 |
|
|
|
Minority Health
This resource is intended to make it easier to find racial and ethnic minority health data on the State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS) website. Statistics and Reports featuring racial or ethnic differences are listed below. Please note, however, that other publications on the SCHS website also contain important information on the health of racial and ethnic minorities. Several links to related websites are also listed at the bottom of this page.
Race is considered a "marker" for certain health problems. Race or ethnicity per se does not cause a particular health problem or status. It is likely that factors such as income, education, access to health care, stress and racism are among the major causes of the poorer health of minorities on many health measures, compared to whites. Few sources of health data record these types of health information, though most do have information on race or ethnicity. Showing data by race can identify specific areas of disparities and can help target resources and interventions to populations most in need.
In most data collected by the SCHS, race and ethnicity are reported as two separate dimensions. The major racial categories are white, African American, American Indian and Asian. Ethnicity is defined as Hispanic and non-Hispanic. Thus, persons of Hispanic ethnicity may be of any race, though in North Carolina most Hispanics are classified as white.
In the past, SCHS typically published statistics for "minorities" compared with "white" racial groups. Currently, we publish more specific race and ethnicity data, where feasible, such as non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic African Americans and Hispanics. It would be ideal to have more information for specific minority racial groups, such as American Indians or Asians. However, due to data limitations, unreliable population estimates and small numbers of events for these groups, it is difficult to produce reliable information by detailed racial groupings for many indicators, especially at the county level.
This report, published annually by the State Center, presents a summary of population, mortality, maternal/child health, communicable disease and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance data for the state by race and ethnicity.
2016-2020 Report (PDF)
2015-2019 Report (PDF)
2014-2018 Report (PDF)
2013-2017 Report (PDF)
2012-2016 Report (PDF)
2011-2015 Report (PDF)
2010-2014 Report (PDF)
2009-2013 Report (PDF)
2008-2012 Report (PDF)
2007-2011 Report (PDF)
2006-2010 Report (PDF)
2005-2009 Report (PDF)
2004-2008 Report (PDF)
2003-2007 Report (PDF)
2002-2006 Report (PDF)
This report, to be published annually by the Central Cancer Registry, presents cancer mortality rates for the state by race and ethnicity.
2013-2017 Report (PDF)
2012-2016 Report (PDF)
2011-2015 Report (PDF)
2010-2014 Report (PDF)
2009-2013 Report (PDF)
2008-2012 Report (PDF)
2007-2011 Report (PDF)
2006-2010 Report (PDF)
2005-2009 Report (PDF)
2004-2008 Report (PDF)
This report, published annually by the Central Cancer Registry, presents cancer incidence information for the state by race and ethnicity.
2013-2017 Report (PDF)
2012-2016 Report (PDF)
2011-2015 Report (PDF)
2010-2014 Report (PDF)
2009-2013 Report (PDF)
2008-2012 Report (PDF)
2007-2011 Report (PDF)
2006-2010 Report (PDF)
2005-2009 Report (PDF)
The SCHS web-based interactive database system provides customized reports of health data based on user-specified selection of variables including queries available by race and ethnicity for most databases.
Presents data for all resident births by selected demographic characteristics and risk factors. All data are presented by race and ethnicity: white non-Hispanic, African American non-Hispanic, other non-Hispanic and Hispanic.
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2019
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2018
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2017
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2016
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2015
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2014
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2013
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2012
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2011
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2010
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2009
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2008
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2007
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2006
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2005
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2004
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2003
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2002
Resident Live Births by Selected Risk Factors and Characteristics - 2001
This report presents life expectancies for the state and each county by age group, gender and race (white and African American).
Life Expectancy: North Carolina
BRFSS is a random telephone survey of state residents ages 18 and older. Through BRFSS, information is collected in a routine, standardized manner at the state level on a variety of health behaviors and preventive health practices related to the leading causes of death and disability such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and injuries. Data for all years are presented by race and ethnicity. Data from 2002 forward are presented by English and non-English speaking Hispanic, and non-Hispanic. Due to problems with small numbers, broader racial groups are used for the results for selected counties.
North Carolina PRAMS, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative to reduce infant mortality and low birth weight. The PRAMS survey collects data on maternal attitudes and experiences prior to, during and immediately after pregnancy for a sample of North Carolina women. Data are broken out by race (white, African American and other minorities) and Hispanic origin.
CHAMP is the first survey of its kind in North Carolina to measure the health status of children, ages 0 to 17. Questions on the CHAMP survey pertain to a wide variety of health-related topics, including breastfeeding, early childhood development, access to health care, oral health, mental health, physical health, nutrition, physical activity, family involvement and parent opinion on topics such as tobacco and childhood obesity. Survey results are presented by race (white, African American and other minorities) and Hispanic origin.
The Central Cancer Registry (CCR) housed at the SCHS collects, processes and analyzes data on all cases of cancer diagnosed among North Carolina residents. This report (PDF) includes state-level cancer incidence and mortality data for whites and minorities, as well as some data for African Americans.
This tabular data reports preconception health measures for North Carolina in order to guide efforts to improve the health and wellness of women of reproductive age across the state.
Selected data in this biennial SCHS publication are broken out by white and minority, or white and African American.
Pocket Guide - 2017
Pocket Guide - 2015
Pocket Guide - 2013
Pocket Guide - 2011
Pocket Guide - 2009
Pocket Guide - 2007
Pocket Guide - 2005
Pocket Guide - 2003
Pocket Guide - 2001
Pocket Guide - 1999
Pocket Guide - 1997
Pocket Guide - 1995
The purpose of this periodic report is to document health differences among the major racial and ethnic groups in North Carolina in order to identify areas of disparities that can be targeted for interventions and improvement.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health - 2004 (PDF)
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health - 2000 (PDF)
This periodic report is intended to monitor the state’s progress towards eliminating the health status gap between racial and ethnic minorities and the white population.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Report Card - 2010 (PDF)
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Report Card - 2006 (PDF)
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Report Card - 2003 (PDF)
These periodic reports present basic health facts about African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos and American Indians in the areas of mortality, chronic disease, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, health risk factors, access to health care, quality of life, maternal and infant health, and child and adolescent health.
This biennial report summarizes the overall health status of North Carolinians. A special section of the report focuses on minority health and health disparities.
Health Profile of North Carolinians - 2011 (PDF)
Health Profile of North Carolinians - 2007 (PDF)
Health Profile of North Carolinians - 2005 (PDF)
Health Profile of North Carolinians - 2003 (PDF)
The website of the North Carolina Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities presents a variety of information on efforts to reduce health disparities in the state:
The North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs 
website presents information on American Indian tribes in the state and programs established to offer aid and protection for Indians as needs are demonstrated, prevent undue hardships and assist Indian communities in social and economic development.
In April 2002, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine, in partnership with El Pueblo, a statewide policy and advocacy organization, convened the Latino Health Task Force to study and address Latino health issues in North Carolina. Links to their final report are available at their website.
The UNC Minority Health Project was created in an effort to improve the quality of available data on racial and ethnic populations, expand the capacity of minority-health researchers to conduct statistical research and develop research proposals, and foster a network of researchers in minority health.
The mission of the U.S. Office of Minority Health is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. Its Data/Statistics page has a variety of data for specific races, as well as Hispanics/Latinos.
