New options for child health surveillance by state health departments.
Until recently there were no child health surveillance instruments available to state health departments for children 1-14 years old. In recent years, several states have developed new surveillance instruments. This article includes information about examples of four types of child health surveys: (1) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) follow-back survey [phone-based in Colorado]; (2) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) re-interviews [PRAMS-based in Rhode Island]; (3) elementary school child health survey combined with dental screening and physical measurements of height and weight [school-based in Maine]; and (4) freestanding elementary school survey [school-based in Oregon]. The PRAMS-based survey was moderate in expense but addressed only issues related to 2 year olds. The phone-based survey was the most expensive but addressed issues of children 1-14 years old. The school-based surveys were moderate in expense, logistically complex, and were least likely to provide robust generalizable data.
Rosenberg
Kenneth D
KD
Office of Family Health, Oregon Public Health Division, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, OR 97232, USA. ken.d.rosenberg@state.or.us
Hembroff
Larry
L
Drisko
Jodi
J
Viner-Brown
Samara
S
Decker
Kathy
K
Lichter
Erika
E
D000293:Adolescent; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States