North Carolina Child Health Report Card, 2001

This seventh annual report card is produced to heighten awareness of the health of the children of North Carolina by summarizing important child health indicators. The report is intended to assist health administrators, legislators, and family advocates in their efforts to improve the health and safety of children statewide. Data are presented for the most current year available and a comparative year (usually 1995) as a benchmark. The following indicators are used: (1) insurance coverage; (2) infant mortality; (3) low birth-weight infants; (4) immunization rates; (5) communicable diseases; (6) environmental health; (7) dental health; (8) early intervention; (9) child abuse and neglect; (10) deaths due to injury; (11) alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse; (12) physical fitness; (13) obesity; and (14) teen pregnancy. Grades are assigned for each indicator based either on the percentage change in an indicator's current data in relation to the same indicator in a prior year, or on a general consensus among the sponsoring organizations. The report notes that for several indicators--including infant and child death rates, uninsured rates, the immunization rate--the data are the best ever reported. However, for several other indicators--including child abuse and neglect, child abuse homicides, asthma, obesity in low-income children, and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substances--the data remain extremely worrisome. The report concludes with data notes and definitions. (HTH)