Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, January–June 2011

by Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., and Julian V. Luke, Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics

Table 1

Table 1a. Percent distribution of household telephone status for households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Household telephone status
Date of interview Landline with wireless Landline without wireless Landline with unknown wireless Nonlandline with unknown wireless Wireless-only Phoneless Total
Number of households (unweighted) Percent of households
Jan–Jun 2008 16,070 58.5 20.6 0.9 0.0 17.5 2.5 100.0
Jul–Dec 2008 12,597 59.6 17.4 0.9 0.0 20.2 1.9 100.0
Jan–Jun 2009 12,447 59.4 15.5 0.4 0.0 22.7 1.9 100.0
Jul–Dec 2009 21,375 58.2 14.9 0.4 0.0 24.5 2.0 100.0
Jan–Jun 2010 17,619 58.1 12.9 0.3 0.0 26.6 2.0 100.0
Jul–Dec 2010 16,676 55.0 12.9 0.3 0.1 29.7 2.0 100.0
Jan–Jun 2011 20,133 55.0 11.2 0.2 0.1 31.6 2.0 100.0
95% confidence interval1 53.73–56.17 10.53–11.90 0.13–0.27 0.03–0.11 30.49–32.67 1.83–2.28

See footnotes at end of Table 1c.

Table 1b. Percent distribution of household telephone status for adults, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Household telephone status
Date of interview Landline with wireless Landline without wireless Landline with unknown wireless Nonlandline with unknown wireless Wireless-only Phoneless Total
Number of adults (unweighted) Percent of adults
Jan–Jun 2008 30,150 63.0 17.9 0.8 0.0 16.1 2.1 100.0
Jul–Dec 2008 23,726 63.7 15.1 1.0 0.0 18.4 1.7 100.0
Jan–Jun 2009 23,632 63.5 13.4 0.4 0.0 21.1 1.5 100.0
Jul–Dec 2009 40,619 62.5 12.6 0.3 0.0 22.9 1.7 100.0
Jan–Jun 2010 33,780 62.2 10.9 0.3 0.0 24.9 1.7 100.0
Jul–Dec 2010 31,791 59.4 10.7 0.3 0.1 27.8 1.8 100.0
Jan–Jun 2011 38,104 58.8 9.0 0.2 0.0 30.2 1.8 100.0
95% confidence interval1 57.53–59.99 8.42–9.62 0.15–0.30 0.02–0.09 8.42–9.62 1.58–1.99

See footnotes at end of Table 1c.

Table 1c. Percent distribution of household telephone status for children, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Household telephone status
Date of interview Landline with wireless Landline without wireless Landline with unknown wireless Nonlandline with unknown wireless Wireless-only Phoneless Total
Number of children (unweighted) Percent of children
Jan–Jun 2008 11,238 67.3 12.6 0.6 0.0 17.0 2.5 100.0
Jul–Dec 2008 8,635 67.1 11.1 0.7 0.0 18.7 2.4 100.0
Jan–Jun 2009 8,818 67.6 9.1 0.3 0.0 21.3 1.7 100.0
Jul–Dec 2009 14,984 63.4 8.5 0.2 0.0 25.9 1.9 100.0
Jan–Jun 2010 12,234 62.8 6.4 0.1 29.0 1.7 100.0
Jul–Dec 2010 11,815 59.8 6.2 0.1 0.1 31.8 2.0 100.0
Jan–Jun 2011 13,753 56.7 5.1 0.1 0.0 36.4 1.7 100.0
95% confidence interval1 54.90–58.48 4.44–5.81 0.05–0.29 0.02–0.15 34.81–37.96 1.39–2.03

0.0 Quantity is more than zero but less than 0.05.

… Category not applicable

– Quantity zero.

1 Refers to the time period January through June 2011.

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, January 2008–June 2011.

