LIST OF TABLES
United States and North Carolina
Table 1. Demographic, Social, and Economic Indicators
Table 2. Work, Farm, Home, and School Statistics
Table 3. Social, Welfare, and Health Data
Table 4. Pregnancy Outcome Statistics
Table 5. Morbidity and Mortality Statistics
Table 6. Health Care Resources Data
North Carolina and Counties
Table 7. Demographic, Economic, and Health Resources Data
Table 8. Selected Health Indicators- 1997
DATA SOURCES
References for the various data items are too numerous to list here but may be obtained
from the State Center for Health Statistics. For the U. S. and N. C., comparisons in Tables
1- 6 were largely abstracted or derived from the following: Statistical Abstract of the United
States 1997 ( Bureau of the Census); Health · United States 1998 ( National Center for
Health Statistics); Monthly Vital Statistics Reports: Advance Report of Final Natality
Statistics 1996 ( National Center for Health Statistics); Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report, Vol 45, No. 53,1996 and Vol. 47, No. SS- 2, 1998 ( Centers for Disease Control).
State and county population was provided by the State Data Center, Office of State
Planning.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
In most cases, table headings and footnotes provide definitions for the reported statistics.
Additional information needed for data clarification includes the following:
Number of States Higher: This figure is given wherever the statistic or the required
numerators and denominators were available for states.
Percent Change: Increases and decreases are generally expressed in terms of average
annual percentages computed as the total percentage change divided by the number of
intervening years.
Place of Event: Except as otherwise noted, data are by place of residence.
Unadjusted Rates: None of the county- level rates of Table 8 have been adjusted for age.
Thus, counties with an older population will generally have higher cancer incidence rates
and higher death rates for chronic conditions. Also, the single year measures in Table 8
may be unstable due to small numbers of events.
North Carolina
Department of Health and Human Services
State Center for Health Statistics
P. O. Box 29538
Raleigh, North Carolina 27626- 0538
( 919) 733- 4728
December 1998
State of North Carolina
James B. Hunt Jr., Governor
Department of Health and Human Services
H. David Bruton, M. D., Secretary
State Center for Health Statistics
John M. Booker, Ph. D., Director
B, OOO copies of this public document were printed
at a cost of $ 1 ,500.00 or 19¢ per copy.
280406
Table 1
Demographic, Social, and Economic Indicators
Number
United of States
States Higher
Resident Population, 1996 ( millions) 265.3 10
Annual Percent Increase 1986- 1996 1.0 11
Percent of Total Population, 2000 Projection:
White 82.1 41
Black 12.9 6
Hispanic' 11.4 37
Percent Under 5 Years of Age, 1996 7.3 18
Percent Ages 65 and Over, 1996 12.8 27
Projected Percent Changes
1990- 2000 10.4 13
2000- 2010 8.4 15
Persons per Household, 1996 2.62 36
Pop. per Square Mile of Land, 1996 75.0 16
Metropolitan Popul " l tion, 1994 ( millions) 2 207.7 12
Percent of Total 79.8 31
Annual Percent Increase Since 1990 1.2 13
Nonmetropolitan Pop., 1994 ( millions) 2 · 3 52.7 1
Percent of Total 20.2 18
Annual Percent Increase Since 1990 1.0 17
Per Capita Personal Income, 1996 $ 24,231 31
Median Household Income, 1995 $ 34,076 32
Percent of Persons below Poverty Level, 1995 13.8 18
Per Capita Federal Income Tax, 1994 $ 2,168 30
Per Capita Total State Tax Collections, 19964 $ 1,581 15
Per Capita State Government General Revenue,
1995s $ 2,817 28
Per Capita State Government Debt
Outstanding, 1995 .. $ 1,629 46
' Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. 2As defined by U. S. Office of Management
and Budget. 3Excludes New Jersey and District of Columbia. 4Excludes District of Columbia.
Includes sales and receipt taxes; fuel, beverage, and tob~ cco taxes; individual and corporate
income taxes; motor vehicle and operators' licenses; and other state taxes. sFrom
intergovernmental ( Federal and local government) and other sources, including taxes.
Table 4
Pregnancy Outcome Statistics
( Data from State and National Reporting Systems)
Legal Induced Abortions 1995 ( thousands)!
