3,225 3.7 who received medication, Skin rash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S860 2,860 3.3 

Nasal congestion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S400 2,719 3.1 ‘44.3 percent received only one drug=, 

Head cold, upper respiratory infection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S445 2,384 2.7 while 17.5 ,percent received two drugs Otitis media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..D450 2,202 2.5 

Oiarrhes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S595 1,716 2.0 (table 10). Pediatric patients, due to 

Vomiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S530 1,430 1.6 their age and commonly diagnosed Prophylactic inoculations . . . . . . . . .’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..X4OO 1,199 1.4 

Physical examination required for employment. . . . . . . . . ..AIOO 848 1.0 bacterial infections, mainly utilized 3 

1Baaed on “A Reason for Visit Classification for Arrrbulatory Care’” (2). 

of the 20 therapeutic classes of drugs. 

(This classification is adopted from 

the therapeutic categories of the 

National Drug Code, 1985 (4).) It 

Table 7. Number and percent distribution of office visits to pediatric specialists by major should be noted that some drugs may lnternationa/ Classif7catlon of Diseases, 9th Revkion, Clinical Modification class: have application in more than one United States, 1989 

therapeutic category. In that event, 

categoxy for which it is most 

Ali principaldiagnoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 100.0 frequently prescribed. Antimicrobial 

Infectious and parasitic cfiseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...001-139 6,914 7.9 agents were most often prescribed, 

Mentaldisorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..2go+lg 1,055 1.2 

Principal diagnoses and ICD-9-CM code 

Numberofvisita Percent each drug was assigned to the in thousands distrib~”on 

Nervous system and sense organs. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...320-389 15,254 17.5 33.1 percent of thetime, with 

Respiratorysystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...460-519 21,886 25.0 respiratory tract drugs and 

Digestive system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..520-57g 

Genitourina~system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..580-62g 

Skin and subcutaneous tissue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ij80-70g 

3,553 

1,253 

3,857 

4.1 

1.4 

4.4 

immunologic agents following with 

percentages of23.6and 16.0, 

Symptoms, signs, andill-defined conditions . . . . . . . ...780-799 

Injuryand poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..80(&gg9 

3,992 

3,328 

4.6 

3.8 respectively (table 11). Amoxicillin, 

Supplementary classifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vcodes 22,262 25.5 erythromycin, and immunizing agents, 

Allotherdiagnosesl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,983 3.4 

Unknownorblank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,074 1.2 for example, diphtheria-tetanuspertussis and polio, head the list of 1Includes Neoplasms endocrine, nutrfiional and metabo!k diseases and immunity disordem diseases of the SirSulatOrysystem: the most utilized generic ingredients dkeases of musdoskeletal system and Connwtie tissue. 

administered or prescribed by 

pediatricians (table 12). 

Table 8. Number and percent distribution of office visits to pediatrjc specialists by 

principal diagnoses most frequently rendered bythe physician: United States, 1989 

Disposition and duration of 

Numberofvisita Percent visit 

Most common prinapal diagnosis and ICD-9-CM code’ inUrousands distribution 

All principal diagnoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 100.0 The average time spent with the 

Healthsupewision ofinfantorchild. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..V020 12,679 14.5 pediatrician per visit was 12.6 

Suppurative andunspecified otitis media . . . . . . . . . . . . ...382 12,151 13.9 minutes. This figure represents time 

%We ucperrespirato~ infection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465 4,723 5.2 actuallyspent in face-to-face contact Lhlspecdled general medical exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .VrJ7r3 4,470 5.1 

Acute pharyngi@ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...462 3,861 4.4 between the physician and patient; it 

Disorders ofnewous system and sense organs. . . . . . . . ..V012 2,721 3.1 

bronchitis notspecified .asacute orchronic. . . . . . . . . . . ...490 2,599 3.0 does not include visits of zero 

Other andunspecified noninfedious g~troenterfis and colitis. .556 2,096 2.4 minutes. Zero minutes were recorded 

Acutetonsillitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463 1,915 2.2 if thepatient was seen onIyby Unspecifiedviral infection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .079 1,877 2.1 

Chronicsinusifis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...473 1,716 2.0 someone other than the physician. 

S:reptococcalsorethroat . . . . . . .. : . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...034 1,39s 1.6 Whereas many of the patients, Other Ill-defined and unknown causes of morbidity and 

morfalify . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... . ..799 1,291 1.5 38.5 percent, were seen between6 

Acute laryngotrachei~s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...464 1,136 1.3 

Pneumonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... .486 and 10 minutes, no time (zero 1,123 1.3 

Allother~agnoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31,653 36.2 minutes) with the physician was 

‘Based on the /nferna?iona/ C/assifkarion of rYiseases, 9th Revision, C/;nica/ Modificerion (lCD-S-CM). recorded for O.3 percent of the 

patients, down from 1.9 percent in 
6 Advance Data No. 208 ● January 17, 1992 

Table 9. Number and percent distribution of office visits to pediatric specialists by 1985. The most common disposition number and type of diagnostic service: United States, 1989 of the office visit was for the patient 

Number of visits Percent of a pediatrician to return at a 

Diagrrostlc service in thousands distribution specific time, 42.7 percent, with the 

All visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 100.0 second most common disposition 

havingthe patient return onlyif 

Number of diagnostic sewices needed, 32.5 percent (table 13), 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,894 67.1 

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,989 22.9 

2 4,632 5.3 References 3:::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::: 2,742 3.1 

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 854 1.0 1. McLemore T, DeLozier J. 1985 SumDiagnostic test mary: National .Ambulatory h4edical 

Bloodiest’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,427 7.4 Care Survey. Advance data from vital 

Blood pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,090 7.0 and health statistics; no 128, HyattsUrinalysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Visualscuity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Chestx ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

5,837 

3,305 

1,038 

6.7 

3.8 

1.2 

vilIe, Maryland: National Center for 

Health Statistics. 1987. 

Another . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,019 6.9 2. Schneider D, Appleton L, McLemore 

T. A reason for visit classification for ‘Otner than cholesterol and HIV tests. 

ambulatory care. National Center for NOTE: Detail may not add to total because more than one diagnoa!lc service was possible during the patient visit. Health Statistics, Vital Health Stat 

Table 10. Number and percent distribution of office visits to pediatric specialists by type 2(78). 1979, 

of visit and number of medications prescribed or ordered: United States, 1989 3. Public HeaIth Service and Health 

Type of visit and number of medications 

Numberofvisits 

in thousands 

Percent 

distribution International Classification of 

Diseases, 9th Revision, clinical 

Allvkits.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 100.0 modification. Washington: Public 

Health Service. 1989. 

Care Financing Administration. 

Type of visit 

4. Food and Drug Administration. 

Nondrug visit (Omedications) . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . 28,738 32.9 

Drugvisit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,673 67.1 National Drug Code Directory, 1982” 

Edition. Washington: Public Health 

Number of medications Service. 1982. 1 38,697 “44.3 

2:::::::::::;:::::::::: ::::::::::::: 15,310 17.5 

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .,,,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,603 4.1 

4ormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,083 1.2 

Tablall. Number ofdrugmantions In office visitsto pediatric specialists byage and 

percent distribution of therapeutic category according to age: United States, 1989 

5 years 6-1o 11-21 

Therapeutic category’ and under years yeara 

All categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Antimicrobislagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Penicillins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Cephalosporins. .,......’.. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Erythromycins andlincosamides . . . . . . . . . 

Wfonamidesandtrimethoprirn. , . . . . . . . . . . 

Psychopharmacologic drugs, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Gastrointestinal agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metabolicand nufrientagents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Hormones and agenta affecting hormonal 

mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Immunologicagerrts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Slcin/mucousmembrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

C)phthalmicdrug s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Otologicdrugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Drugsfor relief ofpain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Respiratorytractdrugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Bronchodilators and antiasthmatics. . . . . . . . 

Nasal decongestants....,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics . . . , . . . 

All other2, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Number in thousands 

87,682 18,755 12,474 

Percent distribution 

100.0 

33.1 

12.7 

3.8 

10.0 

6.0 

0.3 

1.7 

5.7 

0.6 

16.0 

6.9 

2.7 

0.9 

22 

3.6 

9.0 

9.6 

5.2 

100.0 100.0 

37.3 24.9 

17.5 11.2 

4.3 3.0 

9.7 

5.0 E 

2.2 3.3 

6.8 0.4 

1.4 0.4 

1.3 4.5 

2.3 11.1 

9.1 12.6 

2.3 3.6 

1.7 

3.0 6.7 

28.9 24.1 

7.6 5.2 

9.6 10.3 

9.9 5.5 

3.7 8.4 

‘Therapeutic claSS based on the standard drug classification used 1? the National Drug Code Directory 1985Edition. 

21”C1”d~S: A“esthet,C ~rugS, amidotea, hematologlc agents, cardiovascular-renal drugs, radiopharmaceuticakkontrast metia, 

onco[fllcs, anuparasitic agents, unclasa,fieciimtscellaneous, 
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

AdvanceDataNo.208. January17,1992 7 

Table 12. Number and percent distribution of the top 15 generic ingredients most utilized 

by pediatric specialists: United States, 1989 

Number of mentions’ Percent 

Rank Generic ingredient in thousands distribution 

All drugs................,.. . . . . . . . 121,780 100.0 

Amoxicillin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,232 12.5 

Erythromycin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,553 4.6 

Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussisvaccine . . . . . . . . 5,049 4.1 

Poliovaccine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,225 3.5 

Phenylephrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,646 3.0 

Cefaclor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,54s 2.9 

Phenylpropanolamine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,522 2.9 

Trimethoprim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,149 2.6 

Sulfamethoxszole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,128 2.6 

Acetaminophen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,929 2.4 

Sulfisoxszole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,820 2.3 

Chlorpheniramine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.595 2.1 

Albuterol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,455 2.0 

~4 Pentoxitjliine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,135 1.s 

15 Dextromethorphan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,004 1.6 

1~requenw of mention~om~ne~ ~lng[e.ingrw,ent agents with mentoons ofthe agents as an in9wdient in a =Mtined dw. 

Tabie 13. Number and parcent distribution of office visits to pediatric specialists by 

duration and disposition: United States, 1989 

Numberoftisits Percent 

Duration and disposition of visit inihouasnds distribution 

Allvisits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7,411 100.0 

Duration of visit’ 

Zerominutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “239 0.3 

l-5minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,150 15.0 

8-10 minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,660 3s.5 

ll-15minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,235 2S.9 

16-30minufes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,774 15.s 

31-60minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,246 

61 minufesormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ●64 E 

Disposition of visit 

Nofollowup planned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,013 19.5 

Returnatspecifiedtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,326 42.7 

Return ifneeded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,431 32.5 

Telephonefollowup planned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,023 4.6 

Referredtootherphysician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,647 1.9 

Returnedto referring physician. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ●314 

Admittohospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 K 

‘Mean duration of visit 12.6 minutes. 
8 Advance Data No. 208 ● January 17, 1992 

Technical notes 

Sources of data and sample 

design 

The information presented in this 

report is based on data collected by 

means of the National Ambulatory 

Nfedical Care Survey from March 20, 

1989, through March 18, 1990. The 

t~rget universe of NA~fCS includes 

ofilce visits made in the United States 

bj ambulatory patients to 

nonfederally employed physicians who 

are principally engaged in office 

practice, but not in the specialties of 

anesthesiology, patholo~, or 

radiology. Telephone contacts and 

nonoffice visits are excluded. 

A multistage probability sample 

design is used in NAMCS, involving 

samples of primary units (PSU’s), 

physician practices within PSU’S, and 

patient visits within physician 

practices. For 1989, a sample of 2,535 

non-Federal office-based physicians 

\vas selected from master files 

maintained by the American Medical 

Association and American 

Osteopathic Association (the sample 

included 166 pediatricians of which 

120 were eligible for the survey). The 

physician response rate for the 1989 

NAMCS was 74 percent (81 percent 

for pediatricians). Sample physicians 

was asked to compIete patient 

records (see figure 1) for a systematic 

random sample of office visits 

occurring during a randomly assigned 

l-week reporting period. Responding 

physicians completed 38,384 patient 

records (3,732 patient records were 

filled out by pediatricians). 

Characteristics of the physician’s 

practice, such as primary specialty 

and type of practice, were obtained 

from the physicians during an 

induction interview. The U.S. Bureau 

of the Census, Housing Surveys 

Branch, was responsible for the 

survey’s data collection. Processing 

operations and medical coding were 

performed by the National Center for 

Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge 

and Ambulatory Care Survey Section, 

Research Triangle Park, North 

Carolina. 

Sampling errors 

The standard error is primarily a 

measure of the sampling variability 

that occurs by chance when only a 

sample, rather than an entire 

universe, is surveyed. The relative 

standard error of an estimate is 

obtained by dividing the “standard 

error by the estimate itse!fi the result 

is then expressed as a percent of the 

estimate. Approximate relative 

standard errors of selected aggregate 

statistics are shown in table I, and 

the relative standard errors of 

estimated number of drug mentions 

are shown in table II. The standard 

errors for estimated percent of visits 

are shown in table III. 

Adjustments for nonresponse 

Estimates from NAMCS data 

were adjusted to account for sample 

physicians who were in scope but did 

not participate in the study. This 

adjustment was calculated to 

minimize the impact of response on 

final estimates by imputing to 

nonresponding physicians data from 

similar visits to similar physicians. For 

this purpose physicians were judged 

similar if they had the same specialty 

designation and practiced in the same 

Psu. 

Table L Relative standard errors of 

estimated numbers of office visits for the 

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 

United States, 1989 

Estimated number of All 

office visits in thousands specialties Pediatrics 

Relative standard error 

(RSE) in percent 

100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.7 50.5 

200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49.4 36.6 

300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.4 30.6 

400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.0 27.1 

500. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.4 24.7 

700, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26.6 21.6 

1,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.4 19.2 

2,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,1 15.8 

5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.6 13.3 

10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 12.4 

50,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1 11.5 

100,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 11,4 

690,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 . . . 

NOTE Pediatric 30% RSE = 313,00G all specialties 30°% RSE 

= 547,00Q. 

Example of use of table: An aggregate estimate of 2 million 

viaits to a pediatrician haa a relative standard estimate of 15.8 

percent or a standard error of 316 thousand visils (15.8 

percent of 2 million). 

Table IL Relative standard errors of 

estimated numbers of drug mentions for 

the National Ambulatory Medical Care 

Survey United States, 1989 

Estimated number of drug All 

mentions in thousands specialties Pediatice 

Relative standard error 

(RSE) in percent 

100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89.6 50.1 

200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63.4 37.1 

300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.9 31.5 

400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.0 26.4 

500. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.3 26.3 

700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.2 23.7 

1,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.7 21.5 

2,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.6 1a.7 

5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.6 16.a 

10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.3 16.1 

50,000, . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 15.5 

100,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8 15.4 

200,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 15.4 

700,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 . . . 

NOTE: Pediatric 30°% RSE - S43,0W all apeciallies 30% RSE 

= 912,000. 

