VII. Health and Safety

Table HS-35: Definition of Selected Terms

Age-Adjusted Death Rates allow comparison of rates between communities with different age structures. Rates have been adjusted to the year 2000 standard, the standard recommended for years 1999 and later.

Expected number of infectious disease cases has been calculated by applying the rate observed for all the peer counties to the county population.

Death rates and birth measures are consistent with U.S. Healthy People 2010 objectives.

EPA air quality standards measured and exceeded are reported. Monitoring is conducted in areas believed to be at risk and is not done in every jurisdiction.

Leading causes of death are provided for underlying cause of death categories constituting 10% or more of the deaths in that race/ethnicity and age group.

Prevalence rates indicate the number in a population who have a certain characteristic at any time during the period. The BRFSS survey had been weighted to represent the State's adults.

Persons enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare are program beneficiaries. The number of persons under age 65 receiving Medicare may represent a measure of disability in children and adults. Persons over age 65 with Medicaid coverage may also represent a population having greater medical needs.

Relative health importance determinations of "unfavorable" were rates above the peer or the U.S. rate.

Vulnerable populations of the work disabled, those depressed, and recent drug users were estimated. Work disabled used a regression-based county-specific estimate. National age- or race-specific rates of major depression and recent drug use were applied to the county population to obtain the county estimate.

For complete information regarding data definitions and sources, please refer to the companion document available on HRSA's web site at www.communityhealth.hrsa.gov.