Live Births 1996 ( thousands) 2.3
White
Black
Hispanic4
Annual Percent Increase Since 1986
Numbe~ per 1,000 Population2
Number per 1,000 Women Ages 15- 442
Percent Minority Births
Percent Hispanic Births4
Percent 5 Pounds 8 Ounces or less2
White
Black4
Hispanic" s
Percent 3 Pounds 4 Ounces or less2
White
BlackS
Hispanic4. S
Percent Mothers Unmarried2
White
BlackS
Hispanic4. s
Percent Late6/ No Prenatal Care2
White
BlackS
Hispanic4. s
Percent Prenatal Care Before Fourth Month2
White
BlackS
Hispanic4
Percent by Cesarean Delivery2
White
BlackS
Hispanic4, s
Teen Birth Rate, 19967
Neonatal Deaths per 1,000 Live Birth s, 1996
Postneonatal Deaths per 1,000 Neonatal
Survivors, 1996
Infant Deaths per 1,000 Live Births, 1996
United
States
1,210.9
3,891.5
3,093.1
594.8
701 .3
0.4
14.7
65.3
20.5
18.0
7.4
6.3
13.0
6.3
1.4
1.1
3.0
1.1
32.4
25.7
69.8
40.7
4.0
3.3
7.3
6,7
81.9
84.0
71.4
72.2
20.7
20.6
21 .7
20.0
54.4
4.8
2.6
7.3
~--
Number
of States
Higher
8
10
9
6
16
3
16
22
8
26
6
12
8
27
4
4
3
23
21
44
27
31
26
37
23
18
22
9
25
33
14
15
20
42
10
3
8
4
' As collected or estimated by the Centers for Disease Control. 21ncludes races other than
White and Black. 3White, Black, and Hispanic, where used, apply to Race or Hispanic origin
of the mother. 4Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. sU. S. data excludes certain
states ( usually 10 or less) with a small minority population. 6Care beginning in 3rd
trimester. 7Births to mothers ages 15- 19 per 1,000 females ages 15- 19.
Table 2
Work, Farm, Home, and School Statistics
Number
United of States
States Higher
Civilian Labor Force, 1996 ( millions) 133.9 9
Participation Rate'
Males 74.9 23
Females 59.3 22
Percent Unemployed 5.4 37
Males 5.4 37
Females 5.4 36
Employees in Nonagricultural
Establishments, 1996 ( millions) 2 119.6 9
Percent Employed in Manufacturing 15.3 1
Avg. Hourly Earnings of Manufacturing
Production Workers, 1996 $ 12.78 42
Annual Percent Increase Since 1990 3.0 0
Average Annual Pay, 19953 $ 27,845 29
Full- time Equivalent Employees of
State/ Local Government, 1995
State Employees per 10,000 Population" s 151 30
Local Gov. Employees per 10,000 Pop. s 385 18
Mo. payroll per State Employee ( in October) · · 6 $ 2,854 24
Number of Farms, 1996 ( thousands) 4 2,063 13
Annual Percent Decrease Since 1990 0.6 15
Average Acreage per Farm, 19964 469 41
Annual Percent Change Since 1990 0.3 21
Crop Value, 1996 ( billions} 4,7 $ 106.0 15
Number of Households, 1996 ( millions) 98.8 9
Annual Percent Increase Since 1990 1.2 13
New Privately Owned Single Family
Housing Units Started, 1996 ( thousands) 1,147.0 4
Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
Per Capita Expenditures, 19968 $ 1,100 47
Average Expenditures per Pupil, 19969 $ 6,103 35
Average Salary of Classroom Teachers,
1996 ( thousands) $ 37.7 41
' Persons 16 and older in the civilian labor force as a percent of civilian noninstitutional
population. 2Excludes proprietors, self- employed, farmworkers, unpaid family workers,
domestic workers, and Armed Forces. 3Workers covered by unemployment laws; excludes
most agricultural workers on small farms, Armed Forces, elected officials, railroad, domestic,
and self- employed individuals. 4Excludes the District of Columbia. sBased on estimated
population as of July 1, 1995. 6Monthly earnings for full- time employees. 7Excludes
Alaska. 8Based on estimated population, July 1, 1995. 91n average daily attendance.
Table 5
Morbidity and Mortality Statistics
( Data from State and National Reporting Systems)
Morbidity Rates 1996'
Reported Syphilis ( all stages) 2
Reported Gonorrhea ( all sites) 2
Verified Tuberculosis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
AIDS
Age- adjusted Mortality Rates 19963
All Causes
Diseases of Heart
Cerebrovascular Disease
Atherosclerosis
Cancer
Diabetes Mellitus
Pneumoniallnfluenza
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis
Nephritis/ Nephrosis
Motor Vehicle Unintentional Injuries
All Other Unintentional Injuries
Suicide
Homicide/ Legal Intervention
Age- adjusted Mortality White
Rates 19963 U. S.
