Subject Guide for Health Statistics

Introduction
General Statistical Data
Vital and Morbidity/Mortality Statistics
Demographics
Health Statistical Data
Organizations
International Health Statistics
Other

Introduction

Since health statistics are so varied - from vital statistics to healthcare facilities to use of services to costs - they are most meaningful when linked to demographic and population data. Understanding local information in context with the larger picture is also helpful.

This web page provides an introduction to a variety of statistical sources. Many of the reports are available both in print and online. Select sources noted in one category, e.g. Vital & Morbidity/Mortality Statistics, may also apply to other categories, e.g. Health Statistical Data or Demographics. General statistical data is often a good starting point.

Keep in mind, some statistical sources are not compiled and updated on a regular basis because of expense and privacy issues. If necessary, be sure to check the journal literature for more current information.

Remember, if you have questions please feel free to contact a librarian at the Reference Desk on the First Floor of the Library.

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General Statistical Data

FEDSTATS

FedStats is the gateway to "a full range of official statistical information available to the public from the Federal Governmentętrack economic and population trends, education, health care costs, aviation safety, foreign trade, energy use, farm production, and more. Access official statistics collected and published by more than 100 Federal agencies without having to know in advance which agency produces them."

Census data is available in print, on CD-Rom and online.

For assistance with the Census information, please stop by the Government Publications Reference Desk on the 3rd floor. Also see the Demographics section below.

US Census Bureau - Uncle Sam's Reference Shelf
Links to key statistical sources, including the following:

Statistical Abstract of the United States. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2000.
Location: C 3.134:/Reference Desk and Ref/Table 3A; C 3.134/7: Media Center/US
A summary of US social, political and economic statistics.
State and Metropolitan Area Data Book.
Location: C 3.134/5: Gov Pubs/US
A collection of statistics on social and economic conditions at the state and metropolitan levels.
County and City Data Book.
Location: C 3.134/2:C 83/2/ Gov Pubs/US; C 3.134/2-1: Media Center/US
General statistics for health, crime, housing, marriages, manufacturing, etc for state, county, city and place (as defined by Census).
USA counties.
Location: C 3.134/6: Media Center/US
Includes all the data published for counties in the State and Metropolitan Area Data and in the County and City Data books.
State and County Quick Facts
Easy access to facts about people, business, and geography.

REIS: Regional Economic Information System. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, Regional Economic Measurement Division
Location: C 59.24: 1969-2002 Media Center/US

California Statistical Abstract.
Location: F275 S8 / Reference Desk and Reference/CA; Gov/Pubs/CA for older eds.
Solid overview of California state statistics for: Geography, Demography, Economic, Labor, Education, Transportation, Safety, Water and Dams, Natural Resources, Vital, Health, Welfare.

RAND California (Good Source for all types of statistics)
An excellent online database for California and US statistics. Main categories are:

Business and economics
Population and demographics
Education
Community
Health and Socioeconomic
Government finance
Census
Politics and public opinion

Three major indexes used to find statistics are:

ASI: American Statistical Index (1960 to present)
Location: Z7554.U5 A46 Reference
Major index to federal statistics in all government publications.
Accompanying microfiche located in Microforms Center.

SRI: Statistics Reference Index (1981 to present)
Location: HA 1.S75 Reference
Indexes and abstracts business, financial and social statistics from U.S. private organizations (associations, commercial publishers, independent research centers, etc), state government agencies, and universities.
Accompanying microfiche located in Microforms Center

IIS: Index to International Statistics (1983 to present)
Location: HA154 .I544 Reference
Index to statistical publications of the United Nations and other international organizations.
Accompanying microfiche located in Microforms Center

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Vital & Morbidity/Mortality Statistics

Vital statistics of the United States . Washington, DC: United States Bureau of the Census.
Location: HB3505 .V58 Reference; HE 20.6210: Online 1997 -

National Vital Statistics Reports. Public Health Service, National Center for Health Statistics.
Location: HE 20.6217: Gov Pubs Micro/US
Monthly issues of birth, death, marriage, and divorce provisional statistics with 4-6 supplements annually.

California Vital Statistics Query System. California Department of Health Services.
Location: H900 R4sv Gov Pubs/CA; Latest edition in Reference/CA
"The Vital Statistics Query System has been developed to provide an interactive Internet interface to obtain tabular summaries and statistical reports from California's birth and death vital statistics databases."

See also: Advance Report, California Vital Statistics
Location: H987 V56 Reference/CA

California Department of Health Services Center for Health Statistics; Office of Health Information and Research (OHIR)
The OHIR produces a variety of reports on the health and wellness of the people of California. This site links to dozens of reports, including but not limited to the following.

NOTE: Print copies of many of these reports are available in the H1150 section of Gov Pubs/CA. Check the PAC for exact locations.