Example of use of table: An aggregate estimate of 2 million 

drug mentions by a pediatrician haa a relatiya slandard estimate of 18.7 percent or a standard error of 374 thousand drug 

mentions (18.7 percent of 2 million). 

Test of significance and rounding 

In this report, the determination 

of statistical significance is based on a 

two-sided t-test with a critical value 

of 1.96 (0.05 level of confidence). 

Terms relating to differences such as 

“greater than” or “less than” indicate 

that the difference is statistically 

significant. In the tables, estimates of 

office visits have been rounded to the 

nearest thousand. Consequently, 

estimates will not always add to 

totals. Rates and percent were 

calculated from original unrounded 

figures and do not necessarily agree 

with percents calculated from 

rounded data. 

Definition of terms 

Ambulatory patient -An 

ambulatory patient is an individual 

seekhg personal health services who 

is not currently admitted to any 

health care institution on the 

premises. 

Physician –A physician is a duly 

licensed doctor of medicine (M. D.) or 

doctor of osteopathy (D. O.) who is 

currently in office-based practice and 

who spends some time caring for 

ambulatory patients. Excluded from 

the NAMCS are physicians who are 
Advance Data No. 208. January 17, 1992 9 

Table Ill. Standard errors for percents of estimated numbers of office visits for the 

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: United States, 1989 

Estimated percent 

Base of percent 

(visits in thousands) 1 or 99 5 or 95 10 or 90 20 or 80 30 or 70 50 

200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

500! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

13.000. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

50,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000. . . . . . . . . . . . 600,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.9 

3.1 

2.2 

1.6 

z 

0.6 

0.5 

0.3 

0.2 

0.1 . 

Standard error in percentage points 

10.7 I4.a 19.7 

6.6 9.3 12.5 

4.a 6!6 8.a 

3.4 4.7 6.2 

2.2 3.0 3.9 

1.5 2.1 2.8 

1.3 1.8 2.4 

1.1 1.5 2.0 

0.7 0.9 1.3 

0.5 0.7 0.9 

0.2 0.3 0.4 

22.6 24.6 

14.3 15.6 

10.1 11.0 

7.1 7.8 

4.5 4.9 

3.2 3.5 

2.8 3.1 

2.3 2.5 

1.4 1.6 

1.0 1.1 

0.4 0.5 

Example of use of table: An estimate of 30 percem aased on an aggregale estimate of 13 million vieits has a atsndard error of 2.8 

percent or a relative standard error or 9.3 percefl (2.8 percent divided by 30 percent). 

hospital based; who specializein 

anesthesiology, pathology, or Symbols 

radiology; who are federally . . . Category not applicable 

employed; who treat only Quantity zero 

institutionaIized patients; who are ● Figure does not meet standards of 

employed full time by an institution; 

and who spend no time seeing 

ambulatory patients. 

Ojjice– Offices are the premises 

physicians identi$ as locations for 

their ambulatory practice. These 

customarily include consultation, 

examination, or treatment spaces the 

patients associate with the particular 

physician. 

VW-A visit is a direct personal 

exchange between an ambulatory 

patient and a physician or a staff 

member working under the 

physician’s supervision, for the 

purpose of seeking care and 

rendering personal heaIth services. 

Drug mention –A drug mention 

is the physician’s entry of a 

pharmaceutical agent –by any route 

of administration —for preventicm, 

diagnoses, or treatment. Generic as 

well as brand-name drugs are 

included, as are nonprescription and 

prescription drugs. Along with all new 

drugs, the physician also records 

continued medications if the patient 

was specifically instructed during the 

visit to continue the medication. 

Drug visit –A drug visit is a visit 

in which medication was prescribed 

or provided by the physician. 

reliability or precision (see 

Technical notes) 
12 Advance Data No. 208. Januarv 17.1992 

Suggested citation 

Woodwell D. Office visits to pediatric 

specialists, 1989. Advance data from vital and Copyright information 

health statistics; no 208. Hyattsville, Maryland: This report may be reprinted without further 

National Center for Health Statistics, 1992. permission. 
Number 209 . April 28, 1992 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

Office Visits to Internists, . by David A. Woodwell, Division of Health Care 

According to data from the 1989 

National Ambulatory Medical Care 

Survey (NAMCS), an estimated 692.7 

million visits were made to 

office-based ambulatory care 

physicians in the United States. Of 

this total, an estimated 78.8 million, 

or 11.4 percent, were to “physicians 

specializing in internal medicine. 

The NAMCS is a year-long 

probability sample survey of officebased non-Federal physicians 

practicing in the United States. The 

NAMCS was conducted annually 

from 1973 to 1981, again in 1985, and 

resumed being annual in 1989 by the 

Division of Health Care Statistics, 

National Center for Health Statistics, 

Center for Disease Control. The 

survey sample is selected from visits 

to doctors of medicine and 

osteopathy who are engaged in officebased ambulatory care, the location 

where most Americans seek their 

health care. The NAMCS excludes 

both physicians who specialize in 

anesthesiology, pathology, or 

radiology and physicians who are 

principally engaged in teaching, 

research, or administration. The 

survey excludes visits made to 

hospital emergency rooms or hospital 

outpatient departments. 

The figures presented in this 

report are estimated from a sample, 

not the entire universe of visits to 

physicians’ offices, and therefore are 

subject to sampling variability. The 

technical notes at the end of the 

report provide guidelines for judging 

the precision of the estimates. A copy 

of the patient record form used for 

the data collection is shown in 

figure 1, which will serve useful while 

reading the results. Definitions used 

in the sumey are also included and 

can be found in the technical notes 

section. 

Internists included in the 

NAMCS are sampled from those 

physicians designated as such in the 

American Medical Association 

(AMA) and the American 

Osteopathic Association (AOA) 

master files. These are self-classified 

internists “whose specialty is then 

confirmed at the time of the NAMCS 

interview. About 70 percent of the 

internists in the NAMCS sample have 

indicated internal medicine as their 

only special~, while the remaining 

30 percent indicated a second 

1989 

Statistics 

specialty in the AMA or AOA files. 

In addition, approximately two-thirds 

of the internists in the sample are 

board certified, usually in internal 

medicine, while the remaining 

one-thkd were not. 

Data highlights 

Of the 13 largest specialties, 

internal medicine places third just 

behind pediatricians and just before 

obstetricians and gynecologists in the 

percent of visits made to ambulatory 

care physicians (table 1). During the 

12-month period from March 1989 to 

March 1990, the percent of visits to 

internists (11.4 percent) was not 

statistically different from the percent 

of visits in 1985 (11.6 percent) 

(figure 2). 

Patient characteristics 

The patients visiting internists 

tend to be older than average; the 

mean visit age for internists is 54.8 

years while visits to all physicians is 

39.9 years (table 2). About 

92 percent of internists’ visits are 

. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUW SERVICES 

Public Health SeIvics 

Centers for Disease Control 

National Center for Health Statistics CSNTSRS 

CxFOR DWME cONTROL 

Manning Feinleib, M.D., Dr. P.H., Director 
---------

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1 ,DATE OF VISIT PATlENT RECORD OMBNo.0S20G234 Ex@ds 8-31-S9 ~ NATIONAL AMBULATORY MEDICAL CARE SURVEY (FHs)61OSA 

2.21P CODE 4, SEX 5m~~:R OR ÐNlciTY 7.~h:~0.$&IIER} OF PAYMENT ,8 WAS PATIENT “REFERREDFOR T&WIVI: BY 

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9 PATIEIWS COMPLAINT(SI,SYMPTOMIS1,OR OTHER 10. PHYSICIAN’S DIAGNOSES 11 HAVEYOU SEEN 

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‘DYES 2C!N0 

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2 ❑ PAP TEST 8 ❑ URINALYSIS 14 ❑ CHOLESTEROL MEASURE 3, Q WEIGHT REOLJCTION 2 ❑ PSYCHOTHERAPY 

3 D PELVIC EXAM 9 a CHEST X-RAY 15 ❑ HIV SEROLOGY 3 ❑ CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION 3 ❑ CORRECTIVE LENSES 

4 Q BREAST PALPATION 10 ❑ DIC:TAL RECTAL EXAM 16 D OTHER 9LOO0 TEST 4 ❑ SMDKING CESSATION 4 ❑ AMWILATORY SURGERY 

5 ❑ PHYSIOTHERAW 

S @ MAMMOGRAM I t ❑ pROCTLSIGMOIDOSCOPY 17 Q OTHER /3Pwi/yl 5 n HIV TRANSMISSION 

6 ❑ OTNER f.hi(Vi ❑ STOOL 6 ❑ BREAST SELF-EXAM 6 ~ VISUAL ACUITY 12 SLOOO EXAM 

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IF NONE, CHECK MERE ❑ 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

figure 1.Patient record form 

over 25 years of age, and nearly 

40 percent of the visits are 65 years 

of age or older. The patient visit rate 

increases with age from a low of 2.3 

visits per 100 persons for those 

patients under 15 years of age to 

about 128 visits per 100 persons 75 

years of age and-over. These 

relationships generally are true for 

both male and female visits. Although 

female patients account for the 

majority of internist visits 

(58 percent), the visit rate for 

females is not statistically different 

from that for males. 

A NEW b. FOR OX 

MEOICAYION? IN ITEM 90a? 

vs.? No YES NO 

‘cl 2CI ID 2D 

la Zu ‘cl 20 

10 20 ID 20 

‘cl 20 ‘cl 20 

lD 20 ID zCI 

White persons accounted for 

most of the visits to internists 

(approximately 81 percent) as 

compared with black persons 

(approximately 13 percent). These 

percentages closely represent the 

general distribution of the population; 

hence, the similar visit rates. As 

shown in table 3, white and black 

persons have visit rates that are not 

statistically different-33.2 visits per 

100 persons for blacks and 31.2 visits 

per 100 persons for whites. Between 

races there was no statistical 

difference by the gender of the 

16“ [%%%%0: a~p;;]’”sr q 7. gg:on 

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aemally 

2 ❑ RETURN AT SPECIFIEOTIME spenf wifh 

physician] 

3 ❑ RETuRN IF NEEOED,P.R.N. 

t Q ;’~jPJ:oNE FOLLOW.UP 

5 D ‘EFERREo TO OTHER PHYSICIAN 

6 ❑ f+;W’\~J~{TO FIEFERRING 

7 n AOMIT TO HOSPITAL Minute* 

6 Q OTHEfl /$NcilY/ 

. , , e er,”. m.JMEMT smNT,t.J,? CWFICF., %WL*,!3 .?.”. -“. -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

patient. The distribution of those 

visits again followed that of the 

general population. 

Expected sources of 

Payr”ent 

Patients’ self-payment (including 

copayments and deductibles) was the 

expected source of payment in 

31.7 percent of the visits to internists; 

Medicare was 30.3 percent; prepaid 

pIans (HMO, IPA, or PPO) was 21.0; 

other commercial insurance was 20.1; 
Advance Data No. 209. April 28, 1992 3 

Table 1. Number and percent distribution of offtce visits, by selected physician 

specialties: United States, 1989 

Number of visits Percent 

Selected specialty in thousands distribution 

All visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692,702 100.0 

General and femilypractice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206,301 29.8 

Pediatrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,411 12.6 

Internalmedicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 11.4 

Obstetrioe&gynecOlogy . . . . . . . . . . 

Ophthalmology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. . . 

. . . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. . 

. .. 

56,381 

38,761 

6.4 

5.6 

■ aleEwmde 

Figure 2. Vlstt rate to internists by age and sex Urtlted States, 1989 

Table 2. Number, percent distribution, and rate of office visits to internists by sex and ag= 

United States, 1989 

Number of visits Percent Wsita per 

Sex and age in thousands distribution 100 parsons 

Mvk%s....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76,818 100.0 32.4 

Both sexes 

Under 15yeers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,253 1.6 2.3 

15-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,008 14.1 

2544years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,352 2Z 24.6 

45-64 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,824 29.0 49.5 

65-74 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,758 20.0 88,4 

75years and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,621 18.6 128.4 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,142 42.1 28.1 

Under15years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ●473 0.6 1.7 

15-24years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.410 3.1 13.7 

25-14years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,645 11.0 22.4 

45-b4yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,877 12.5 44.8 

65-74years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,447 8.2 81.2 

75years Andover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,290 6.7 125.7 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,674 58.0 36.4 

Under15yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780 1.0 3.0 

15-24years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,598 3.3 14.5 

25-44years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,707 13.6 26.7 

45-64years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,947 16.4 53.8 

65-74years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.311 11.8 94.1 

75years anOOver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,331 11.8 130.0 

and Blue Cross/Blue Shield was 

10.1 percent. Medicaid was used least 

as asource ofpayment,3.7 percent 

(table 4). 

Patient status 

Most of the patients who visited 

the internist in 1989,96.6 percent, 

had notbeenreferred by another 

physician; the remaining patients, 

3.4 percent, had been referred for 

that particular visit. New patients 

representedan estimated 

15.7 percent of thevisits and old 

patients (patients previously seen) 

having new problems represented 

25.0 percent of thevisits. Most of the 

visits, however, were from patients 

that had preexisting or old problems, 

59.4 percent (table 5). 

Patient’s reason for visit 

The principal reason for visit to 

the internist, as expressed by the 

patient, is shown in tables 6 and “7. 

The principal reason for visit is the 

probIem, complaint, or reason listed 

first in item 9A of the patient record 

form. These data have been classified 

and coded according to the Reason 

for Visit Classification for Ambulatory 

Care (RVC) (l). 

The RVC is divided into seven 

moduIes (or groups of reasons) as 

detailed in table 6. The symptoms 

moduIe was the most often cited, 

57.2 percent of aIl the reasons for 

visit. Within the symptoms module, 

symptoms of the respiratory and 

musculoskeletal systems had the 

largest number of visits with 13.7 and 

12.3 percent, respectively. The 

disease module, which consists largely 

of known chronic conditions, 

accounted for 14.1 percent, and the 

diagnostic, screening, and preventive 

module accounted for 12.4 percent. 

Table 7 lists the 20 most common 

reasons for visit that accounted for 

approximately 47 percent of all visits 

to the internist. The general medical 

exam, 6.2 percent, was the most 

frequent principal reason for visit. 

Cough accounted for 4.7 percent of 

the visits, an increase from 

3.1 percent in 1985.’Compared with 

1985, two additional symptoms 
4 Advance Data No. 209. April 28, 1992 

Table 3. Number, percent distribution, and rate of office visits to Internists by race and appeared in 1989 in the 20 most sex: United States,1989 common reasons for visit: physical 

Number of visits Percent Visits per examination required for employment 

Race and sex in thousands distribution 100 persons and nasal congestion, 

Alivisits’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 32.4 

Race and sex 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,924 12.6 33.2 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,868 4.9 27.7 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,056 7.7 38.0 

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,022 81.2 31.2 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,642 35.1 27.6 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. 36,380 46.2 34.5 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,913 35.0 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,116 27,5 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,795 42.1 

1Detail dOe~ “o, add to total bewuse unspecified category, 1,957,000 ~s@ b Incfuded ‘n !orsl. 

21ncludeS Asiamacific Islander and American lndiardEskimo#deur. 

