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.
Office of Family Health, Oregon Public Health Division, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, OR 97232, USA. ken.d.rosenberg@state.or.us
Kenneth D
KD
Rosenberg
Larry
L
Hembroff
Jodi
J
Drisko
Samara
S
Viner-Brown
Kathy
K
Decker
Erika
E
Lichter
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