Healthy California 2000 Final Review
County Health Status Profiles, 1999-2005
Unintentional Injury Deaths California
Differences in Death Rates Among California's Race/Ethnic Populations
Diabetes Deaths, California
Heart Disease Deaths, California
Multiple Cause of Death in California
Prostate Cancer Deaths California
Trends in Cesarean Births in California
Infant Mortality Rate, California
Birth Profiles by Zip Code
Death Profiles by Zip Code

Communicable Diseases in California; California Department of Health Services.
Location: H944 C6 Gov Pubs/CA; also available online.

California Morbidity. California State Department of Public Health.
Location: H1250 M6 Gov Pubs/CA; also available online.
Links to disease tables which summarize communicable diseases.

Supplemental Catalog: Birth and Death Data by Zip Code. Center for Health Statistics.
Location: H1150 B573s Current binder Gov Pubs/CA

Atlas of United States Mortality. Linda Williams Pickle, et al. Hyattsville, Md. : U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, 1996.
Location: HE 20.6202:AT 6 Gov Pubs/US; G1201.E24A8 Ref/Table 4; HE 20.6209/12:1 [computer file] Media Center/US

Building Healthier Futures: Data Supplement. Sponsored by Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, Children's Initiative, County of San Diego, San Diego Health Coalition for Children and Youth, San Diego and Imperial Counties Regional Perinatal System. 1996.
Location: C600 H43 B93 D23 Reference/CA
Various tables with local data on infant mortality, low birth weight, teenage suicide, TB, STDs, child abuse, domestic violence, bicycle-related deaths, school drop-out, teenage smoking, teenage sexual activity, teenage seat belt use, prenatal care, poverty, etc.

Birth Defects in Eleven California Counties. Liz Stierman. [Emeryville? CA]: California Birth Defects Monitoring Program, 1996.
Location: H997 C62 Gov Pubs/CA

Trends in California's Teen Births, 1986-1996. Sandy Ficenec. Sacramento, CA: Center for Health Statistics, 1998.
Location: H1150 T442 Gov Pubs/CA

RAND California
(Good Source for all types of statistics)

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Demographics

Health Statistical Data

Health Status Report. San Diego: Health and Human Services Agency, 2000.
Location: C600 H43 S79 2000 Reference/CA; C600 H43 S79 1998, Gov Pubs/CA Link to the 2000 Health Status Report [HSR] by chapter, and report cards, fact sheets, and community health atlases from the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.

Charting the Course II: A San Diego County Health Needs Assessment. Community Health Improvement Partners. San Diego, CA : Healthcare Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Location: Full Report RA407.4.C2 S2642 Ref/Table 4 and 5th Floor Books
Statistical Supplement RA407.4.C2 S2644 v.1-2 Ref/Table 4
Executive Summary RA407.4.C2 S264 Ref/Table 4 and 5th floor books
Community Input Supplement RA407.4.C2 S2643 Ref/Table 4
Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) is a collaboration of San Diego health care systems, hospitals, community clinics, insurers, physicians, universities, community benefit organizations and the County of San Diego who are dedicated to a common vision. Formed in 1995, CHIP is organized under the auspices of the Healthcare Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties. Site links to 1998, 2001, and 2004 Needs Assessments.

Health Data Summaries for California Counties. Sacramento: Center for Health Statistics, Dept. of Health Services.
Location: H987 H41 Ref/Table 4; H987 H41 Reference/CA; earlier editions Gov Pubs/CA

Health, United States, 2002 with Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans Featuring Updates for Trend Tables. . Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Location: HE 20.7042/7-2: Media Center/US; HE 20.6231:H 34 Media Center/US
View the most recent plus earlier editions of Health, United States at the CDC/National Center on Health Statistics web pages.

Older Americans 2000: Key Indicators of Well-Being. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics.
This report covers 31 key indicators to portray aspects of the lives of older Americans and their families. The report is divided into five subject areas: population, economics, health status, health risks and behaviors, and health care.

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being. Washington: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, 2001.
Location: PR 43.8:C 43/C 43/ Gov Pubs/US

Leading Health Indicators for California. Prepared by Anthony Oreglia. Sacramento: Center for Health Statistics, Dept. of Health Services
Location: H1150 H427 Reference/CA and Gov Pubs/CA

Analysis of health indicators for California's minority populations. Sheila Dumbauld, James A. McCullough, and James W. Sutocky. Sacramento, CA: Health Information and Strategic Planning, Center for Health Statistics, 1994.
Location: H1150 M56 Gov Pubs/CA

California Department of Health Services.
Follow the links to statistics on AIDS, diabetes, teen birth rates, maternal and child health, plus general medical care.

Healthy California 2000: California's Experience in Achieving the National Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Objectives. Fred Richards. [Sacramento]: California Dept. of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
Location: H1150 H426 Gov Pubs/CA.
Summarizes the state statistics in relation to the Healthy People 2000 indicators.