Table 4. Number and percent distribution of the expected source of payment to office 

visits of internists: United States, 1989 

Number of visits Percent 

Source of payment in thousands distribution 

Allvisits’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 

Self-pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,974 31.7 

Medicare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,902 30.3 

Medicaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,920 3.7 

Blue Cross/Blua Shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,949 10.1 

Other commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,834 20.1 

Pre-paid plan, HMO/lPA/PPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,538 21.0 

0thar2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.449 5.6 

lWillno!eddto 100percent be~usemore than one~lego~wuld have been choaen. 

?qnclude~nocharge, olher, and unknown. 

Table 5. Number and percent distribution of patient refarral status and visft status: 

United States, 1989 

Number of vislfa Percent 

Referral and visit status in thousands distribution 

All visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 

Patient referred 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,706 3.4 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76,110 96.6 

Visfi status 

New patient, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,336 15.7 

Oldpatient-new problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,700 25.0 

Oldpatient-old problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,780 59.4 

Table 6. Number and percent distribution of office visits to internist by principal reason for 

visit module: United States, 1989 

Number of 

visits in Percent 

Principal reason for visit module and RVC code’ thousands distribution 

Allprincipal reasons forvisk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76,816 100.0 

Symptom module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S001-S999 45,113 57.2 

General symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. SOOI-S099 6,494 8.2 

Symptoms referable torespiratory syetem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S400-S499 10,795 13.7 

Symptoms referable todigestive system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S500-S639 6,206 7.9 

Symptoms referable tothemusculoskeletal system. . . . . . . . . .S900-S999 9,699 12.3 

DLsease module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. DOO1-D999 11,707 14.1 

Diagnostic, screening, and preventive module . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X1 OO-X599 9,734 12.4 

Treatment module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..TIoO-T899 5,648 7.2 

Injury andadverae effects module . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . .JOO1-J999 2,012 2.6 

Another modulesz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,201 6.6 

lBasedon 'oAReason for Vtsit Class:fiation tor Ambulator Care.' (RVC) (l). 

21ncluoes test resuks ana admmisml,ve modulas and uncooable and blank entW. 

Physician’s diagnosis 

Data on the principal diagnosis 

rendered by internists are shown in 

tables 8 and 9. The principal 

diagnosis is the first listed in item 10 

of the patient record form. These 

data were coded and classified 

according to the International 

Classificationof Direases, 9th Revision, 

ClinicalMod@ation (ICD-9-CM) 

(2). 

Table 8 categorizes the diagnoses 

by the major systems of the body as 

defined by the ICD-9-CM. The most 

frequent diagnoses were for diseases 

of the circulatory system, 

19.6 percent of the visits, and for 

diseases of the respiratory system, 

15.4 percent of the visits. The 

majority of the diagnoses made by 

internists were for diseases, with only 

5.4 percent of the diagnoses 

contained in the supplementary 

classification: This is well below the 

percent for all physicians, 

15.3 percent, in 1989 (3). 

Supplementary classifications contain 

categories for diagnoses other than 

diseases such as general medical 

exams, normal pregnancy exams, and 

personal history. 

The 20 conditions most 

frequently diagnosed by internists are 

shown in.table 9. Essential 

hypertension was the most commonly 

diagnosed condition and represented 

9.6 percent of the visits, down from 

11.2 percent in 1985, and was the 

most frequent diagnosis in 1989 for 

all visits to all physicians (3). 

Diabetes mellitus, the second most 

common diagnosis by internists, 

represented 4.8 percent of the visits. 

Within the top 20 diagnoses in 1989, 

there are many noteworthy changes 

when compared with 1985’.There was 

a significant increase of disorders of 

lipoid metabolism, 0.5 percent to 

2.2 percent, and other and 

unspecified disorders of the back, 

0.7 percent to 1.5 percent. 

AIlergic rhinitis and abdominal 

pain and other abdominal symptoms 
Advance Data No. 209 ● April 28, 1992 5 

Table 7. Number, percent dlstributlon, and cumulative parcent, by the 20 most common 

principal reasons for visits to Internists: United States, 1989 

Number of 

Most common prina”xl reason visits in Percent Cumulative 

Rank fbr visits and RVC cuds’ thousands distribution percent 

Allprincipal reaeons forvisit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 .-. 

General medical exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..X100 4,886 6.2 6.2 

: Cough. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S440 3,674 4.7 10.9 

3 Hypertension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..D51O 2,872 14.5 

4 Stomach pain, cramps and spasms . . . . . . . . . .S545 2,784 ::: 18.0 

5 Blood pressure test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..X320 2,301 2.9 20.9 

6 Backsymptome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S905 2,228 2.8 23,7 

7 Chest pain and related symptoms . . . . . . . . . . .S050 2,133 26.4 

8 Symptoms referable to throat . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S455 1,742 E 2a.6 

9 Headache, pain In head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S210 1.724 2.2 30.a 

10 Shortness of breath . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S415 1,430 32.6 

11 Diabetes mellitus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..D205 1,391 !:: 34.4 

12 Tiredness, exhaustion.. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S015 1,260 1.6 36.0 

13 Vertigo-dizziness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S225 1,227 1.6 37,6 

14 Leg symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S920 1,221 1.5 39.1 

15 Physical exam required for employment. . . . . . . .A1OO 1,145 1.5 40.6 

16 Nasal congestion .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S400 1,062 1.3 41.9 

17 Kneesyrnptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S925 996 1.3 43.2 

18 Lower backsymptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..S910 966 1,2 44.4 

19 Head cold, upper respiratory infection . . . . . . . ..S445 956 1.2 45.6 

20 Arthritis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..D900 917 1.2 46.6 

‘Based on “A Reason for Visit Classificationfor AmMetoy Care”’ (RVC)(l). 

Table 8. Number and percent distribution of office visits to Internists by major 

International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification class 

United States, 1989 

Number of 

visits in Percent 

Principal diagnoses and ICLW-CM codes’ fhousands distribution 

Atl diagnoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 

Infectious andparaaitic diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...001-139 1,737 22 

Neoplasm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...140-239 1,966 2.5 

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases and immunity 

disorders, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...240-279 7,534 9.6 

Mentaldisordera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .290-319 1,951 2.5 

Diseasea ofthenervous system and sense organs... . . . . . . . ...320-389 2,797 3.5 

Diseases ofthecirculatot_system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .390-459 15,470 19.6 

Diseases oftherespiratorysysfem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...460-519 12,155 15.4 

Diseases ofthedigr@iesystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..52CI-579 5,s53 7.4 

Diseaees ofthegenitourinarysyatem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...580-629 3,062 3.9 

Diseases oftheskin and subcufaneoustissue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6EIo-70g 1,887 2.4 

Mseases of themusculoskelebl system andwnne@ive tissue . . . . ..710-739 8,063 10.3 

Symptoms, signs andill-defined conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...780-799 5,143 6.5 

Injutyand poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..800-g99 4,654 5.9 

Supplementary classifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .VOO1-VOB2 4,258 5.4 

Another diagnosesz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 654 0.8 

Unknown diagnosas3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,623 2.1 

‘Based on hrfernafiona/Classirh%;onof Diseases, %h Revision, C/inics/ Mod;ficsfion (ICO-S-CM) (2). 

‘ln~l”des dise=e5 of the blood forming organs (28c-269]; complicationsofpregnancy,childbirth,andthepuerpemm(630-670; 

~ongenitatanOMa~eS (740-759): and certain condtions originating in the perinarel period (760-779). 

Includes blank diagnoses, noncodable d!agnoses. and illeg!ble d!agnoses. 

also joked the top 20 diagnoses made 

by internists in 1989. Angina pectoris 

had a statistically significant fail from 

the top 20 diagnoses, from 

1.3 percent in1985to 0.7 percent in 

1989. Neurotic disorders also dropped 

from thelistaswell, from 1.4 percent 

in 1985 to 0.9 percent in 1989. 

Still on the list of the top 20 

diagnoses but having a statistically 

significant drop in the percent of 

visits since 1985 is chronic ischemic 

heart disease except angina pectoris, 

which in 1985 made up 3.3 percent of 

thevisits compared with 2.1 percent 

in 1989. Thetop20 diagnoses 

represented 46.5 percent of all the 

visits to internists in 1989, an increase 

from43.O percent in 1985. 

Diagnostic services and 

counseling 

During 17.3 percent of the visits 

to internists, no diagnostic tests were 

ordered orperformed, up from 

14.1 percent in1985, About 

64.2 percent ofvisits to internists 

included a blood pressure check and 

25.4 percent included other blood 

tests. The use of these diagnostic 

services byintemists is two to three 

times higher than the corresponding 

percents for all other physicians, 

probably reflecting the high percent 

ofvisits for circulatory diseases seen 

byinternists (table 10). 

On the patient record form, item 

13 asks if the physician provided 

counseling, advice, or instructions to 

patients for any of the health 

conditions listed. In 1989 internists 

advised patients on weight reduction 

during 13.1 percent of the visits and 

on cholesterol reduction during 

8.0 percent of the visits. For a 

smaller percent of visits the physician 

counseled the patient on smoking 

cessation, 3.2 percent, and breast 

self-exam, 2.1 percent. The physician 

counseled, advised, or educated 

patients during 21.1 percent of the 

visits on other topics not Iisted 

(table 11). These percentages are 

approximately equal to or higher than 

the corresponding figures for all other 

physicians in 1989 (3). 

Medication therapy 

Approximately three-quarters 

(75.4 percent) of the visits to 

internists in 1989 were “drug” visits, 

that is, visits in which the patient was 

administered or prescribed some type 

of medication. Overall, this represents 

about 14.3 percent of all medications 

prescribed or administered by officebased ambulatory care physicians in 

the United States. In about one-third 

(32.7 percent) of the patient visits, 

one drug was prescribed or 

administered and in approximately “ 

one-fifth (19.2 percent) of the visits 

two drugs were prescribed or 

administered, similar to the percents 

for internists in 1985 (table 12). 

Of those drugs prescribed or 

administered, over 26.8 percent were 

cardiovascular-renal drugs, specifically 

including antihypertensive agents, 

10 percent, and diuretics, 

7.3 percent. Drugs used for the relief 

of pain accounted for 12.2 percent 
---

6 Advance Data No. 209. April 28, f 992 

Table 9. Number, percent distribution, and cumulative percent of office visits to internists and respiratory tract drugs accounted 

by the 20 most common principal diagnoses: United States, 1989 for10.9 percent of the medication 

Number of prescribed or administered by 

Most common principal diaqnoses visits in Percent Cumulative internists (table 13). (This Rank 

classification is adopted from the 

Allprincipai diagnoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 therapeutic categories ofthe National 

1 Essential hypertension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401 7,583 9.6 9.6 Drug Code, 1985 (4).) 2 

3 

Diabetes meliitus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...250 

Acute upper respirato~ infections of multiple or 

3,797 4.6 14.4 Hydrochlorothiazide, amoxiciIIin, 

unspecified sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...465 2,825 3.6 18.0 and furosemide are the three most 

4 

5 

General medical exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..WO 

Osteoarthrosis and allied disorders. . . . . . . . . .715 

2,392 

1,939 

3.0 

2.5 

21.0 

23.5 frequent generic ingredients 

6 

7 

8 

Disorders of Iipoid metabolism. . . . . . . . . . .272 

Bronchitis, not specified acute or chronic. . . .490 

Other forms ot chronic ischemic bean disease. ..414 

1,751 

1.730 

1,665 

2.2 

2.2 

2.1 

25.7 

27.9 

30.0 

prescribed or administered by the 

internist, accounting for 3,3, 2.3, and 

9 Chronic sinusitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...473 1,350 1.7 31.7 2.2 percent, respectively, of the drugs 

and lCD-SLCM code thousands distribution percent 

10 Other and unspecified arthropathies. . . . . . . . ...716 1,270 1.6 33.3 

11 General symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...780 1,230 1.6 34.9 mentioned (table 14). 

12 Cardiac dysrhythmias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...427 1,216 1.5 36.4 

13 Asthma, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...493 1,166 1.5 37.9 Disposition and duration 14 Other andunspecified disorders of the back. . . ...724 1,155 1.5 39.4 

15 Chronic airway obstruction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .496 1,036 1.3 40,7 of visit 

16 Acutepharyngitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...462 1,000 1.3 42.0 

17 Symptoms involving respiratory system and other While at the internist’s office, 

chestsympto.ms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...788 950 1.2 43.2 

18 Heartfailure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...428 905 1.1 44.3 20.2 percent of thepatients saw the 

19 Allergic rhinitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...477 854 1.1 45.4 physician 6 to 10 minutes, 20 Other symptoms involving abdomen and pelvis. . . .789 845 1.1 46.5 39.1 percent of thepatients saw the 

‘Based on IrrrerrratjonalCfassifhfim of Diseases,9th Revision, Clinical Modificefiorr (lCD-S-CM) (2). physician llto15 minutes, and 

27.1 percent of the patients saw the 

physician 16t030minutes. These 

Table 10. Number and percent distribution of office visits to internists by type of estimates of minutes include only the 

diagnostic service ordered or provided: United States, 1989 time the patient spent with the 

Numberof physician and donot incIude time 

Type of diagnostic service(s) visits in Percent spent by the patient waiting for”the 

ordered or provided thousands distribution physician ortime while care was 

Allvisits’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 provided bysomeone other than the 

Otherbloodtest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,016 25.4 physician. Avisitof zero minutes, one 

Blood pressurecheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Urinalysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Cholesterol measure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

50,599 

11,204 

7,821 

64.2 

14.2 

9.9 

in which the patient had no face-toface contact with the physician but 

ChestX-ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,129 6.5 received care from amember of the 

Stool-blood exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Digital rectal exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4,131 

3,675 

5.2 

4.7 physician’s staff, accounted for 

1.7 percent of the visits-not 

‘Detail may not add to total because more than one diagnostic ssrvice was possible during the patient visit. statically different from 1985. The 

mean duration of the visits in1989 

was 17.9 minutes (excluding zero 

Table 11. Number and percent distribution of office visits to internists by minutes) as compared with the mean 

counseling/advice: United States, 1989 duration of 19.3 minutes in 1985 

Numberof (table 15). 

visits in Percent Most of the patients that visited 

Courrseling/advice thousands distribution the internist were instructed to return 

Allvisits’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,616 100.0 at a specific time, 65.3 percent, 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,239 61.2 similar to the percent for all 

Weight reduction . . . . 

Cholesterol reduction . 

Smoking cessation . . . 

. . . 

. . . 

. . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . 

. . . . . . 

. . . . . . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. . 

. . 

. . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

10,383 

6,326 

2,527 

13.1 

8.0 

3.2 

specia1ties,61.3 percent (3). The 

patient was to return if needed in 

HIVtransmission . . . . 

Breastself-exam . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . 

. . . 

. . . 

. . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . 

. . . . . . 

. . . . . . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. . 

. . 

. . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

’241 

1,670 

16,643 

0.3 

2$; 

19.7 percent of thevisits and was 

admitted to the hospital in only 

1.0 percent of thevisits (table 15). ‘Detail may not add to total Decausemore than one categoy was possible during visit. 