Table 2

Table 2a. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by race/ethnicity and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Race/ethnicity Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Hispanic or Latino, any race(s) 21.6 25.0 28.2 30.4 34.7 38.4 40.8 38.73–42.93
Non-Hispanic white, single race 14.6 16.6 19.7 21.0 22.7 25.0 27.6 26.30–28.86
Non-Hispanic black, single race 18.5 21.4 21.3 25.0 28.5 31.1 32.5 30.26–34.82
Non-Hispanic Asian, single race 16.5 17.8 18.0 20.6 18.8 27.0 27.7 24.79–30.88
Non-Hispanic other, single race 12.8 17.3 20.6 26.5 *16.1 31.9 33.8 27.12–41.16
Non-Hispanic multiple race 22.3 22.5 28.7 26.9 36.0 36.1 39.3 33.99–44.79

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2b. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by age and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Age Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
18–24 years 31.4 33.1 37.6 37.8 39.9 45.5 46.8 43.98–49.59
25–29 years 35.7 41.5 45.8 48.6 51.3 53.5 58.1 56.09–60.17
30–34 years 27.0 30.4 33.5 37.2 40.4 43.8 46.2 44.02–48.45
35–44 years 15.5 17.5 21.5 23.9 27.0 30.9 34.3 32.50–36.14
45–64 years 9.2 11.6 12.8 14.9 16.9 18.8 21.6 20.45–22.85
65 years and over 2.8 3.3 5.4 5.2 5.4 7.7 7.9 7.19–8.77

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2c. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by sex and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Sex Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Male 18.0 20.0 22.5 24.5 26.2 29.0 31.4 30.22–32.65
Female 14.4 17.0 19.8 21.3 23.7 26.8 29.1 27.94–30.19

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2d. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by education and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Education Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Some high school or less 16.1 18.8 22.2 24.7 28.6 29.2 32.1 30.15–34.09
High school graduate or GED2 15.2 17.8 20.8 22.9 23.6 27.6 30.8 29.22–32.51
Some post-high school, no degree 19.0 20.1 23.6 25.0 26.5 30.9 31.8 30.32–33.39
4-year college degree or higher 14.3 17.7 18.2 19.5 22.7 24.3 26.9 25.41–28.38

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2e. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by employment status last week and calendar half-years: United States, January January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Employment status last week Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Working at a job or business 19.0 21.5 24.3 26.0 28.5 31.5 34.2 32.91–35.54
Keeping house 12.6 16.0 16.6 20.5 22.7 25.8 31.2 29.05–33.37
Going to school 21.5 23.5 29.7 29.2 33.2 38.6 35.3 30.71–40.09
Something else (incl. unemployed) 8.9 11.0 14.0 15.9 16.8 19.2 21.0 19.86–22.08

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2f. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by household structure and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Household structure Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Adult living alone 24.6 28.1 30.8 32.9 33.5 36.8 38.0 36.16–39.92
Unrelated adults, no children 63.1 60.6 68.5 62.9 69.4 69.7 71.3 60.13–80.41
Related adults, no children 12.5 14.7 16.8 17.1 19.1 22.1 23.2 22.00–24.52
Adult(s) with children 15.1 17.2 20.4 24.1 26.9 29.4 33.6 32.11–35.22

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2g. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by household poverty status and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Household poverty status3 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Poor 26.0 30.9 33.0 36.3 39.3 42.8 46.8 44.12–49.46
Near poor 22.6 23.8 26.5 29.0 32.9 35.2 38.1 35.73–40.61
Not poor 14.2 16.0 18.9 19.6 21.7 24.1 27.7 26.46–28.88

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2h. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by geographic region and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Geographic region4 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Northeast 9.8 11.4 14.6 15.1 15.8 17.2 18.8 16.71–21.17
Midwest 17.8 20.8 21.9 25.6 26.6 30.0 33.5 31.19–35.95
South 19.6 21.3 25.0 25.4 29.3 31.1 33.6 31.78–35.53
West 13.7 17.2 19.0 22.2 23.5 28.7 30.3 28.21–32.55

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2i. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by metropolitan statistical area status and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Metropolitan statistical area status Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Metropolitan 17.5 19.7 22.4 24.2 26.5 29.1 31.4 30.20–32.59
Not metropolitan 10.9 13.5 16.5 17.9 19.3 22.9 25.6 23.28–28.01

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2j. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by home ownership status and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Home ownership status5 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Owned or being bought 9.0 9.9 12.8 14.0 15.5 17.7 20.6 19.56–21.71
Renting 33.6 39.2 40.9 43.1 47.1 50.3 52.5 50.85–54.17
Other arrangement 23.4 17.7 33.6 33.8 34.9 35.1 38.4 31.96–45.32

See footnotes at end of Table 2k.