All Causes 591.4
Diseases of Heart 174.5
Cerebrovascular Disease 26.3
Atherosclerosis 2.6
Cancer 149.2
Diabetes Mellitus 13.7
Pneumoniallnfluenza 15.2
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease 26.3
Chronic Liver Disease
and Cirrhosis 10.5
Nephritis/ Nephrosis 4.7
Motor Vehicle Un-intentional
Injuries 22.2
All Other Uninten-tional
Injuries 20.2
Suicide 19.1
Homicide/ Legal
Intervention 7.3
United
States
20.0
122.8
8.0
11 .7
4.0
25.2
UnIted States
491.6
134.5
26.4
2.2
127.9
13.6
12.8
21 .0
7.5
4.3
16.2
14.2
10.8
8.5
' Cases per 100,000 population. Cases are from the Centers for Disease Control. 2Cases
updated through June 13, 1997. 3Deaths per 100,000 population using 10- year age groups and
U. S. 1940 population as standard for direct age adjustment.
Table 3
Social, Welfare, and Health Data
Number
United of States
States Higher
Federal Food Stamp Program,
Cost per Participant, 1996 $ 878 15
National School Lunch Program,
Cost per Participant, 1996 $ 175 20
AFDC1, Avg. Monthly Payment per Family, 1994 $ 382 41
Average Weekly Unemployment Insurance
Benefits, 1995 $ 187 18
Average Monthly Social Security Benefit, 1995
Retired Workers2 $ 720 37
Disabled Workers $ 682 43
Widows and Widowers3 $ 680 45
Public Aid ( AFDC and SSI) Recipients as a
Percent of Resident Population, 1994 7.7 16
Medicare Benefits, Amount per Enrollee,
Calendar Year 1996 $ 5,117 25
Medicaid Benefits, Amount per Recipient,
Fiscal Year 1995 $ 3,405 34
Per Capita Federal Aid to State and
Local Governments, FY 1996 $ 858 38
Per Capita State Government
Expenditures, FY 1996 ( estimated) 4 $ 2,813 37
Employment ( FTE) in Health, 1995
State Government ( thousands) 160 26
Local Government ( thousands) 209 4
Employment ( FTE) in Hospitals, 1995
State Government ( thousands) 496 9
Local Government ( thousands) 551 8
Hazardous Waste Sites on the Superfund
Priorities List, 1996 1,245 16
Crime Rates per 100,000 Population, 19955 5,278 15
Violent Crime6 685 19
State Parks and Recreation Areas, 1995
Acres per 1,000 Population 45 38
' Aid to Families with Dependent Children. 2Excludes special benefits. 3Nondisabled
only. 4Excludes Nevada and District of Columbia. sOffenses known to the police. 6Murder
( including non- negligent manslaughter), forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Table 6
Health Care Resources Data
Health Manpower
Nonfederal Physicians per 100,000 Civilian
Population, 1995
Nurses per 100,000 Civilian Population, 1995
CommunIty Hospitals
United
States
236
809
Number of Hospitals, 1995 5,194
Number of Beds, 1995 ( thousands) 872.7
Average Cost to Hospital per Patient per Day, 1995 $ 968
Average Cost to Hospital per Patient per Stay, 1995 $ 6,216
Nursing Homes'
Number of Nursing Homes, 1996
Number of Beds
Percent of Beds Occupied
Insurance
Number of Persons without Health Care
Coverage 1996 ( thousands) 2
Percent of Population, 1996
Number of Persons Enrolled in HMOs, 19973
Percent of Population in HMOs, 1997
Medicare and MedicaId ·
Number of Persons Enrolled in Medicare
( thousands), 1995
Benefit Paid per Enrollee, 1995
Number of Medicaid Recipients ( thousands), 1996
Benefit Paid per Recipient
Medicaid Recipients per 100 Persons
below Poverty Level, 1995- 96
17,208
1,839,686
82.7
41,716
15.6
66,801
25.2
36,789
$ 4,750
36,118
$ 3,369
99
Number
of States
Higher
21
23
15
10
33
28
16
16
4
8
15
19
31
9
34
10
28
' Data are based on a census of certified nursing facilities. 2Data are based on household
interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. 3Data based on a census of health
maintenance organizations. 4Data are compiled by the Health Care Financing Administration.