. . . 
.

Advance Data No. 209 ● April 28, 1992 7 

Table 12. Number and percent distribution of office visi?s to internist by type of visit and References 

number of medications prescribed or ordererk United States, 1989 

1. Schneider D, Appleton L, McLemore 

Type of visit and Number of visits Percent T. A reason for visit classification for 

ambulatory care. National Center for 

Allvisite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78.816 100.0 Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(78), 

1979. 

Type of visit 

Non-drugvisit (Omedications) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,403 24.6 2. Public Health Service andHealth Care 

Orugvisit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,412 75.4 Financing Administration. International 

Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, 

number of medications in thousands distribution 

Numberofmedications clinical modification. Washington: Public 

25,775 32.7 

;:::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::;::: 15,120 19.2 Health Service. 1989. 

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,221 11.7 3. DeLozier JE, Gagnon R0.1989 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,517 5.7 

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48779 6.1 Summary National Ambulatory Medical 

Care Survey. Advance data from vital 

health statistics; no. 203. Hyattsville, 

Tabie 13. Number and percent distribution of office visits to Internists, by therapeutic Maryland: National Center for Health 

category: United States, 1989 Statistics, 199L 

4. Food and Drug Administration. 

Numberof National Drug Code Directory, 1985 

Therapeutic categoty’ 

All drugmentions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Antimicrobialagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Hematologicagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Cardiovascular-renal drugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Anfihypertensive agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Diuretics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Psychopharmacologic drugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Gastrointesfirtalagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Matabolicand nutrientagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Hormones andagents affecting hormons! mechanisms. . . . 

Skirdmucous membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Neurologicdrugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Drugsusedforreliefofpain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

General analgesice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Respiratorytractdrugs, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Antitussives, expectorants, andmucolytica . . . . . . . . . . 

Unclassified/miscellaneous..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Allothersz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

visits in Percent 

thousands distribution Edition. Washington: Public Health 

Servkc.1985. 

147,807 100.0 

14,054 9.5 

2,074 1.4 

39,582 26.8 

14,802 10.0 

10,M3 7.3 

5,919 4.0 

12,391 6.4 

7.437 5.0 

13,847 9.4 

4,152 

3,225 . Y2 

18,045 12.2 

8,687 5.9 

16,134 10.9 

4,947 3.3 

6,506 4.4 

4,441 3.0 

‘Therapeutic class based on the standard drug classificationused in the National Drug Code Directory, 1985 edition. 

21nc/”des an~~:hetic ~r”gs, antid~es,’racliopharmaceuticals/conUaafmedia, imMUf10109iCa9a~S. onm~~, ophthalmic dru9s, 

Otologic drugs, snd antiparasitk agents. 

Table 14. Number and percent distribution forthe20mostfrequentiy used generic 

ingredients by internists: United States, 1989 

Numberof 

mentions in Percent 

Rank Generic substance’ thousands’ distribution 

: 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

6 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Hydrochlorothiazide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Amoxicillin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Furosemide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Dioxin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Acetaminophen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Insulin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Potassium replacement solutions ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rantidine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Naproxen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Aspirin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Atenolol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Levothyroxine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Triamterene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Theophylline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

VeraDamil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Enalapril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

DMazem . . . . . . . ...<.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Captopril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nitroglycerin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Codeine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4,860 3.3 

3,360 2.3 

3,257 2.2 

3,189 2.2 

2,801 1.9 

2,742 1.9 

2,494 1.7 

2,456 1.7 

2,411 1.8 

2,402 1.6 

2,247 1.5 

2,230 1.5 

2,228 1.5 

2,222 1.5 

2.200 1.5 

2,194 1.5 

1,991 1.3 

1,949 1.3 

1,897 1.3 

1,830 1.2 

‘ FreeJency of merw$n comtmes smgle.ingre$lem agenla with mentions of the agents as an insred!ent in a combination drug. 

-... -, .-. .. ... .. 
8 Advance Data No. 209. April 28, 1992 

Table 15. Number and percent distribution of office visits to internists by duration and 

dlspoaltion: United States, 1989 

Number of 

visits In Percent 

Duration and dkposkion of vM thousands distribution 

Allvisits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,816 100.0 

Dumtion of visit’ 

Zerominutes . . . . . . . ..c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,311 

l-5minutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,938 U 

6-10minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,918 20.2 

11-15 mlnules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,851 39.1 

16-30 minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,391 27.1 

31-60 mmutes, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,845 6.1 

610rmore mmutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562 0.7 

Disposition of vist 

Nofollowup planned ...,.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,339 

Return atspecifictime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,494 6ti 

Retumifneecled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,506 19.7 

Telephonefo!lowup planned . . . . . ,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,26I3 8.0 

Referredtootherphysician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,591 4.6 

Referredto referring physician . , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *329 0.4 

Admittohospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 621 1.0 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,087 1,4 

1

Mean duration of visit 17.9 m!”.Jcaa. 
Advance Data No. 209 ● April 28, 1992 9 

Technical notes 

Sources of data and 

sample design 

The information presented in this 

report is based on data collected by 

means of the National Ambulatory 

Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 

March 20, 1989, through March 18, 

1990. The target universe of NAMCS 

includes office visits made in the 

United States by ambulatory patients 

to nonfederally employed physicians 

who are principally engaged in office 

practice, but not in the specialties of 

anesthesiology, pathology, or 

radiology. Telephone contacts and 

nonoffice visits are excluded. 

A multistage probability sample 

design is used in hTAMCS, involving 

samples of primary sampling units 

(PSU’S), physician practices within 

PSU’S, and patient visits within 

physician practices. For 1989, a 

sample of 2,535 non-Federal, officebased physicians was selected from 

master files maintained by the 

Anerican Medical Association and 

American Osteopathic Association 

(the sample included 213 internists of 

which 148 were eligible for the 

survey). The physician response rate 

for the 1989 NAMCS was 74 percent 

(64 percent for internists). Sample 

physicians were asked to complete 

patient records (see figure 1) for a 

systematic random sample of office 

visits occurring during a randomly 

assigned l-week reporting period. 

Responding physicians completed 

38,384 patient records (2,724 patient 

records were filled out by internists). 

Characteristics of the physician’s 

practice, such as primary specialty 

and type of practice, were obtained 

from the physicians during an 

induction interview. The U.S. Bureau 

of the Census, Housing Surveys 

Branch, was responsible for the 

survey’s data collection. Processing 

operations and medical coding were 

performed by the National Center for 

Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge 

and Ambulatory Care Survey Section, 

Research Triangle Pa~k, North 

Carolina. 

Sampling errors 

The standard error is primarily a 

measure of the sampling variability 

that occurs by chance when only a 

sample, rather than an entire 

universe, is surveyed. The relative 

standard error of an estimate is 

obtained by dividing the standard 

error by the estimate itselfi the result 

is then expressed as a percent of the 

estimate. Approximate relative 

standard errors of selected aggregate 

statistics are shown in table I, and 

the relative standard errors of the 

estimated number of drug mentions 

are shown in table II. Relative 

standard errors for aggregate visits 

and drug estimates may be calculated 

using the following general forrmda, 

where x is the aggregate of interest in 

thousands, and A and B are the 

appropriate coefficients from 

table IV. 

RSE(X) = A+ B 100.() 

<x” 

Approximate relative standard errors 

for estimates of the percent of visits 

are shown in table 111.The relative 

standard errors for percent may be 

calculated using the following general 

Table L Relative standard errors for 

estimated numbers of office visits for the 

National Ambulatory MedicalCare Survey: 

UnitedStates, 1989 

Estimated number 

of olfice visits All 

in thousands specialties Intarnkta 

Relatiie standard error 

(RSE) in percent 

100 . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.7 61.8 

200 . . . . . . . . . . . . 49.4 44.6 

300 . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.4 37.1 

400 . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.0 32.7 

500, . . . . . . . . . . . 700. . . . . . . . . . . . 31.4 

26.6 

29.7 

26.0 

1,000. . . . . . . . . . . 2,000. . . . . . . . . . . 5,000. . . . . . . . . . . 

22.4 

16.1 

10.6 

22.7 

18.3 

14.9 

7,000 . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2 14.2 

10,000 . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 13.7 

30,000. . . . . . . . . . 50,000. . . . . . . . . . 5.7 

5.1 

12.7 

12.5 

100,000 . . . . . . . . . 4.6 12.4 

690,000 . . . . . . . . . 4.1 . . . 

NOTG !nIerniat 30% RSE= 48S,0CN2 afl spaciafties 30% 

FISE = 547,000. 

Esample of use of table An aggregate eatimste of 5 milfion 

VLMS to an internist has a reiatwe standard estimate of 14.9 

percent or a standard error of 745 thousa!sd visits (14.9 

percent of 5 milhon). 

Table IL Relative standard errors for 

estimated numbers of drug mentions for 

the National Ambulatory Medical Care 

SurveF United States, 1989 

Estimated number of 

drug mentions AIl 

in thousands specialties Internists 

Relative standard 

error (RSE) In percent 

100 . . . . . . . . . . . . a9.6 50.1 

200 . . . . . . . . . . . . 63.4 37.1 

300 . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.9 31.5 

400 . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.0 28.4 

500 . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.3 26.3 

700 . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.2 23.7 

1,000 . . . . . . . . . . . 28.7 21,5 

2,000 . . . . . . . . . . . 20.6 10.7 

5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . 13.6 16.8 

7,000 . . . . . . . . . . . 11.6 17.2 

10,000 . . . . . . . . . . 10.3 16.1 

30,000 . . . . . . . . . . 7.2 15.2 

50,000 . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 15.5 

100,000 . . . . . . . . . 5.6 15.4 

200,000, . . . . . . . . 5,5 . . . 

700,000 . . . . . . . . . 5.2 . . . 

NOTE Internist 30% RSE=883,WU all speclafties 30% 

RSE=912,000. 

Esample of use of tabl= An aggregate estimate of 2 milfion 

drug mentione by an internist has a relafiie standard estimate 

of 18.7 percent or a standard error of 374 thousand drug 

mentions (18.7 percent of 2 million). 

formula, where p is the percent of 

interest and x is the denominator of 

the percent in thousands, using the 

appropriate coefficient from table IV. 

‘S’’)=mw)’ooo 

Adjustments for 

nonresponse 

Estimates from NAMCS data 

were adjusted to account for sample 

physicians who were in scope but did’ 

not participate in the study. This 

adjustment was calculated to 

minimize the impact of response on 

final estimates by imputing to 

nonresponding physicians data from 

visits to similar physicians. For this 

purpose, physicians were judged 

similar if they had the same special~ 

designation and practiced in the same 

Psu. 

Test of significance 

and rounding 

In this report, the determination 

of statistical significance is based on a 

two-sided t-test. The Bonferroni 

inequality was used to estimate the 
10 Advance Data No. 209. April 28, 1992 

Table Ill. Standard errors for percents of estimated numbers of office vlslts for the T4uit-A visit is a direct personal 

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey United States, 1989 exchange between an ambulatory 

Estimated percent patient and a physician (or a staff 

Base of percent 

(visits in thousands) 1 or 99 5 or 95 10 or SO 20 or 80 30 or 70 50 member working under the 

physician’s supervision), for the 

Standarderror h percentage points purpose of seeking care and 

200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1,000, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.9 

3.1 

2.2 

10.7 14.8 19.7 22.6 

6.S 9.3 12.5 14.3 

4.8 6.6 a.a 10.1 

24.6 rendering personal health services. 

15.6 

11.0 Drug mentwn -A drug mention is 

2,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

10,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1.6 

U 

3.4 4.7 6.2 7.1 

2.2 3.0 3.9 4.5 

1.5 2.1 2.6 3.2 

7.s the physician’s entry of a 4.9 

3.5 pharmaceutical agent –by any route 

13,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

20,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

50,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

0.6 

0.5 

0.3 

1.3 1.s 2.4 2.8 

1.1 1.5 2.0 2.3 

0.7 0.9 1.4 

3.1 of admifiistration - for prevention, 2.s 

1.6 diagnosis, or treatment. Generic as 

100,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

600,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 

0.1 

0.5 0.7 ::: 1.0 

0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 

well as brand-name drugs are :; incIuded, as are nonprescription and 

Exampleof uae of table: An estimate of 30 persent based on an aggregate e~!mate of 13 million visits has 8 standard error Of 2.8 prescription drugs. Along with all new percent ore relative standard error of 9.3 parcen! (2.E percent diiidad by 30 parcent). drugs, the physician also records 

continued medications if the patient 

Table IV. Coefficients appropriate for determining relative standard errors by type of was specifically instructed during the 

estimate and physician specialtyforthe National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey visit to continue the medication. 

United States, 1989 Drug vi.d -A drug visit is a visit 

Coer17cient in which medication was prescribed 

Type of estimate arrd or provided by the physician. 

physician specialty A B 

visits 

Overalltotals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00161075 4S.4451 6000 

Internal medicine, another specialties . . . . . . . . , . . 0.0149s303 36.73205078 

Drug mentions 

Overalltotals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.0025S400 79.97392437 

Internal medicine, all otherspecialties ., . . . . . . . . . 0.02100443 61.1 7466a03 

critical value for statistically health care institution on the 

significant differences (.051evelof premises. 

confidence). Terms relating to Physician –A physician is a duly 

differences suchas “higher/’’’less/’ licensed doctor of medicine (M.D.) or 

and so forth indicate that the doctor of osteopathy (D, O.) who is 

difference is statistically significant. currently in office-based practice and 

Terms such as “similar” or “no who spends some time caring for 

difference” mean that no statistical ambulatory patients. Excluded from 

significance exists between the the NAMCS are physicians who are 

estimates being compared. In the hospital-based; who specialize in 

tables, estimates ofoffice visits have anesthesiology, pathology, or 

been rounded to the nearest radiology who are federally 

thousand. Consequently, estimates employed; who treat only 

will not always add to totals. Rates institutionalized patients; or who are 

and percents were calculated from employed full time by an institution 

original unrounded figures and do not and spend no time seeing ambulatory 

necessarily agree with percents patients. 

calculated from rounded data. Oj&e - Offices are the premises 

physicians identify as locations for 

Definition of terms their ambulatory practice; these 

Ambulatory patient–An customarily include consultation, 

ambulatory patient is an individual examination, or treatment spaces that 

seeking personal health services who patients associate with the particular 

is not currently admitted to any physician. 
---

● 

Advance Data No. 209. April 28, 1992 11 

Symbols 

Data not available 

. . . Category not applicable 

. Quantity zero 

0.0 Quantity more than zero but Ieis 

than 0,05 

z Quantity more than zero but less 

than 500 where numbers are 

rounded to thousands 

Figure does not meet standard of 

reliability or precision 
12 Advance Data No. 209 ● April 28, 1992 

Suggested citation 

Woodwell DA. Office visits to internists, 1989. Copyright information Advance data from vital and health statistics; 

no 216. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center This report may be reprinted without further 

for Health Statistics. 1992. permission. 
Number 210 . February 18, 1992 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

1990 Summary: National Hospital Discharge Survey 

by Edmund J. Graves, Division of Health Care Statistics 

Introduction original NHDS, which was in 

operation from 1965 to 1987, has 

During 1990, an estimated 30.8 been published (l). Differences may 

milIion inpatients, excluding newborn exist between data for 1988-90 and 

infants, were discharged from earlier years because of the redesign 

short-stay non-Federal hospitals in of the survey. 

the United States. These patients Medical data for hospitalized 

used 197.4 million days of inpatient ,. patients are coded according to the 

submitted machine-readable data 

tapes through commercial abstracting 

services. In 1990, approximately 34 

percent of the hospitak used this 

method to submit data. Analysis 

indicates that a greater number of 

nonsurgical procedures per patient 

are recorded from these hospitals 

than from hospitals submitting data in 

the traditional manual mode (see 

“Technical notes”). A portion of the 

increases from 1984 to 1990 in the 

estimates for miscellaneous diagnostic 

and therapeutic procedures and, 

therefore, for total procedures may 

be due to this change in data 

collection methods. 

