Arkansas Department of Health Center for Health Statistics

In Arkansas the BRFSS is used to monitor several health risk behaviors  

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the largest, continuously conducted,
telephone survey in the world.  It is conducted by states under the guidance of Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey is designed to identify and monitor risk
factors for chronic diseases and other leading causes of death.  Arkansas participated in
1991 and has been conducting this survey every month since January 1993.

The respondents to the survey are selected at random.  There are two stages of randomization --
first a random telephone number is dialed -- all numbers are eligible for inclusion in the
survey, whether listed or not.  Once a residence is identified, a random member of the
household is picked.  If that member is not available at that time, an interview is scheduled
for later.  This two-step process is necessary to ensure that the sample of interview is truly
representative of all Arkansans.  The sample of successful interviews is then weighted to
match the race, age and sex distribution of Arkansas.  This helps to correct for "no phone"
and "refusals."  Arkansas currently conducts 1800 interviews per year, or 150 interviews
per month.  At all points the anonymity of the respondent is maintained.

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