The Health Survey for England

2004

Margaret Blake(National Centre for Social Research)

Background

• Core sample and core topics each year• Changing topics

– young people– CVD– older people– ethnic minority boost

• Sample and content of survey vary• 2004 is repeat of 1999 ethnic boost

Why an ethnic boost?

• Ethnic groups vary in term of:– Health problems– Health behaviours and risks– Health care needs

• General population sample does not generate sufficient cases in each group

• Ethnic boost will allow comparison between groups

HSE boost sample in 2004

• Minority ethnic groups– Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black African, Black

Caribbean, Chinese, Irish

• Half size general population sample

• Boost sample design (similar approach to 1999)– Strata: based on proportion of population within

different ethnic groups

– Sample based on wards because of census information– Sample type: sectors grouped to six sample types

– Different ethnic groups screened in each sample type

Survey content

• Core subjects include: – General Health– Fruit and veg consumption and physical activity– Smoking and drinking– Socio-demographic background– Heights and weights– Self completions - social capital, social support, GHQ

• Ethnic boost:– CVD for adults– Respiratory health for children

• Nurse visit for ethnic minority respondents only• Comparisons with general population can be made

with 2003

Nurse visit

• Details of prescribed medicines

• Infant length (6 wks to 2 yrs)

• Blood pressure (5+)

• Saliva (4+)

• Waist and hip (11+)

• Lung Function (7-15)

• Blood sample (11+)

• Urine sample (16+)

• Fasting blood sample (16+)

2004 results

• Report published late 2005• Data available early 2006

• 1999 results available now– report– data archive– published papers