Data highlights 

Utilization by patient and hospital 

characteristics 

The number, rate, and average 

length of stay of patients discharged 

from short-stay non-Federal hospitals 

are shown by age, geographic region, 

and sex in tables 1-3. The 30.8 

million patients discharged from 

short-stay hospitals during 1990 

comprised an estimated 12.3 million 

maIes and 18.5 million females. The 

rate per 1,000 population for females 

was 144, which was 41 percent higher 

hospital care. The discharge rate was 

124 discharges per 1,000 civilian 

population and the average length of 

stay was 6.4 days. 

These and other statistics 

presented in this report are based on 

data collected by means of the 

National Hospital Discharge Survey 

(NHDS), a continuous survey that has 

been conducted by the National 

Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 

since 1965. In 1990, data were 

abstracted from the medical records 

of approximately 266,000 patients 

discharged from 474 short-stay 

non-Federal hospitals. Beginning in 

1988, a new three-stage stratified 

sample design was put in operation. 

A brief description of the new design, 

data collection procedures, and 

estimation process and definitions of 

terms used in this report can be 

found in the section entitled 

“Technical notes.” A description of 

the development and design of the 

>*ss~ncts.b 

U.S. DEPARTMENT 

International Classification of Diseases, 

9th Revision, Clinical Modification 

(ICD-9-CM) (2). Up to seven 

diagnoses and four procedures are 

coded for each discharge. Although 

diagnoses included in the ICD-9-CM 

section entitled “Supplementary 

classification of externaI causes of 

injury and poisoning” (codes 

E800-E999) are used in the NHDS, 

these diagnoses are excluded from 

this report. The conditions diagnosed 

and procedures performed are 

presented here by chapter of 

ICD-9-CM. Within these chapters, a 

few diagnoses and procedures or 

groups thereof also are shown. These 

specific categories were selected 

primarily because of their large 

estimates or because they are of 

special interest. More detailed 

analyses of NHDS data are published 

in Series 13 of the NCHS T4tal and 

Health Statistics reports. 

Starting in 1985, some hospitals 

participating in the NHDS have 

●+ 

& % OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

g Public Health Service 

g Centers for Disease Control 

z+ 

%.-

-& 

Manning 

National 

Feinleib, 

Center 

M.

for 

D., 

Health 

Dr. P.

Statistics 

H., Director CENTERS 

cmFOR DISEASE CONTROL 
2 Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992 

Table 1. Number of inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals by age and than the rateof 102 formales. The 

geographic region: United States, 1990 number and rate of discharges are 

[Discharges from non-Federal hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] higher for females than for males 

Both Iargely becauseof women 15-44 years 

Age and region sexes Male Female of age who are hospitalized for 

Number of patients discharged in thousands deliveries and pregnancy-related 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.788 12,280 18,508 conditions. 

The average length ofstay was 

Age 6.9days formalesand 6.1 days for 

Under 15 years,,.........,.. 2,412 1,362 1,049 females during 1990, The average 15-44 years..,.,......,.. . 11,799 3,330 8,469 Iengthof stayof the4.0 million 45-64 years .,, , . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,244 3,115 3,129 women who were hospitalized for 65 years and over ., .,,,..... 10,333 4,472 5,861 

deliverieswas 2.8 days. The average 

Region length of stay was 4.8 days for 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,895 2,876 4,019 patients under 15 years of age, 4.6 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,620 3,039 4,581 days for patients 15-44 years of age, 

South .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

11,173 

5,100 

4,351 

2,013 

6,822 

3,086 

6.8 days for patients 45-64 years of 

age, and 8.7 days for patients 65 years 

of age and over, 

The number of discharges from 

Table 2. Rate of inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by age, geographic short-stay hospitals by geographic 

region, and sex: United States, 1990 region during 1990 ranged from 11.2 

[Discharges from non-Federal hospitals. Excludes newborn infanta] milIion in the South to 5.1 million in 

Age snd region 

Both 

sexes Male Female number of discharges are accounted 

for in part by variations in the 

Rate of patients discharged per 1,000 population population sizes, The rates per 1,000 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123.5 101.5 144.1 population ranged from 136 in the 

Age Northeast Region to 97 in the West. 

Average lengths of stay by geographic 

the West. Regional differences in the 

Under 15years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.9 4a.5 39.2 

15-44years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.7 58.0 144.5 region were 5.5 days in the West, 6.1 

45-64years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133.1 138.3 12&2 days in the South, 6.4 days in the 

65 years Andover . . . . . . . . . . . . 327,1 346.2 313.8 Midwest, and 7.7 days in the 

Northeast. 

Region 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135.9 71a.4 152.0 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126.2 103.5 147.7 Utilization by diagnosis 

South. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130.2 .105.1 153.8 

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97.2 77.8 116.1 Diseases of the circulatory system 

ranked first in 1990 of the 

ICD-9-CM diagnostic chapters as a 

principal or first-listed diagnosis for 

Table 3. Average Iengthof stay for inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals byage, patients discharged from non-Federal 

geographic region, and sex: United States, 1990 short-stay hospitals. These conditions 

[Discharges from non-Federal hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] accounted for an estimated 5.2 

Both million discharges, Other leading 

Age and region sexes Male Female ICD-9–CM diagnostic chapters were 

Average length of stay in days supplementary classifications 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4 6.9 6.1 (including females with deliveries) 

(4.5 million discharges) and diseases 

Age of the digestive system (3.2 million 

Under 15years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 4.s 4.9 discharges). Approximately 

15-44years. . .,, . . . . . . . . ,.. 

45-84years, ,,, .,..... . . . 

65years andover . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.6 

6.8 

8.7 

8,1 

6.7 

8.3 

4.0 

6.8 

8,9 

42 percent of the patients discharged 

from non-Federal short-stay hospitals 

Region lCD-9-CM diagnostic chapters. 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,, 7,7 8.1 7.3 The diagnostic categories 

were included in these three 

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,., 6.4 6.8 6.1 presented in this report were selected 

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.1 6.5 5.8 either because they appear as West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. 5.5 6.3 5,0 

principal or first-listed diagnoses ~vith 
---

Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992 3 

high frequency or because the 

conditions are of special interest. 

Many of these categories (such as 

malignant neoplasms, psychoses, and 

fractures) are groupings of more 

detailed diagnoses. 

The number and rate of 

discharges and average length of stay 

for each lCD–9-CM diagnostic 

chapter and selected categories are 

shown by sex and age in tables 4-6. 

The most common diagnostic 

categories for alI patients were 

deliveries and heart disease. Other 

leading diagnostic categories were 

malignant neoplasms, pneumonia, and 

fractures. Excluding deliveries, these 

last four diagnostic categories were 

the leading first-listed diagnoses for 

both males and females. Some of the 

more common diagnoses for patients 

under 15 years of age were 

pneumonia, acute respirato~ 

infections, asthma, noninfectious 

enteritis and colitis, and fractures. 

For patients 15-44 years of age, 

frequent diagnoses were deliveries, 

psychoses, fractures, heart disease, 

and intervertebral disc disorders. For 

patients 45-64 years of age and 

65 years of age and over, heart 

disease and malignant neoplasms 

were major causes of hospitalization. 

The average length of stay for all 

patients ranged from 1.3 days for 

chronic disease of tonsils and 

adenoids to 14.6 days for psychoses. 

Utilization by procedures 

One or more surgical or 

nonsurgical procedures were 

performed for an estimated 20.2 

million of the 30.8 million inpatients 

discharged from short-stay hospitals 

during 1990. A total of 40.5 million 

procedures, or an average of 2.0 per 

patient who underwent at least, one 

procedure, were recorded in 1990. 

Procedures are grouped in the 

tables of this report by the 

ICD-9-CM procedure chapters. 

Selected procedures within these 

chapters also are presented by 

specific categories. Some of these 

categories (such as extraction of lens 

and hysterectomy) are presented as 

single categories even though they are 

divided into more precise subgroups 

in lCD-9-CM. 

Three-fourths of all the surgical 

and nonsurgical procedures 

performed during 1990 are listed in 

just 5 of the 16 procedure chapters. 

These were diagnostic andtherapeutic procedures (11.9 million), 

obstetrical procedures (6.8 million), 

operations on the digestive system 

(5.3 rniI1ion), operations on the 

cardiovascular system (3.9 million), 

and operations on the musculoskeletal system (3.1 million). 

The number and rate of all-Iisted 

procedures in 1990 for each 

ICD-9–CM procedure chapter and 

selected procedure categories are 

shown by sex and age in tables 7 and 

8. Of the 40.5 million procedures 

performed during 1990, 15.9 million 

were for males and 24.6 million were 

for females. The corresponding rates 

per 100,000 population were 16,243.0 

for both sexes, 13,161:7 for males, 

and 19,143.8 for females. Frequent 

procedures for males were 

arteriography and angiocardiography 

and computerized axiaI tomography. 

Procedures commonly performed on 

femaIes were episiotomy, fetal EKG 

and fetal monitoring, cesarean 

section, and diagnostic ultrasound. 

The rate of procedures by age 

per 100,000 population ranged from 

3,571.2 for patients under 15 years of 

age to 42,125.2 for patients 65 years 

of age and over. Commonly 

performed procedures for patients 

under 15 years of age were 

respiratory therapy, spinal tap, and 

diagnostic ultrasound; for patients 

1544 years of age, episiotomy, fetaI 

EKG and fetal monitoring, and 

cesarean section; for patients 45–64 

years of age, arteriography and 

angiocardiography, cardiac 

catheterization, diagnostic ultrasound, 

and computerized axial tomography, 

for patients 65 years of age and over, 

computerized axial tomography, 

arteriography and angiocardiography, 

and diagnostic ultrasound. 

References 

1. Simmons WR. Development of the 

design of the NCHS Hospital 

Discharge Survey. National Center for 

Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

2(39). 1970. 

2. Public Health Service and Health Care 

Financing Administration. 

International Classification of 

Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical 

Modification. Washington: Public 

Health Service. 1980. 

3. S?vlGMarketing Group, Inc. Hospital 

hlarket Database. Chicago: Healthcare 

Information Specialists. 1989. 

4. Shah BV. SESUDAAN Standard 

Errors Program for Computing of 

Standardized Rates from Sample 

Survey Data. Research Triangle Park, 

North Carolina Research Triangle 

Institute. 1981. 

Symbols 

Date not available 

. . . Catego~ not applicable 

Quantity zero 

0.0 Quantity more than zero but less 

than 0.05 

z Quantity more than zero but less 

than 500 where numbers are 

rounded to thousands 

* Figure does not meet standard 

of reliability or precision 

(see Technical Notes) 

# Figure suppressed to comply with 

confidentiality requirements 
● 

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● 

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● 

● 

● 

● 

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4 Advance Data No. 210 @February 18,1992 

Table 4. Number of inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by ostegory of first-listed diagnosis, sexj and age: United States, 1990 

[Discharges from non-Federal hospitals. Excludes newborn infanta. Diagnostic groupings and code number Inclusions are based on the lrrterrrafiorral C/assikatiorr of 

Diseases, 9fh Revision, Clinical Modification (lCD-+CM)] 

Category of first-listed diagnosia and lCD-9-C)d code 

All conditiona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Infectious and parasitic diseases . . . . . . . . . .001-139 

Septicemia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...038 

NeoDlasms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...140-239 

Maiignant neoplasms. 140-208.230-234 

h!alignant neoplasm of large intestine and 

rectum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..15W154.197.5 

Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus. and 

lung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,. t62,197.0,197.3 

Ma![gnant neoplasm of breast. . . . 174-175,198.81 

Benign neoplasms and neoplasms of uncertain behavior 

and unspecified nature. . . 210-229.235-239 

Endocrine. nutritional and metabolic diseases, and 

immunity disorders ..,..... , .,....,,,...240-279 

Diabe!es mellitus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,, ,,, . . ...250 

Volume depletion . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . ...276.5 

Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. .280-289 

Mental disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . ...290-319 

Psychoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...29&299 

Alcohol dependence syndrome . . . . . . . . .. 303 

Diseases of the nervous system and sense 

organs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...320-388 

Diseases of the central nervous 

system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...320-336.340-349 

Diseases of theearand mastoid process ., . . . .380-389 

Diseases of the circulatory system. . , . . . . . .390-459 

Heart disease . . . . . . . . . . . . .391 -392.0,393-398,402, 

404,410-416,420-429 

Acute myocardial infarction. . . . . , . . . . . . .410 

Coronary atherosclerosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..414.0 

Dtherischemic heati disease . . . .411+ 13,414.1+14.9 

Cardiac dysrhythmias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...427 

Congestive hearffailure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42S.0 

Cerebrovascular disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43W138 

Diseases of the respiratory system. . . . . . . . . . ..460-519 

Acute respiratory infections. . . . . . . . . ..460-466 

Chronic disease oftonsils and adenoids. . . . . . . . .474 

Pneumonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...480-486 

Astl?ma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...493 

Diseases of thedigestie system. . . . . . . . .. 520-579 

Ulcers of thestomach and small intestine. . . ..531-534 

Appendicitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...540-543 

Inguinal hernia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...550 

Noninfectious enteritis and colitis . . . . . . . . . .555-55a 

Cholelithiasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...574 

Diseases of thegenitourinary system . . . . . .. 580-629 

Calculus ofkidney and ureter . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...592 

Hyperplasia of prostate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...600 

Complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the 

puerperium’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...630-676 

Abotiions andectopic andmoiar pregnancies . .630-639 

Diseases of theskin and subcutaneous tissue . .680-709 

Cellulitis and abscess . . . . . . . .681-682 

Diseases of the musculoskelelal system and 

connective tissue, .,....... . . . . . . . . . . ..71 G739 

Arthropathies and related disorders. . . . .712-719 

Intervertebral disc disorders . . . . . . . . . .722 

Congenital inomafies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...740-759 

Cetiain conditions originating in the perinatal 

period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...760-779 

Symptoms. signs, andill-defined condkions. . . . .7EI0-799 

lnjuryand Poisoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,800-999 

Fractures, afl sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...600-829 

Fracture ofneck of femur, . . . . . . . , . . . . . . ...820 

Intracranial injuries (excluding those with skull 

fracture) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . ...850-854 

Lsceralions and open wounds. . . . . .870-904 

Supplementary classifications. . . . .VO1–V82 

Females with deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..V27 

Sex Age 

Under 15 16-44 

Total Male Female yeara years 

Number of patients discharged In thousands 

30,788 12,280 16,506 2,412 11,799 

737 356 380 191 226 

218 99 116 22 17 

1,965 804 1,161 41 361 

1,571 730 a4~ 29 185 

175 85 90 ●5 

231 141 90 12 * ● 184 183 24 

393 74 319 12 176 

1,089 436 653 105 232 

420 190 230 21 112 

319 127 192 59 41 

324 158 166 61 93 

1,538 777 781 50 936 

a12 380 452 19 449 

239 184 55 153 

770 356 414 154 214 

342 155 187 52 128 

157 77 81 78 25 

5,161 2,66a 2,493 25 406 

3,556 1,913 1,643 16 240 

675 413 261 39 

410 277 133 26 

870 465 406 62 

483 244 239 ●7 37 

701 315 366 20 

a12 359 452 38 

2,966 1,430 1,536 701 498 

4a7 235 252 186 63 

102 41 61 67 33 

1,052 530 522 211 141 

476 191 285 169 119 

3,239 1,449 1,790 252 9ao 

244 131 113 48 

236 138 101 62 135 

168 149 16 19 39 

373 151 223 97 123 

506 132 374 196 

2,175 803 1,373 70 866 

272 177 95 * 136 

259 259 . . . 