Table 8
SELECTED HEALTH INDICATORS - 1997
1996 Perinatal and
Percent of Infant Mortality Cause - Specific Cancer Incidence Communicable
Births To: 1993- 199711 Death Rates18 Rates, 199519 Disease Rates20
Resident Data
North Carolina
Wilson
Yadkin
Yancey
2
l1I a::
~
1::
in
63.9
2
11I a::
c:
0 : e
0
.0 «
17.1
MQ)
a1: t: i
> g- ~ : f
01 0
~ c:
a.. ~
81 .5 29.1
~ - 0
11I ~ E u 0
C) 0 E ... c. : 2
'( j) z en 0 l1I ~ 0 Cis ' 8 a::
~ Q)
~ ~ 2 en
0 ( II
( 5 U 1::
... J ... J ~ in
8.8 16.0 15.1 21.4 62.3
~ C
Q) Q)
Q)
- 0 Q) E
'$ 1ti ro ~ ~ i 11I a:: ~ () 0
( 5
a:: i)' ~ C) 0 E ... c. : ~ aQ).
c: c: Z, '( j) z en 0 - 0 o'U,
0 11I 0 ~ ts ' ro : e c: o § ~ U ~~
0 01 c: ~ 2 ( 5 eQn) 15 11I-
.0 ~ ~ 0 11I U Q) Q) 0
< I: a.. ... J ... J ~ ~ I~
22.5 85.5 43.2 10.6 30.3 18.6 14.5 44.4 20.8
1Live births per 1,000 females 15- 44 ( 15- 19). 2legal induced abortions per 1,000 females 15- 44 ( 15- 19) . 3Pregnancies ( reported abortions,
fetal deaths, and live births) per 1,000 females 15- 44 ( 15- 19). ~ Based on race of mother. 55 Ibs. 8 oz. or less. 6late care defined as first
visit after third month. Information often based on maternal recall. 71ncludes primary and repeat C- section. 8Measured by Medicaid payment
for hospital stay of the newborn. 9Percent receiving some prenatal care at a health department; percents for some counties may be low due
to patients going to a public clinic not reporting data to the Health Services Information System. 10Percent on WIC in prenatal period. 11A11
rates are average for the 5- year period, 1993- 97. 12Stillbirths of 20+ weeks gestation per 1,000 deliveries ( live births plus stillbirths). 13Deaths
2 +
11I 10 ro
2 a:: '" -~
-~ '" Sl ~ en Ul
11I 1 § Q) 11I
Q) a:: - Q) ~ ::: I 11I ~ 11I co ' Vi 2 ( II 11I Q) III 11I 0 oS c: 1ii Ul > ID Q) ' g, 0 11I 1 § 0 a:: u u i5 e5l ~ - E ~ :;
a:: Q) Qj Q) ~ ~ ~ C .0 III " iii 0 1ii E ~
S ~ c: " iii Q) 1:: u ~ Q) ro E 01 : c c: en a. 11I Q)
() 0 J!! .~ ( 5 11I c: § a. 0 . g
~ Q) Q) 0 ( 5 Q) III Q) . '!!. ( 5 Q) >. 0 « Q) : c
u... z a.. . E I- <.! l :> I U () O l- Ll.. ... J en C) I U I-
42.5 8.3 6.7 3.0 9.6 8.9 50.5 6.2 259.2 203.9 70.2 455.8 142.5 69.2 3.0 22.7 1.1 0.4 23.0 0.6
under 28 days per 1,000 births. UDeaths 28 days to 1 year per 1,000 neonatal survivors ( live births less neonatal deaths). 15Deaths under
1 year per 1,000 live births. 16Deaths per 1,000 population. 17Deaths per 10,000 population ; consists of homicides, suicides, unintentional
injuries, legal interventions. 18Deaths per 100,000 population. 191995 reported cases per 100,000 population. The female breast cancer rate
uses the female population. These are unadjusted rates. Counties with an older population will generally have higher cancer incidence rates
and higher death rates for chronic conditions. As a guide, refer to the percentages of the population ages 65+ in Table 7. 20Cases per 10,000
population .
Table 7
DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC, AND HEALTH RESOURCES DATA
White Male
Resident Data Total Total < 20 65+ Total
Resident 1997
Percent of Total Population in Selected
Age- Race- Sex Groups
White Female Minority Male
< 20 15- 44 65+ Total < 20
Minority Female
65+ Total < 20 15- 44 65+
Income
Levels Health Care PersonneP
~
~
Q) o
Q)
Cl.
f/) c: o
~
Q)
Cl.