Table 2k. Number of wireless-only adults in survey sample, by calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011
Number of wireless-only adults in survey sample (unweighted) 4,939 4,426 5,078 9,401 8,659 9,228 11,872

* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet NCHS standards for reliability or precision.

1 Refers to the time period January through June 2011.

2 GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.

3Based on household income and household size using the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. “Poor” persons are defined as those below the poverty threshold. “Near poor” persons have incomes of 100% to less than 200% of the poverty threshold. “Not poor” persons have incomes of 200% of the poverty threshold or greater. Early Release estimates stratified by poverty status are based on reported income only and may differ from similar estimates produced later that are based on both reported and imputed income. NCHS imputes income when income is unknown, but the imputed income file is not available until a few months after the annual release of National Health Interview Survey microdata. For households with multiple families, household income and household size were calculated as the sum of the multiple measures of family income and family size.

4 In the geographic classification of the U.S. population, states are grouped into the following four regions used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Northeast includes Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Midwest includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska. South includes Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. West includes Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii.

5 For households with multiple families, home ownership status was determined by considering the reported home ownership status for each family. If any family reported owning the home, then the household-level variable was classified as “Owned or being bought” for all persons living in the household. If one family reported renting the home and another family reported “other arrangement,” then the household-level variable was classified as “Other arrangement” for all persons living in the household.

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, January 2008–June 2011.

Table 3

Table 3a. Percent distribution of race/ethnicity for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Race/ethnicity Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent distribution
Hispanic or Latino, any race(s) 18.1 18.5 18.4 18.5 19.4 19.5 19.0 17.22–20.98
Non-Hispanic white, single race 62.2 61.9 63.8 62.5 61.6 61.0 61.8 59.77–63.72
Non-Hispanic black, single race 13.2 13.3 11.7 12.7 13.3 13.0 12.5 11.20–13.83
Non-Hispanic Asian, single race 4.6 4.4 3.9 4.1 3.5 4.5 4.3 3.78–4.89
Non-Hispanic other, single race 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.0 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.59–1.11
Non-Hispanic multiple race 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.6 1.37–1.97
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3b. Percent distribution of age for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Age Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent distribution
18–24 years 24.9 23.1 22.9 21.2 20.7 21.1 20.0 18.80–21.35
25–29 years 20.5 21.0 19.9 19.6 19.1 17.7 17.6 16.83–18.47
30–34 years 14.3 14.0 13.6 14.0 13.9 13.7 13.3 12.58–14.09
35–44 years 17.8 17.4 18.4 18.6 18.9 19.3 19.5 18.54–20.46
45–64 years 19.6 21.6 21.0 22.8 23.7 23.6 25.0 23.90–26.18
65 years and over 2.9 2.9 4.3 3.8 3.7 4.7 4.5 4.03–5.01
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3c. Percent distribution of sex for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Sex Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent distribution
Male 53.7 52.4 51.4 51.8 50.9 50.3 50.4 49.63–51.14
Female 46.3 47.6 48.6 48.2 49.1 49.7 49.6 48.86–50.37
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3d. Percent distribution of education for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Education Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent distribution
Some high school or less 15.5 15.8 15.5 16.0 16.6 15.4 15.6 14.46–16.87
High school graduate or GED2 27.8 27.2 27.7 28.9 26.7 28.1 27.8 26.54–29.15
Some post-high school, no degree 33.9 31.7 33.3 32.9 32.0 32.7 32.2 30.95–33.48
4-year college degree or higher 22.8 25.3 23.5 22.3 24.7 23.9 24.3 23.01–25.74
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3e. Percent distribution of employment status last week for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Employment status last week Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Working at a job or business 75.9 74.5 71.1 69.1 69.7 68.8 68.5 67.39–69.67
Keeping house 5.0 5.3 4.5 5.3 5.3 5.5 5.9 5.47–6.36
Going to school 4.1 3.7 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.7 4.2 3.60–4.91
Something else (incl. unemployed) 13.7 15.4 18.7 20.2 19.5 20.0 20.3 19.37–21.34
Unknown, not reported 1.4 *1.1 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.1 1.0 0.71–1.45
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3f. Percent distribution of household structure for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Household structure Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Adult living alone 23.2 23.6 22.1 21.9 19.9 20.0 18.7 17.60–19.85
Unrelated adults, no children 6.4 5.2 5.4 4.1 4.1 4.0 4.3 3.45–5.26
Related adults, no children 35.1 36.9 36.0 34.0 35.1 36.0 35.3 33.89–36.80
Adult(s) with children 35.3 34.3 36.4 40.0 40.9 40.0 41.7 40.09–43.33
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3g. Percent distribution of household poverty status, for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Household poverty status3 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Poor 14.1 15.5 15.5 16.4 16.5 17.4 15.6 14.53–16.84
Near poor 18.1 16.8 17.9 18.5 19.8 18.6 17.7 16.45–19.01
Not poor 53.4 53.3 56.7 53.0 53.2 52.3 47.8 46.03–49.61
Unknown, not reported 14.4 14.4 10.0 12.2 10.6 11.7 18.8 17.63–20.13
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3h. Percent distribution of geographic region for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Geographic region4 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Northeast 10.7 11.3 12.2 12.1 11.4 11.0 11.1 9.88–12.46
Midwest 25.0 26.0 23.9 26.0 24.0 24.7 24.9 22.91–27.09
South 45.2 41.1 43.8 39.5 42.3 40.2 40.5 38.10–42.85
West 19.1 21.6 20.1 22.4 22.3 24.1 23.5 21.47–25.66
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3i. Percent distribution of metropolitan statistical area status for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Metropolitan statistical area status Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Metropolitan 85.9 85.1 83.3 83.7 83.2 82.7 82.8 80.31–84.97
Not metropolitan 14.1 14.9 16.7 16.3 16.8 17.3 17.2 15.03–19.69
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3j. Percent distribution of home ownership status for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Home ownership status5 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Owned or being bought 39.2 37.1 42.1 42.3 43.7 43.3 47.0 45.14–48.92
Renting 58.1 61.1 55.0 54.3 53.5 54.2 49.9 48.05–51.84
Other arrangement 2.7 1.8 2.9 3.3 2.8 2.5 3.0 2.55–3.59
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