734 .,, 734 ●5 729 

208 .,, 208 205 

462 234 228 45 150 

288 151 137 27 94 

1,592 735 657 38 568 

479 197 283 10 119 

425 241 163 222 

1a2 105 77 120 34 

163 93 70 159 

410 201 209 59 180 

2,774 1,476 1,296 266 1,174 

1,017 466 551 87 332 

201 72 209 *a 

184 112 72 31 100 

240 179 61 26 165 

4,507 198 4.309 68 4,150 

4,025 . . 4,025 13 4,006 

45-64 65 years 

years and over 

6,244 10,333 

91 229 

33 144 

661 682 

545 612 

56 112 

101 119 

67 72 

135 70 

261 492 

134 153 

49 t71 

54 115 

317 234 

179 165 

66 18 

159 243 

67 96 

25 30 

1,515 3,215 

1,100 2,200 

233 401 

189 193 

316 492 

131 306 

117 560 

162 610 

520 1,247 

74 164 * * 

153 546 

86 102 

842 1,165 

74 120 

26 16 

46 63 

63 90 

160 145 

500 739 

89 46 

63 195 

. . . 

105 161 

76 92 

458 529 

113 237 

145 57 

20 *6 

● * 

110 60 

482 851 

149 446 

24 245 

21 32 

24 23 

128 160 

.,. 

‘Fm!-l:s!ec c,a~wcs:stortemales wiln deliveries is coded V27, shown unaer “supplementarfc lassiflcalions.”’ 
● 

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Advance Data No. 210 ● February 18,1992 5 

Table 5. Rate of Inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by category of first-listed diagnosis, sexj and age United States, 1990 

[Discharges from non-Federal hospitals. Excludes newborn infants. Diagnostic groupings and code number inclusions are based on the Irsfematiorml C/assirkation of 

Diseases, 9fh Revision, Clinical Modification (lCC&g-CM)] 

Sex Age 

Under 15 1544 45-64 65 yeara 

Category of first-listed diagnosis and [CD-9-CM code Total Male Female yeara years yeara and over 

Rate of inpatients discharged per 10,000 population 

Allcondtions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,234.6 1,015.5 1,440.9 439.4 1.017.4 1,330.5 3,270.8 

Infectious and parasitic diseases. . . . . . . . . . . 001-139 29.5 29.5 29.6 34.8 19.5 19.5 72.3 

Septicemia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...038 8.6 8.2 9.1 4.0 1.5 7.0 45.5 

Neoplasm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...140-239 78.8 66.5 90.4 7.4 31.1 145.0 279.2 

Malignant neoplasms. . . . . . . . . . ..140-208.230-234 63.0 60.4 65.5 5.2 15:9 116.2 257.1 

Malignant neoplasm of large intestine and 

rectum . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . ...153-154.197.5 7.0 7.0 7.C * ●0.4 12.4 35.3 

Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus, and 

lung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162.197.0,197.3 9.3 11.7 7.0 ● 1.0 21.4 37.7 

Malignant neoplasm of breast, . . . . .174-175.198.81 6.6 ● 12.7 ● 2.0 74.3 22.9 

Benign neoplasms and neoplasms of uncefiain 

behavior and unspecified nature. . .210-229,235-239 15.8 6.1 24.9 2.2 15.2 26,8 22.1 

Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, 

and immunity disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240-27g 43.7 38.0 50.9 19.1 20.0 55.6 155.6 

Diabetes mellitus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...250 16.8 15.7 17.9 3.8 9.6 28.6 48.5 

Volumedeplefion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...276.5 12.8 10.5 14.9 10.s 3.5 10.4 54.0 

Diseases of the blood and blood-foming organs. 280-289 13.0 13.1 12.9 11.2 8.0 11.5 36.5 

Mentaldisorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...290-319 61.7 64.3 59.2 9.1 60.8 67.5 73.9 

Psychoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...290-299 32.5 29.8 35.2 3.4 38.7 38.1 52.3 

Alcohol dependence syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . . ..303 9.6 15.2 4.3 ● 13.2 14.1 5.7 

Diseases of the nervous system and sense 

organs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...320-389 30.9 29.4 32.3 26.0 18.5 33.9 77.0 

DLseases of the central nervous 

system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..32C+36.340-349 13.7 12.8 14.6 9.4 11.0 14.2 30.4 

Oiseases of theearand mastoid process . . . . 380-389 6.3 6.3 6.3 14.1 2.1 5.4 9.4 

Diseases of the circulatory system. . . . . . . . . . 390-159 206.9 220.6 194.1 4.6 35.0 322.6 1,017.6 

Heart disease . . . . . . . . . . . 39:-392.0,393-398.402, 

404,410-416,420-429 142.6 156.2 127.9 3.0 20.7 234.4 696.3 

Acufemyocardial infarction. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...410 27.1 34.2 20.3 ● 3.4 49.7 127.0 

Coronary atherosclerosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414.0 16.4 22.9 10.4 2.4 40.3 61.0 

Dtherischemic hearf disease . . 411-413,414.1 -414.9 34.9 38.4 31.6 5.4 67.4 155.6 

Cardiac dysrhythmias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...427 19.4 20.2 18.6 ●1.3 3.2 28.0 97.4 * Congestive heart failure.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 428.0 28.1 26.0 30.0 1.7 24.9 177.2 

Cerebrovascular disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430-436 32.6 29.7 35.2 3.3 34.6 193.0 

Oiseases of the respiratory system. . . . . .“. . . . 460-519 118.9 118.2 119.6 127.6 43.0 110.7 394.7 

Acute respiratory infections. . . . . . . . . . . . . 460466 19.5 19.4 19.6 33.8 5.5 15.8 52.0 

Chronic disease oftonsils and adenoids. . . . . . . . .474 4.1 3.4 4.7 12.2 2.9 * ● 

Pneumonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...480-486 42.2 43.8 40.6 38.5 12.1 32.7 172.9 

Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...493 19.1 15.8 22.2 30.s 10.3 18.2 32.4 

Diseases of the digestive system. . . . . , . . . . . 520-579 129.9 119.8 139.3 46.0 84.5 179.3 368.6 

Ulcers of thestomach andsmallintesfine. . . . 531-534 9.8 10.8 8.8 4.2 15.8 37.9 

Appendicitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...540-543 9.6 11.4 7.8 11.2 11.7 5.5 5.0 

Inguinal hernia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..55o 6.7 12.3 1.4 3.5 3.4 9.8 19.8 

Noninfectious enteritis andcolifis . . . . . . . . . 555-558 15.0 12.5 17.3 17.7 10.6 13.4 28.6 

Cholefiihiasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...574 20.3 10.9 29.1 17.1 34.2 45.9 

Diseases of thegenifourinary system . . . . . . . . 580-629 87.2 66.4 106.9 12.8 74.7 106.6 233.8 

Calculus ofkidney and ureter . . . . . . . . . . . . ...592 10.9 14.6 7.4 * 71.s 18.9 14.6 

Hyperplasia of prostate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...600 10.4 21.4 . . . ● ● 13.5 61.9 

Complications of pregnancy, child~rth. and the 

puerperium’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..63M76 29.5 . . . 57.2 ●0.9 62.8 * . . . 

Abortions andectopic and molar pregnancies 630-839 8.3 . . . 16.2 ● 17.7 * . . . 

Diseases of theskin andsubcutaneous fissue . . 680-709 18.5 19.4 17.7 8.2 13.0 22.4 51.1 

Cellulitis and abscess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681-882 11.5 12.5 10.7 4.9 8.1 16.2 29.0 

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and 

connective tissue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...710-739 63.8 60.8 66.7 6.8 49.0 97.5 167.4 

Arthropathies and related disorders. . . . . . . . 710-719 19.2 16.3 22.0 1.9 10.3 24.0 75.1 

Intervertebral discdisorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...722 17.0 20.0 14.3 ● 19.2 30.9 16.0 

Congenital anomalies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 740-759 7.3 6.7 6.0 21.9 2.9 4.3 ●2.5 

Certain conditions originating in the 

pennatal period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. J . ...7779779 6.5 7.7 5.5 29.1 ● ● * 

Symptoms, signs, andill-defined conditions. . . . 780-799 16.4 16.6 16.3 10.8 15.6 23.5 19.1 

Injury and poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80&9gg 111.2 122.1 101.0 48.5 loi.3 102.7 269.3 

Fractures, all sites.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80C-829 40.8 38.5 42.9 15.9 26.6 31.9 142.0 

Fracture ofneck of femur, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..820 11.3 5.9 16.3 * “0.7 5.0 77.6 

Intracramal injuries (excluding those with 

skull fracture) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..850-S54 7.4 9.3 5.6 5.6 8.6 4.5 10.1 

Lacerations and open wounds. . . . . . . . . . . 870-904 9.6 14.8 4.7 5.1 14.3 5.1 7.2 

Supplementary classifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . V01=V82 180.7 16.4 335.5 12.5 357.8 27.4 50.8 

Females with deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..V27 161.4 . . . 313.4 2.4 345.6 ● . . . 

‘ Fmst-ks!eddqnosls for females wth dehvenes IS moed V27. shown under %upplemenlary classifcat!ons.”’ 
● ● 

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● 

● 

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● 

● 

● 

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6 Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992 

Table 6. Average length of stay for inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by category of first-listed diagnosis, sex, and age: 

United States, 199o 

[Discharges from non-Federal hospitals. Excludes newborn infants. Diagnostic groupings and code number inclusions are based on the International C/a’ssilication of 

Diseases, 9f/r Revision, C/inica/ Modification (lCD-e-CM)] 

Sex Age 

Under 75 1544 45-64 65 years 

Category of first-listed diagnosis and ICD-9-CM code Total Male Fema/e years years years and over 

All conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Infectious and parasitic diseases . . 001-139 

Septicemia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...038 

Neoplasm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . ...140-239 

Malignant neoplasms. . . 140–208.23G234 

Malignant naoplasm of large Intestine 

and rectum. .153 -154,197.5 

Malignant neoplaam of trachea, bronchus, and 

lung .,, , . . . . . . . . . . . . ..0. 19723l97.O.l97.3 

Malignant neoplasm of breast . . . . . 174-175,196 .81 

Berwgn neoplasms and neoplasms of uncertain behavior 

and unspecified nature. . . .210-229,235-239 

Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, 

and immunity disorders. . . . . . . . 240-279 

Diabetes mellitus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...250 

Volume depletion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...276.5 

Dtseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. 280–289 

Mental disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...290-319 

Psychoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...290-299 

Alcohol dependence syndrome . . . . . . ...303 

Diseases of the nervous system and sense 

organs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...320-389 

Diseases of the central nerwous 

system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...320-336.340-349 

D~seases of theearand mastoid process . . . 380-3a9 

Dk.eases of thecirculatoy system. . . . 390459 

Heart disease . . . . . ., 391-392.0,393-39&402, 

404,410-416,420-429 

Acute myocardial infarction. . . . . . . . . .410 

Coronay atherosclerosis. . . . . . , . 414.0 

Other ischemic heart disease . . 411-413,414 .1414.9 

Cardiac dysrhythmias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...427 

Congestive hearffailure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 428.0 

Cerebrovascular disaase . . . . . . . . . 430-438 

Diseases of the respiratory system. . . . . . . . 480-519 

Acute respiratory infections. . . . . . . . . . 460466 

Chronic disease oftonsils and adenoids. . . . . . ..474 

Pneumonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...480-486 

Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...493 

Diseases of the digestive system. . . . . . . . 520-579 

Ulcers of the stomach and small intestine. . 531–534 

Appendicitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . ...540-543 

Inguinal hernia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...550 

Noninfectious enteritis and coliiis . 555-558 

Cholelithiasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...574 

Diseases of thegenitourinary system . . . . . . . 580-629 

Calculus ofkidney and ureter . . . . . . . ..592 

Hyperplasia of prostate . . . . . . . . ...600 

Complications of pregnancy, childbirth, 

andthepuerperium’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 630-676 

Abortions andeciopic and molar pregnancies 630-639 

Diseases of theskin and subcutaneous tissue 680-709 

Cellulifis and abscess . . . . . . . . . 681-682 

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system 

and connective tissue. . . . . . . . . . . 710-739 

Arthropathies andrelated disorders. . . . . . . 710-719 

Intervertebral disc disorders . . . . . . . .722 

Congenital anomalies. . . . . . . . . 740-759 

Certain conditions originating in the 

perinatal period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...760-779 

Symptoms. signs, andill-defined conditions. . . . 780-799 

Injury and poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-999 

Fractures, all sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-829 

Fracture ofneck of femur. . . .t320 

Intracranial injuries (excluding those with 

skull fracture ), . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...850-854 

Lacerations and open wounds. . . . . . 870-904 

Supplementa~ classifications. . . . . VO1-V82 

Females wl!hdelivenes . . .V27 

Average length Of stay in days 

6.4 6.9 6.1 4.8 4.6 

9.1 10.2 8.2 4,6 9.7 

13.3 14.0 12.6 7,5 14.7 

6.5 9.2 8.1 7.9 6.0 

9.4 9,5 9.2 * 9.7 

. 13.7 13.0 14.4 ●9.8 

. 6.5 8.0 9.1 4.6 

4.6 4.6 4.0 

5.3 6.1 5.1 3.6 4.0 

7:0 6.8 7.1 4.3 5.0 

7.6 7.6 6.1 4.3 5.7 

6.5 6.1 6.9 2.9 3.5 

5.8 6.0 5,6 4.0 5.8 

12.2 11.5 13.0 21.1 11.7 

14.6 13.9 15,2 26.3 14.1 

9.9 9.9 10.1 10.0 

5.5 5.8 5.3 4.5 5.2 

8.6 9.4 8.0 7.3 6.6 

2.8 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.8 

7.3 7.1 7.6 7.6 5.5 

6.9 6.7 7.1 8.3 5.4 

8.4 &4 8.4 6.7 

5.8 5.7 6.2 3.9 * 5.2 5.0 5.3 3.6 

5.8 5.5 6.0 *6.1 4.1 

8.0 7.5 6.4 5.6 

9.5 9.2 9.7 7.0 

6.9 6.7 7.0 3.5 4,9 

5.1 4.7 5.5 3.3 3.7 

1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 

8.3 &2 8.4 4.5 6.9 

4.7 3.9 5.2 2.9 4.2 

5.9 5.6 6.2 3.5 4.4 

6.5 6.1 7.0 4.9 

4.4 4.3 4.5 4.0 3.6 

2.3 2.2 3.0 1.4 1.5 

4.9 4,7 5.0 3.0 4.3 

5.8 6.6 5.5 4.3 

5.1 5.0 5.1 3.5 3.7 

3.1 2.7 3.8 2.6 

4.9 4.9 . . . 

