California Women's Health Survey

The California Women's Health Survey (CWHS) was established to provide information to policy-makers and health professionals about women's health and to serve as a catalyst for innovative solutions that impact the health of California's women and girls.

The CWHS is an annual telephone survey that collects information from a sample of approximately 4,000 randomly selected adult women aged 18 years or older on a wide variety of health indicators and health-related knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes. This survey began in March 1997 as a collaborative effort between the California Departments of Health Services, Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Programs, and Social Services, and the Public Health Institute (PHI). PHI’s Survey Research Group administered the survey while California Medical Review, Inc. (CMRI) provided technical assistance.

The CWHS asks respondents about a wide variety of behaviors related to past and present involvement in healthcare systems, food security status, participation in government nutrition programs, prenatal care, vitamin consumption, alcohol consumption, breastfeeding, sexually transmitted diseases, intimate partner violence, utilization of cancer screening procedures, and other preventative measures. The survey also collects basic demographic information, such as age, race/ethnicity, employment status, and education. Participation in the CWHS is completely voluntary and anonymous. Interviews are conducted by trained interviewers following standardized procedures developed by SRG staff and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey collects data monthly from a random sample of California adult women living in households with telephones. Quality control procedures are rigorous to ensure a high level of accuracy in the data collected.

Survey Specifics

Sponsors: The California Women's Health Survey is coordinated by California Department of Health Care Services and California Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the California Department of Mental Health, the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs and the California Department of Social Services, as well as California Medical Review, Inc., (now known as Lumetra) and the Public Health Institute.
Mode of Administration: Telephone interview conducted in English and Spanish.
Survey Sample Design: Uses random-digit-dialed probability samples of the adult (aged 18 years and over) female population. The annual statewide sample size is approximately 4,000 participants.
Primary Survey Content: The survey consists of a core of demographic and health care access and health insurance coverage questions asked every year. Questions cover topical areas specific to women's health including breast and cervical cancer, mental health, family planning, breastfeeding, chronic illnesses (arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis), nutrition and obesity, sexual behavior, sexually transmitted diseases, health information, care giver responsibilities and hormone replacement therapy.
Population Targeted: Civilian, non-institutionalized population 18 years of age and older who reside in households with telephones. Persons who do not have telephones or have telephones but are either in institutional settings or cannot be understood over the telephone are excluded.
Demographic Data: Age, educational attainment, race/ethnicity, household income, employment status, marital status and sexual orientation.
Years Collected: Annually since 1997.
Geographic Estimates: Data are weighted to produce State of California estimates.
Contact Information: Survey Research Group, Cancer Surveillance Section, (916) 779-0338; Office of Women's Health, (916) 440-7626.
References: California Women's Health Survey, SAS Dataset Documentation and Technical Report; Cancer Surveillance Section, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control, California Department of Health Services; PO Box 942732, MS 7200; Sacramento, CA 95899-7413.

California Women's Health Survey

Survey Specifics

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