LibGuides: Public Health: Websites & Statistics

Websites & Statistics

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
The world's largest health survey system, tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the U.S. yearly since 1984. Prevelance Trends, GIS data, Chronic Disease Indicators, as well as the survey data and methodology are available.
California Department of Public Health
CDPH works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
The California Endowment
This public health grant making foundation is also a clearing house for research and health-related information related to California.
California Health & Human Services Agency
CHHSA administers state and federal programs for health care, social services, public assistance and rehabilitation.
California Health Interview Survey
A source of credible and comprehensive data on the health and health care needs of California’s large and diverse population.
California State Legislature
Track the progress of current bills in the state assembly, including amendments, provisions, and individual voting.
Congress.gov
Clearinghouse for current and past federal legislative efforts. Searchable by keyword, bill number, and legislator.
FASTATs
The FastStats site provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance and is organized alphabetically
Kaiser Family Foundation Healthstats
Find state-level budgetary, demographic and condition-specific statistics.
Kids Count Data Center
The premier source of data on children, youth and families. Find indicators for the nation, states and more.
National Center for Health Statistics
Find statistics and government reports here.
OECD Health Statistics
Offers the most comprehensive source of comparable statistics on health and health systems across OECD countries.

Statista This link opens in a new window Data and statistics portal with an international focus on Europe, the United Kingdom, the U.S., and Asia. Key figures on the economy, society, labor force, digital economy, business environment, and public sector of more than 150 countries. Key performance indicators, e.g., revenues, sales figures, and prices, of the most important consumer markets.

U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services
HHS is the U.S. government's principal health agency, encompassing the National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevent, and many other agencies.
USA.gov
This government search engine indexes federal, state, and local agencies. Browsable by topic (try Health Insurance, Nutrition, and Food Safety).

How do you know a site is credible?

Characteristics to question when looking for credible websites:

WHO: established expert/scholar in the field, established, reputable organization or society.

WHAT: well-written content with veriable sources.

WHERE: beware of .com because usually they are trying to sell you something (.com is short for commercial); .org tradiationally means non-profit organization, but sadly, .org domain can be purchased by a less reputable person/group; .gov means it is a government website, should be impartial representation of facts.

WHEN: the date it was published on the web or last updated. If it is old (you determine what is old age for your topic) or there is no date, you may take caution.

WHY/HOW: what is the purpose of the website? why are they sharing this information? Check out the About Us or Contact Us page to learn more about their purpose.

An ideal website has positive, good answers to all the above questionable conditions. When you start having unknowns or less favorable answers, the reliability of the website goes down.

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Public Health

Websites & Statistics

How do you know a site is credible?