Hospital Beds
and Use Medicaid7
North Carolina 7,431,161 1.7 37.2 9.6 4.2 38.7 9.2 16 .5 6.3 11 .3 4.2 0.8 12.9 4.1 6.0 1.4 22,244 9.9 1,281 1,007 113 2,495 332 109 16.1 $ 523 20.6
Wilson
Yadkin
Yancey
' P-, dash (-) indicates county had no resource of the type stated. Practitioners are by county of practice October
1997. 2Active federal and nonfederal physicians in general or family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and
obstetrics/ gynecology. Physicians providing very little direct patient care are excluded . 3Physician extenders are nurse
practitioners and physician assistants, each weighted as .66 of a physician and added to the number of primary care
physicians . 4Active federal and nonfederal. 5Short- stay nonfederal general hospital beds in use in 1995. Estimated
military is excluded from the population of Cumberland, Onslow, Craven, and Wayne counties. 68ased on county of
residence. Rates are per 1,000 population, excluding estimated military ( see note 5). Numerators are 1997 discharges from
nonfederal hospitals located in N. C. Normal newborn babies are excluded . Only N. C. residents served in N. C. hospitals
are included. Counties with a large percentage of patients leaving N. C. for hospital care are: Camden, Caswell, Clay,
Currituck, Dare, and Gates. 7State fiscal year 1996- 1 997 data. 8Children ages 0- 4 using one ofthe following public health
department services in calendar year 1997: child health, child service coordination, or children's special health services.
Visits for immunization only are not included.
Trends in Infant Mortality and Low Birthweight in North Carolina
Infant mortality in North Carolina decreased from 12.4
infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1987- 88 to 9.2 in 1995-
96, representing a decline of 26 percent. Large decreases in
infant mortality were observed for both whites and minorities,
though the minority infant mortality rate remains roughly two
times the rate for whites ( Figure 1). The decrease in overall
infant mortality resulted from large reductions in every
birthweight category, with the exception of births less than 500
grams, where the very high rate of death decreased by a only
a small amount. The largest reductions in infant mortality, for
both whites and minorities, were for deaths caused by
respiratory conditions, SIDS, and birth defects.
While infant mortality declined in North Carolina, the risk
of low birthweight ( births less than 2,500 grams, or 5lbs. 9 oz.)
increased from 8.0 to 8.7 percent. Low- birthweight infants are
25 times more likely to die as babies of normal birthweight.
The risk of low birthweight is about twice as high for minorities
compared to whites ( Figure 2).
Continued declines in infant mortality will be more difficult
to achieve without a reduction in low birthweight. In 1988,
North Carolina ranked next to last in the nation in infant
mortality. As improvements were seen in the early 1990s,
North Carolina's rank improved to about forty- third. However,
in 1995, 1996, and 1997 the infant mortality rate for North
Carolina remained the same ( 9.2), while the rate for the nation
continued to decline. As a result, preliminary national data for
1997 indicate that North Carolina again had the second
highest infant mortality rate in the nation. Reducing the
disparity in low birthweight between whites and minorities will
be a key to improving overall infant survival in the futu re.
20
II) 18
r.
t:: 16
iii
Q) 14
>
: J 12
o
o
~ 10 .....
~
Q)
Q.
II) 6
r.
~ 4
o
Figure 1
Infant Death Rates by Race
North Carolina, 1987- 1996
___ NC Minorities
....... NC Total
,\- NC Whites
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Figure 2
Percentage of Live Births Under 2500 Grams by Race
North Carolina, 1987- 1996
- o
14
C 4
Q)
~
:. 2
___ NC Minorities
-+- NC Total
- Ir NC Whites
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Low birthweight is a multi- faceted problem and more than /
medical interventions are needed to improve it. Increased
prenatal care participation and the reduction of teen
pregnancies will help, but these are not a complete solution.
In 1996, there were 9,12810w birthweight babies born to North
Carolina women. Yet, for 78 percent of these low birthweight
babies, the mother began prenatal care in the first trimester.
The percentage of all mothers beginning prenatal care in the
first trimester increased from 75 percent in 1988 to 83 percent
in 1996, a period during which the percentage of low- weight
births was increasing. Improved prenatal care participation is
very important, but it is not the only answer to reducing low
birthweight. Also, of the 9,128 low birthweight babies born in
1996, 81 percent were born to mothers age 20 and older.
Teenage pregnancy is thus a comparatively small cause of
low birthweight in North Carolina. Health interventions will be
only part of the solution to this serious and difficult problem.
Policies and programs designed to address aspects of the
social and economic environment of families may help to
reduce low birthweight.
Reductions in infant mortality for respiratory conditions,
SIDS, and birth defects contributed significantly to the overall
decline from 1987 to 1996. It is important that we build on the
successes in these areas as a means of continuing the
downward trend in infant mortality. There has been much less
success in preventing preterm delivery, which is a major
cause of low birthweight. Innovative strategies to reduce
preterm delivery are needed if substantial progress is to be
made in reducing low birthweight.
This report is excerpted from a special study of the State
Center for Health Statistics titled " Infant Mortality and Low
Birthweight in North Carolina: The Last 10 Years."