See footnotes at end of Table 3k.

Table 3k. Number of wireless-only adults in survey sample, by calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011
Number of wireless-only adults
in survey sample (unweighted)
4,939 4,426 5,078 9,401 8,659 9,228 11,872

* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet NCHS standards for reliability or precision.

… Category not applicable.

1 Refers to the time period January through June 2011.

2 GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.

3 Based on household income and household size using the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. “Poor” persons are defined as those below the poverty threshold. “Near poor” persons have incomes of 100% to less than 200% of the poverty threshold. “Not poor” persons have incomes of 200% of the poverty threshold or greater. Early Release estimates stratified by poverty status are based on reported income only and may differ from similar estimates produced later that are based on both reported and imputed income. NCHS imputes income when income is unknown, but the imputed income file is not available until a few months after the annual release of National Health Interview Survey microdata. For households with multiple families, household income and household size were calculated as the sum of the multiple measures of family income and family size.

4 In the geographic classification of the U.S. population, states are grouped into the following four regions used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Northeast includes Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Midwest includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska. South includes Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. West includes Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii.

5 For households with multiple families, home ownership status was determined by considering the reported home ownership status for each family. If any family reported owning the home, then the household-level variable was classified as “Owned or being bought” for all persons living in the household. If one family reported renting the home and another family reported “other arrangement,” then the household-level variable was classified as “Other arrangement” for all persons living in the household.

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, January 2008–June 2011.

Table 4

Table 4a. Prevalence rates (and 95% confidence intervals) for selected measures of health-related behaviors for adults aged 18 and over, by household telephone status: United States, January–June 2011
Household telephone status
Health-related behaviors Landline1 Wireless-only Phoneless
Percent (95% confidence interval)
Five or more alcoholic drinks in 1 day at least once in past year2 18.2 (17.20–19.33) 31.0 (29.16–32.90) 20.3 (15.76–25.84)
Current smoker3 16.5 (15.46–17.70) 25.2 (23.74–26.62) 26.6 (21.40–32.43)
Engaged in regular leisure-time physical activity4 34.7 (33.37–35.95) 39.3 (37.74–40.92) 33.0 (27.07–39.44)

See footnotes at end of Table 4e.