2.6 . . . 2.6 *2.7 2.6 

2.1 . . 2.1 2.1 

7.9 7.7 8.2 4.0 6.0 

7.2 6,4 8.0 3.9 5.7 

6.4 5.7 7.1 5.1 4.5 

7.a 7.0 8.4 5.3 4.6 

5.1 4.8 5.5 ● 4,4 

6,0 5.8 6.3 5.7 4.6 

10.2 9.0 11.8 10.2 

2.6 2.6 3.1 2.6 2.6 

6.8 6.1 7.6 4.2 5.1 

8.3 6.7 9.7 4.3 5.9 

12.8 11.7 13.3 ●1O.3 

5.5 5.6 5.4 4.9 5.0 

4.3 4,3 4,2 3.4 4.0 

3.2 6.5 3,0 3.5 2.6 

2.8 . . 2.8 2.6 2.8 

6.8 8.7 

10.9 11.6 

15.1 13.5 

8.2 9.9 

8.6 10,1 

13.3 14.2 

7.7 9.5 

4.3 5.0 

5.5 8.2 

7.0 8.5 

8.1 9.7 

6.7 8.5 

6.8 6.3 

11.3 13.6 

13.7 15.6 

9.3 10.4 

5.4 6.5 

9.0 11.8 

2.3 3.8 

6.4 8.0 

5.9 7,6 

7.5 9.1 

4.9 7.0 

4.9 5.6 

4.6 6.5 

7.0 8.3 

10.3 9,5 

7.0 9.5 

6.1 7.3 . ● 

8.0 10.2 

5.2 7.6 

6.1 7.6 

6.0 7.6 

5.6 8.4 

2.3 3.1 

5.5 7.2 

5.9 7.7 

4.5 7.1 

2.9 4.9 

4.2 5.2 

. . . 

8.4 10.5 8.3 8.6 

5.9 9.0 

7.4 9.8 

5.2 7.6 

9.9 ●7.6 

2,9 3.7 

6.9 9.9 

7,6 11.1 

12.s 13.0 

6.0 7.5 

4.8 7.1 

5.7 9.6 . 

lFlrsl.l(sted a;a:qosj$ for females w!th deliveries iscoded V27, snownunaer,<supplemenla~ clasa[f,ca!ions. '` 
Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992 7

Table 7. Number of all-listed procedures for inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by procedure category, sex, and age:

United States, 1990

[Discharges from non-Federal hcsa?s!s. Excludes newborn infants. Procedure groupings and code number inclusions are baaed on the International Classification of

Diseases, 9th Revision, C/irtical W:=carion ([CD-9-CM)]

Sex Age

Under 15 15-44 45-64 65 years

Procedure category a.?d 12%8-CM wde Total Male Female yeara years years and over

All procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operations on the nervous system. . . . . . . . . . . . . 01-05

Spinal tap . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . ...03.31

Operations on the endocrine sys:a- . . . . . . . . . . . 06-07

Operations onthe eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...08-16

Operations on the ear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...18-20

Operations on the nose, mouth. anc oharynx . . . . . 21-29

Tonsillectomy with or without asenoidectomy. . . 28.2-28.3

Operations on the respirato~ sys:em. . . . . . . . . . . 30-34

Bronchoscopy with or without 5 wsy. . .33.21 -33.24,33 .27

Operations on the cardiovascular sys!em. . . . . .. . . . 35-39

Removal of coronary artery oss!rustion. . . . . . . . ..36.0

Coronary artery bypass graft’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...36.1

Cardiac catheterization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37.21 -37.23

Insertion, replacement. removS. and revision of

pacemaker leads or device . . . . . . . . . . . 37.7-37.L!

Shunt or vascular bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.0-39.2

Hemodialysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...39.95

Operations on the heroic and Iymrmtic system. . . . . 4041

Operations on the digestive sys!em . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-54

Endoscopy of small intestine with or

without biopsy . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45.1145 .14,45.16

Endoscopy of large intestine wi?h or

wifhout biopsy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45.2145 .25

Partial excision of large intestine. . . . . . . . . . . . ...45.7

Appendectomy, excluding incaemal . . . . . . . . . , ..47.0

Cholecystectomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...51.2

Repair of inguinal hernia. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...53.0-53.1

Lysis of peritoneal adhesions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...54.5

Operations on the urinary system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55-59

Cystoscopy with or without biopsy . . . . . . . .57.31 -57.33

Operations on the male genital organs . . . . . . . . . . 60-64

Prostatecfomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...60.2-60.6

Operations on the female genital organs. . . . . . . . . 66-71

Oophorectomy and salpingo-ooahwecfomy. . ..65.3-65.6

~lateral destruction or occlus!cn of

fallopian tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66.2+6.3

Hysterectomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...68.3-68.7

Dilation and curettage of uterus . . . . . . . . . . . . ...69.0

Repair of cystocele and rectocele. . . . . . . . . . . ...70.5

Obstetrical procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72-75

Episiotomy with or w%hout forceps or

vacuum extraction. . . . . . . .72.1 .72.21 .72.31 ,72.71,73.6

Artificial rupture of membranes. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...73.0

Cesarean section . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74.0-74.2,74.4,74.99

Fetal EKG (scalp) and fetal monr!ormg,

not otherwise specified. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.32.75 .34

Repair of current obstetric laceratmn . . . . . . . . 75..%75.6

Operations on the musculoskeleia! system. . . . . . . . 76-84

Partial excision of bone . . . . . . . . . 76.2-76.3,77.6-77.a

Open reduction of fracture wkh internal fixation . . ...79.3

Excision or destruction of interveRwral disc . . . . . . ,80.5

Total hip replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..al.51

Total knee replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. W.54

Operations on the integumentary system. . . . . . . . . M&86

Mastectomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...85.4

Debridement of wound, infect! on. or burn . . . . 86.22,86 .28

Skin graft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...86.6-86.7

Miscellaneous diagnostic and therapeu3c Procedures. . ..87-99

Computerized axial tomography . . . . . . . 87.03,87.41,87.71,

66.01,80.38

Pyelogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87.73-87.75

/uferfography and angiocardtog.zxmi using

Cuntraet meterial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...88A-86.5

Diagnostic ultrasound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..8S.7

~rculatory montioring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...69.6

Radioisotope scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...92.0-92.1

Respirator therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...93.9

40,506

952

396

96

350

137

585

117

975

29S

3,881

285

392

995

259

162

216

361

5,271

785

548

204

274

522

205

323

1,664

527

594

364

2,440

476

419

591

220

137

6,792

1,717

691

945

1,377

785

3,132

193

391

305

119

129

1,387

122

332

110

11.890

1,506

291

1,735

1,608

724

603

l,la

15,916

479

204

26

174

73

327

49

555

175

2,317

200

286

620

136

95

105

187

2,194

357

212

89

147

147

181

62

946

377

594

364

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

1,624

112

177

175

48

46

580

●

184

66

5,S42

736

149

1.051

667

344

268

566

.,..—L-- . . —,, ,.-. --, —-- .-, ..- .— .L-. ..—.

24,590

472

192

70

176

64

258

68

420

123

1,564

85

106

376

121

67

111

174

3,077

428

336

116

127

375

24

261

71a

150

. . .

. . .

2,440

476

419

591

220

137

6,792

1.717

691

945

1,377

795

1,508

81

214

130

71

83

807

121

146

44

6,04S

770

142

685

941

360

335

578

1,960

210

166

,*

16

81

140

74

66

20

154

●

●

17

●

●

●

20

212

10

●

●

66

●

22

●5

41

“7

46

. . .

10

●

●

19

●7

●

*

●

*

161

10

17

●

85

●

21

●9

694

69

●5

19

80

34

19

180

16,186

314

100

40

74

27

254

40

177

46

429

22

19

100

●5

16

44

80

1,487

148

79

20

156

206

43

155

390

76

40

●

1,711

260

416

349

177

42

6,763

1,709

688

940

1,370

793

1,273

a9

140

164

●6

●

S27

14

119

42

2,600

359

116

208

.427

118

105

163

9,052

214

54

31

76

18

112

●

296

88

1.436

148

169

457

52

58

77

109

1,386

213

136

58

32

166

54

79

426

127

127

ao

495

160

●

184

31

52

10

●

●

●

●

●

733

56

71

106

28

32

355

52

63

25

3,225

333

75

766

357

187

160

226

13,308

214

77

23

184

11

79

*

436

144

1,860

115

204

421

199

83

95

151

2,185

414

329

125

18

146

86

64

807

317

360

284

223

56

. . .

58

10

43

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

965

39

163

34

82

95

419

56

129

34

5,371

745

96

742

734

408

318

565

‘The number of discharged oat,en:s v,:3 a corona~ a~q D;aass grafl was 262,000.
8 Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992

Table 8. Rate of al,l-listed procedures for inpatients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by procedure category, sex, and age:

United States, 1990

[Discharges from non-Federal hospitals. Excludes newborn infants. Procedure groupings and code number inclusions are based on the /nternatiorra/ C/assificstion of

Diseases, 9fh Revision, C/irrica/ Modifi=tiorr (lCO-%CM)]

Sex Age

Under 15 16-44 45-64 65 years

Procedure category and ICD-9-CM code Total Male Female years years years and over

All procedures . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rate of all-listed procedures per 100,000 population

42,125.2

67a.2

244.0

72,4

582.9

33.4

249.1

*

1,379.4

454.4

5,088.5

364.0

645.9

1,332.9

16,243.0

361.6

158.8

38.3

140.2

54,7

234.7

47.1

391.0

119.5

1,556.2

114.4

157.2

399.2

.- ..”” ,, .-,. m

13,161.7 19,287,0

396.5

168.6

21.2

143.6

60.1

270.3

40.9

456.7

144.9

1,915.7

165.7

236.7

512.4

13,956.a

270.3

85.8

34.3

63.6

23.5

219.0

34.2

152.6

39.5

369.7

19.1

16.2

86.2

*4.7

13.8

37.9

69.0

1,282.6

127.3

67.8

16.a

136.2

177.3

36a

133.9

336.3

65.8

34.6

●

1,475.6

223.9

360.6

301.0

152.5

36.4

5,631.7

1,473.8

1Y,14J.0

367.6

149.3

54.5

136.9

49.7

201.2

52.9

327.3

95.6

1,217.6

66.2

82.4

292.6

a,z{ l.<

382.7

301.9

●

29.0

147.3

255.3

135.1

121.0

36.9

280.2

●

●

31.5

●

●

*

37.2

366.4

18.1

*

●

121.0

●

39.9

●6.4

74.7

●12.7

64.4

. . .

18.9

●

●

34.9

●12.2

●

●

*

*

294.1

18.5

30.5

*

155.5

●

39.0

“16.2

1,265.3

125.3

*8.5

35.2

164.6

55.5

35.4

346.5

455.5

114.2

65.4

161.4

38.2

239.6

●

629.9

1a6.o

3,064.2

315.7

360.7

973.9

111.4

124.6

163,1

232.2

2,953.1

453.9

269.8

122.7

67.2

357.7

115,5

168.2

908.7

270.3

270.7

169.4

1,054.8

340.1

●

392.5

66.7

111.0

21.7

●

*

●

Operations on the nervous system, . . 01-05

Spinal tap.........,....,,.. . ., . . . . ...03.31

Operations on the endocrine system . . 0607

Operations on the eye.,......,.. ,, . . . . ...08-16

Operations on the ear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-20

Operations on the nose, mouth, and pharynx. . . . . . 21-29

Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. . . 28.2–28.3

Operations on the respiratory system . . . . . . . . . . . 30-34

Bronchoscopy with or without biopsy. . .33.21 -33.24,33 .27

Operations on the cardiovascular system. . . . . . 35-39

Removal of coronary artery obstruction. . . . .36.0

Coronary artery bypass graft’ . . . . . . . . . .36.1

Cardiac catheterization. . . . .37.21 -37.23

Insertion, replacement, removal, and revision

of pacemaker leads or device, . . . . 37.7-37.6

Shunt or vascular bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.0-39.2

Hemodialysis, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...39.95

Operations on the heroic and lymphatic system. . . . 40-41

Operations on the digestive system . . . . . . . . . . 42-54

Endoscopy of small intestine with or

without biopsy .. . . . . . . . . . . . .45.11 -45.14,45 .16

Endoscopy of large intestine with or

without biopsy . . . . . . . . .45.2145 .25

Partial excision of large intestine, . . .45.7

Appendectomy, excluding incidental . . . .47.0

Cholecyslectomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...51.2

Repair of inguinal hernia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.0-53.1

Lysis of peritoneal adhesions. . . . . . . . . . .54.5

Operations on the urinary system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55-59

Cystoscopy with or without biopsy . . . . . . . .57.31 -57.33

Operations on the male genital organs . . . . . . 60-64

Prostatectomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...60.2-60.6

Operations on the female genital organs . . . . . . . . . 65-71

Oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. . 65.3-65.6

Bilateral destruction or occlusion of

fallopian tubes.....,....,,.. ... ,.. .66.2+6.3

Hysterectomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...68.3-68.7

Dilation and curettage of uterus . . . . . . . . . . ..69.0

Repair of cystocele and rectocele . . . . . . . . . . . . .70.5

Obstetrical procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72-75

Episiotomy with or without forceps or

vacuum extraction. . . . . . . . . . . 72.1,72.21,

72.31 ,72.71,73.6

Artificial rupture of membranes. . . . . . . . ...73.0

Cesarean section . . . . . . . . . . . . 74.0-74.2,74.4,74.99

Fetal EKG (scalp) and fetal monitoring,

not otherwise specified. . . . . . . . . . . 75.32,75 .34

Repair of current obstetric laceration . . . . . . 75.5-75.6

Operations on the musculoskeletal system. . . . . . . . 76-64

Partial excision of bone . . . . . . 76.2-76,3,77. &77.a

Open reduction of fracture with internal fixation . . ...79.3

Excision or destruction of intervenebral disc , . . .80.5

Total hip replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...81.51

Total knee replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..8l.54

Operations on the integumentary system. . . . . . . . a5-66

Mastectomy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...85.4

Debridement ofwound, infection, or burn. . . . 66.22 .66.28

Skin graft, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...86.6-66.7

Miscellaneous diagnostic andtherspeti!c procedures. .87-88

Compulenzed axial tomography. . . . . . . ...87.03.87,41,

87,71,86.01.66.38

Pyeqram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87.73-87.75

Artenograghy and angioesrdiography using

contrast material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...88.4-38.5

Dlagnoatic uitraaound, . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . ...86.7

Circulato~ moniionng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...89.6

Raoloisotope scan, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,0-92.1

Respiratory therapy .,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...93.9

103.6

64.8

66.8

144.7

2,113.6

114.0

78.4

87.0

154.2

I ,a14,4

94.2

52.0

86.5

135.8

2,395.3

629.0

262.3

299.1

479.5

6,917.4

314.7 295.2 333.0 1,311,2

219.7

82.0

109.6

209.3

,82.1

129.6

667.3

211.4

238.2

145.9

978.3

190.9

175.2

73.4

121.7

121.9

149.6

51.2

782.3

312.0

491,3

300.8

. . .