Health and Healthcare in the United States: County and Metro Area Data. Thomas, RK, ed. Lanham MD: Bernan Press, Nationshealth Corp, 1999.
Location: RA407.3 .H43 Ref/Table 4; CDR-376 Media Center

Selected Health Statistics for San Diego County: Issues Affecting Children, Youth and Families, 1995. Developed for The Children's Initiative, KIDS FIRST!, by Building Healthier Futures. San Diego, CA: Building Healthier Futures, County of San Diego, Dept. of Health Services, 1995.
Location: C600 H43 B93 I86 Gov Pubs/CA
Data on births and deaths (by ethnic group) in the county, including prenatal care and various types of injuries leading to death.

Building Healthier Futures: Data Supplement.
Location: C600 H43 B93 D23 Reference/CA
Various tables with local data on infant mortality, low birth weight, teenage suicide, TB, STDs, child abuse, domestic violence, bicycle-related deaths, school drop-out, teenage smoking, teenage sexual activity, teenage seat belt use, prenatal care, poverty, etc.

RAND California
(Good Source for all types of statistics)

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Organizations

Large non-profit health organizations are frequently good sources of statistics.

SANDAG: San Diego Association of Governments Resource Center
This regional planning agency, comprised of 18 city governments and 1 county government, produces some of the best local statistical data available. It is not all health related. View "Demographics and Other Data" (sidebar) to look at long range forecasts.

Federal Health Information Centers and Clearinghouses
The Federal Government operates many clearinghouses and information centers which focus on specific topics. Their services include distributing publications, providing referrals, and answering inquiries. Many offer toll-free numbers and provide addresses, telephone, fax and email contact information.

Associations Unlimited
The electronic resource and the print equivalent, Encyclopedia of Associations is a good source for finding associations and organizations.
Location: AS22 .E53 Reference Desk
To find local equivalents of these organizations, check local phone books and Directions produced by the United Way of San Diego County.
Location: HV99.S3 D482 Reference Desk

Kaiser Family Foundation
An independent philanthropy focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation, and a source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation
A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the "best available data and analysis on critical issues affecting disadvantaged children and families"; they are best known for the Kids Count Publications.

Healthy People 2010
Healthy People 2010 "provides a framework for prevention for the nation. It is a statement of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health and to establish national goals to reduce those threats." Healthy People is one of the first efforts at coordinating data collection efforts and developing common health status indicators.

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International Health Statistics

Organizations and Agencies

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Under Health Data examine the Country Health Profiles, a "health situation analysis of every country of the Region of the Americas."

Canadian Institute for Health Information
Links to Health Indicators, "a compilation of selected indicators measuring health status, non-medical determinants of health, health system performance, and community and health system characteristics" and also to the Canadian Population Health Initiative.

United Nations (UN) Statistical Division
Link to demographic and social statistics databases and to the Monthly Bulletin of Statistics.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Links to publications that include important statistics such as State of the World's Children. and Immunization Summary 2005.

World Health Organization (WHO)
Full text publications such as Report on Infectious Disease and the annual World Health Report are easily accessible from this site.

The World Health Report: Report of the Director-General. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Location: RA8 .A265 Ref/Table 4 (more recent online)

World Health Statistics Annual. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Location: RA651 .A486 Ref/Table 4; IIS 4640-S2 Gov Pubs Micro/US

WHO Statistical Information System (WHOSIS)
WHOSIS provides access to the bulk of statistical and epidemiological data and information presently available from the World Health Organization.

International Data Base (IDB) from the US Census Bureau
The IDB contains statistical information on the demographic, and socio-economic conditions for 227 countries and areas of the world. It combines data from country sources (especially censuses and surveys) with IPC's estimates and projections to provide information dating back as far as 1950 and as far ahead as 2050.

Library of Congress Country Studies/Area Programs
Search or browse a continuing series of in-depth studies of individual countries.
NOTE: Limited health information available at this site.

World Fact Book
General country profiles produced by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
NOTE: Limited health information available at this site.

The Europa world year book. London, England: Europa Publications Limited.
Location: JN1 .E85 Reference Desk; earlier eds. 4th Floor
Background information by country.

World Development Indicators. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
Location: HC59.15 .W656 Ref/Table 8B; earlier eds. 3rd floor

The global burden of disease: a comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from diseases, injuries, and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020. CJL Murray, AD Lopez, eds. [Cambridge, MA]: Harvard University Press.
Location: RA441 .G56 1996 5th Floor Books

Global health statistics: a compendium of incidence, prevalence, and mortality estimates for over 200 conditions.
Location: RA407 .M87 1996 Ref/Table 4

Health dimensions of sex and reproduction: the global burden of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, maternal conditions, perinatal disorders, and congenital anomalies.
Location: RG106.3 .H4 1998 5th Floor Books

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Other

Health Statistics: An Annotated Bibliographic Guide to Information Resources, 2nd ed.; Frieda O. Weise, ed.; Lanham, Md: Medical Library Association and Scarecrow Press, 1997.
Location: RA 407.3 H435 Ref/Table 4