. . .

261.7

90.0

98.6

291.6

18.7

203.4

559.1

116.8

. . .

. . .

1,699.4

370.6

.1,042.8

394.9

56.4

463.3

272.5

267.2

2,553.4

1,003.7

1,203.9

699.1

706.0

177.3

326.0

460.2

171.5

106.5

5,286.1

167.9

237.0

86.4

54.9

2,723.8

. . .

182.9

33.0

134.8

. . .

. ..

.. .

...

. ..

. ..

688.6

277.1

379.1

1,336.9

538.0

.,.

.. .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

593.1

810.5

,161.4

663.7

,097.4

76.4

121.1

141.4

“7.1

●

454.7

11.8

102.3

35.8

552.1

318.7

1.256.1

77.4

156.8

122.2

47.7

51.7

556.2

46.9

133.2

44.1

4,767.9

1,071.9

618.7

1,174.3

62.9

166.8

100.9

55.1

65.0

62a.5

94.1

115.5

34.3

4,706.2

*

●

1,562.7

116,3

151,1

225.7

60.5

67.3

757.1

111.2

135.2

53.5

6.871.6

. . .

. .

3,053.9

122.3

515.4

107.9

260.5

301.5

1,326.6

176.0

407.2

109.0

17,000.5

.. .

...

1,342.9

92.7

146.1

144.8

39.8

37.6

479.4

●

152.0

54.6

4,631.2 .?,241.6 .

310.0

100,1

179.5

368.0

101.7

90.8

156.2

708.5

156.9

2,356.8

303.3

603.6

116.8

608.2

123.1

588.7

110.8

1,631.4

760.6

355.1

340.7

461.3

2,348.6

2,324.3

1,295.5

1,006.0

1,787.0

695.6

645,0

290.5

241.8

466.8

868.8

551,6

264.8

221.6

464.4

532.9

732.9

295.8

260.6

450.2

‘Tneratepe: 100,000 population ofd!schargeO paltenls wllhacorona~ bypass grafiwasl O5.2.
Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992 9

Technical notes

Survey methodology

Source of data

The National Hospital Discharge

Survey covers discharges from

noninstitutional hospitals, exclusive of

Federal, military, and Veterans

Administration hospitals, located in

the 50 States and the District of

Columbia. Only short-stay hospitals

(hospitals with an average length of

stay for aII patients of less than 30

days) or those whose specialty is

general (medical or surgical) or

children’s general are included in the

survey. These hospitals must also

have six beds or more staffed for

patient use.

Beginning with 1988, the NHDS

sampling frame consists of hospitals

that were listed in the April 1987

S?vlG Hospital Market Tape (3), met

the above criteria, and began

accepting patients by August 1987.

For 1990, the sample consisted of 542

hospitals. Of the 542 hospitals, 23

were found to be out of scope

(ineligible) because they went out of

business or otherwise faiIed to meet

the criteria for the NHDS universe.

Of the 519 in-scope (eligible)

hospitaIs, 474 responded to the

survey.

Sample design and data collection

The NCHS has conducted the

NHDS continuously since 1965. The

original sample was selected in 1964

from a frame of short-stay hospitals

listed in the National Master Facility

Invento~. That sample was updated

periodically with samples of hospitals

that opened later. Sample hospitals

were selected with probabilities

ranging from certainty for the largest

hospitals to 1 in 40 for the smalIest

hospitals. Within each sample

hospital, a systematic random sample

of discharges was selected. A report

on the design and development of the

original NHDS was published (l).

Beginning in 1988, the NHDS

sample includes with certainty all

hospitals with 1,000 beds or more or

40,000 discharges or more annually.

The remaining sample of hospitals is

based on a stratified three-stage

design. The first stage consists of a

selection of 112 primary sampling

units (PSU’S) that comprise a

probability subsample of PSU’S to be

used in the 1985-94 National Health

Interview Survey. The second stage

consists of a selection of noncertainty

hospitals from the sample PSU’S. At

the third stage, a sample of

discharges was seIected by a

systematic random sampling

technique.

Two data collection procedures

were used for the survey. The first

was a manual system of sampIe

selection and data abstraction. The

second was an automated method,

used for approximately 34 percent of

the respondent hospitals in 1990, that

involved the purchase of data tapes

from abstracting service organizations.

lrt the manual system, the sample

selection and the transcription of

information from the hospitaI records

to abstract forms were performed at

the hospitaIs. The completed forms,

along with sample selection control

sheets, were forwarded to NCHS for

coding, editing, and weighting. A few

of these hospitals submitted their

data via computer printout or tape.

Of the hospitals using the manual

system in 1990, about two-thirds had

the work performed by their own

medical records staff. In the

remaining hospitals using the manual

system, personnel of the U.S. Bureau

of the Census did the work on behalf

of NCHS.

For the automated system; NCHS

purchased tapes containing

machine-readabIe medical record

data from abstracting service

organizations. Records were

systematically sampled by NCHS.

The medical abstract form and

the abstract service data tapes contain

items relating to the personal

characteristics of the patient,

including birth date, sex, race, and

marital status but not name and

address; administrative information,

including admission and discharge

dates, discharge status, and medical

record number and medical

information, including diagnoses and

surgical and nonsurgical operations or

procedures. Since 1977, patient ZIP

Code, expected source of payment,

and dates of surge~ have also been

collected. (The medical record

number and patient ZIP Code are

confidential information and are not

available to the public.)

Presentation of estimates

The reIative standard error of the

estimate and the number of sample

records on which the estimate is

based (referred to as the sample size)

are used to identiij estimates with

relatively low reliabiIi~. Based on

consideration of the complex sample

design of the hTHDS, the following

guidelines are used for presenting the

NHDS estimates:

If the relative standard error of an

estimate is larger than 30 percent,

or the sample size is Iess than 30,

the estimate is not shown. Only an

asterisk (*) appears in the tables.

If the sampIe size is less than 60,

the value of the estimate should

not be assumed to be reliable. The

estimate is preceded by an asterisk

(*) in the tables.

Sampling errors and rounding

of numbers

The standard error is primariIy a

measure of sampling variability that

occurs by chance because only a

sample rather than the entire

universe is surveyed. The relative

standard error of the estimate is

obtained by dividing the standard

error by the estimate itself and is

expressed as a percent of the

estimate. The resulting vaIue is

multiplied by 100, so the relative

standard error is expressed as a

percent of the estimate.

Estimates of sampling variability

were calculated with SESUDAAN

software, which computes standard

errors by using a first-order Taylor

approximation of the deviation of

estimates from their expected values.

A description of the sof~are and the

approach it uses has been

published (4).

The constants for relative

standard error curves for the National

Hospital Discharge Sumey constants

are presented in table 1. The relative

standard error [RSE(X )] of an
10 Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992

estimate X may be estimated from the

formula:

RSE(X ) = vu + MX

where X, a, and b are as defined in

table I.

Estimates have been rounded to

the nearest thousand. For this reason,

figures within tables do not always

add to the totals. Rates and average

lengths of stay were calculated from

original, unrounded figures and will

not necessarily agree precisely with

rates or average lengths of stay

calculated from rounded data.

Tests of significance

In this report, statistical inference

is based on the two-sided test with a

critical value of 1.96 (0.05 level of

significance). Terms such as “higher”

and “less” indicate that differences

are statistically significant. Terms

such as “similar” or “no difference”

mean that no statistically significant

difference exists between the

estimates being compared. A lack of

comment on the difference between

any two estimates does not mean that

th? difference was tested and found

not to be significant.

Terms relating to

hospitalization

Hospitals – All hospitals with an

average length of stay for all patients

of less than 30 days or hospitals

whose specialty is general (medical or

surgical) or children’s general are

eligible for inclusion in the National

Hospital Discharge Survey, except

Federal hospitals, hospital units of

institutions, and hospitals with less

than six beds staffed for patients’ use.

Patient– A person who is formally

admitted to the inpatient service of a

short-stay hospital for observation,

care, diagnosis, or treatment. The

terms “patient” and “inpatient” are

used synonymously,

Newborn infant – A patient

admitted by birth to a hospitaL

Discha~e– The formal release

a patient by a hospital; that is, the

termination of a period of

hospitalization by death or by

disposition to place of residence,

nursing home, or another hospital.

of

The te~ms “discharges” and ‘;patients

discharged” are used synonymously.

Discha&e rate– The ratio of the

number of hospital discharges during

a year to the number of persons in

the civilian population on July 1 of

that year.

Days ofcwe - The number of

patient days accumulated at time of

discharge by a patient. A stay of less

than 1 day (patient admission and

discharge on the same day) is

counted as 1 day in the summation of

total days of care. For patients

admitted and discharged on different

days, the number of days of care is

computed by counting all days from

(and including) the date of admission

Table 1. Estimated parameters for relative standard error equations for National Hospital

Discharge Survey statistics, by sex, age, and geographic region: United States, 1990

Number of discharges or

k3E/isted diagnoses Number of procedures

Characteristic a b a b

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00213 228.834 0.00547 92,597

Sex

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00152 313.079 0.00410 89.724

Female, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00125 311.632 0.00337 83.021

Age

Under 15 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01597 47,116 0.03171 44.124

1544 years, , . ., . . . . . . . . . .,, 0.00142 299.762 0,00302 139.070

45-64 years,.,.......,.. . . . 0.00157 234.543 0,00491 68.024

65 years and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00161 263.223 0.00436 47.686

Region

Northeast, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00274 56.268 0.00588 108.765

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00487 183.531 0.00886 107.681

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00375 343,892 0.00781 50.919

West .,, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,, 0.00564 318,914 0.01235 144,582

to (but not including) the date of

discharge.

At’erage length of stay-The

number of days of care accumulated

by patients discharged during the year

divided by the number of these

patients.

Terms relating to diagnoses ,

Diagnosis – A disease or injury (or

factor that influences health status

and contact with health service: that

is not itself a current illness or injury)

on the medical record of a patient.

Principal diagnosis – The condition

established after study to be chiefly

responsible for occasioning the

admission of the patient to the

hospital for care.

First-listed diagnosis– The coded

diagnosis identified as the principal

diagnosis or listed first on the face

sheet or discharge summary of the

medical record if the principal

diagnosis cannot be identified. The

number of first-listed diagnoses is

equivalent to the number of

discharges.

Terms relating to procedures

Procedure – A surgical or

nonsurgical operation, diagnostic

procedure, or special treatment

reported on the medical record of a

patient. The following ICD-9-CM ~

procedure codes are not used in the

the NHDS:

87.09,87.11, 87.12,87.16-87.17,

87.22-87.29, 87.39,87.43-87.49, 87.85,

87.89,87.92, 87.95,87.99,88.09,88.16,

88.19, 88.21-88.29, 88.31, 88.33, 88.35,

88.37, 88.39, 89.01-89.09, 89.11-89,13,

89.15-89.16, 89.26, 89.29, 89.31,

89.33-S9.39, 89.7-89.8, 90.01-90.99,

91.01-91.99,93.01-93.09, 93.11-93.19,

93.21-93.25,93.27-93.28,

93.31-93.39,93.61-93.67, 93.71-93.78,

93.81-93.89, 94.01-94.09, 94.11-94.19,

94.21-94 .23,94.29,94.31-94.39,

94.41-94.49, 94.51-94.59,95.01-95.03,

95.05-95.09, 95.14-95.15, 95.31-95.36,

95.41-95.48, 96.11-96.19, 96.26-96.28,

96.3+96.39, 96.41-96.48,96.51-96.59,

96.6, 97.01-97.04, 97.14-97.16,

97.21-97.29, 97.31-97.39, 97.41-97.49,

97.51-97.59, 97.61-97.69, 97.72-97.79,

97.81-97.87, 97.89, 99.12-99.14,
Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992 11

99.16-99.18,99.26-99.29, 99.31-99.39,

99.41_99.48, 99.51_99.59.

All-listed procedures– The number

of procedures on the face sheet of

the medical record. In the NHDS a

maximum of four procedures are

coded.

Rafe ofprocedures– The ratio of

the number of procedures during a

year to the number of persons in the

civilian population on July 1 of that

year determines the rate of

procedures.

Demographic terms

Population-The U.S. resident

population excluding members of the

Armed Forces. The population

estimates are from unpublished

tabulations protided by the U.S.

Bureau of the Census that do not

include the results of the 1990

Census.

Age– Patient’s age at birthday

prior to admission to the hospital.

Geographicregion–Hospitals are

classified by location in one of the

four geographic regions of the United

States that correspond to those used

by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Region States included

Northeast . . . Maine, New Hampshire,

Vermont,

Massachusetts, Rhode

Island, Connecticut,

New York, New Jersey,

and Pennsylvania

Midwest . . . . Michigan, Ohio, Illinois,

Indiana, Wisconsin,

Minnesota, Iowa,

Missouri, North Dakota,

South Dakota,

Nebraska, and Kansas

South . . . . . . Delaware, Maryland,

District of Columbiaj

Virginia, West Virginia,

North Carolina, South

Carolina, Georgia,

Florida, Kentucky,

Tennessee, Alabama,

Mississippi, Arkansas,

Louisiana, Oklahoma,

and Texas

West . . . . . . . Montana, Idaho,

Wyoming, Colorado,

New Mexico, Arizona,

Utah, Nevada,

Jvashington, Oregon,

California, Hawaii, and

Alaska

,.
12 Advance Data No. 210. February 18,1992

Suggested citation

Graves EJ. 1990 Summary National Hospital

Discharge Swvey. Advance data from vital and

health statistics; no. 210. Hyattsville, Maryland:

National Center for Health Statistics. 1992.

Copyright information

This repofl maybe reprinted without further

permission.

“U.S. Government PrintingOffIce 1995 — sW+5WOO16
Vital and Health Statistics

series descriptions

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SERIES 10.

SERIES 11.

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Programs and Collection Procedures—These reports

describe the data collection programs of the National Center

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used to collect and process the data, definitions, and other

material necessary for understanding the data.

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are studies of new statistical methods and include analytical

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data, and contributionsto statisticaltheory.These studies akr

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