Table 4b. Prevalence rates (and 95% confidence intervals) for selected measures of health status for adults aged 18 and over, by household telephone status: United States, January–June 2011
Household telephone status
Health status Landline1 Wireless-only Phoneless
Percent (95% confidence interval)
Health status described as excellent or very good5 58.8 (57.39–60.15) 61.7 (59.86–63.42) 50.6 (44.26–56.86)
Experienced serious psychological distress in past 30 days6 3.2 (2.77–3.72) 4.1 (3.57–4.70) 6.1 (3.90–9.32)
Obese (adults aged 20 and over)7 29.5 (28.43–30.53) 29.1 (27.58–30.63) 30.2 (24.61–36.48)
Asthma episode in past year8 3.7 (3.27–4.14) 4.2 (3.65–4.90) 5.7 (3.23–9.83)
Ever diagnosed with diabetes9 10.2 (9.54–10.85) 6.0 (5.28–6.82) 7.3 (4.62–11.28)

See footnotes at end of Table 4e.

Table 4c. Prevalence rates (and 95% confidence intervals) for selected measures of health care service use for adults aged 18 and over, by household telephone status: United States, January–June 2011
Household telephone status
Health care service use Landline1 Wireless-only Phoneless
Percent (95% confidence interval)
Received influenza vaccine during past year10 42.8 (41.46–44.12) 28.0 (26.54–29.41) 26.4 (21.20–32.42)
Ever been tested for HIV11 31.4 (30.20–32.65) 44.9 (43.28–46.62) 49.2 (42.22–56.30)

See footnotes at end of Table 4e.

Table 4d. Prevalence rates (and 95% confidence intervals) for selected measures of health care access for adults aged 18 and over, by household telephone status: United States, January–June 2011
Household telephone status
Health care access Landline1 Wireless-only Phoneless
Percent (95% confidence interval)
Has a usual place to go for medical care12 89.0 (88.16–89.78) 74.5 (72.98–76.05) 74.2 (68.59–79.15)
Failed to obtain needed medical care in past year due to financial barriers13 6.8 (6.29–7.42) 13.4 (12.35–14.50) 12.7 (9.19–17.30)
Currently uninsured (adults aged 18–64)14 16.8 (15.81–17.87) 27.5 (25.86–29.28) 32.5 (26.60–38.93)

See footnotes at end of Table 4e.

Table 4e. Number of adults in survey sample, by household telephone status: United States, January–June 2011
Household telephone status
Landline1 Wireless-only Phoneless
Number of adults in survey sample (unweighted) 10,726 5,912 360

1Includes households that also have wireless telephone service.

2 A year is defined as the 12 months prior to interview. The analyses excluded adults with unknown alcohol consumption (about 2% of respondents each year).

3 Defined as a person who had smoked more than 100 cigarettes in his or her lifetime and now smokes every day or some days. The analyses excluded persons with unknown smoking status (about 1% of respondents each year).

4 Regular leisure-time physical activity is defined as engaging in light-moderate leisure-time physical activity for greater than or equal to 30 minutes at a frequency greater than or equal to five times per week or engaging in vigorous leisure-time physical activity for greater than or equal to 20 minutes at a frequency greater than or equal to three times per week. Persons who were known to have not met the frequency recommendations are classified as “not regular,” regardless of duration. The analyses excluded persons with unknown physical activity participation (about 3% of respondents each year).

5 Health status data were obtained by asking respondents to assess their own health and that of family members living in the same household as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. The analyses excluded persons with unknown health status (about 0.5% of respondents each year).

6 Six psychological distress questions are included in the National Health Interview Survey. These questions ask how often during the past 30 days a respondent experienced certain symptoms of psychological distress (feeling so sad that nothing could cheer you up, nervous, restless or fidgety, hopeless, worthless, that everything was an effort). The response codes (0–4) of the six items for each person were equally weighted and summed. A value of 13 or more for this scale indicates that at least one symptom was experienced “most of the time” or “all of the time” and is used here to define serious psychological distress.

7 Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more. The measure is based on self-reported height and weight. The analyses excluded people with unknown height or weight (about 4% of respondents each year). Estimates of obesity are presented for adults aged 20 and over because the Healthy People 2020 objectives for healthy weight among adults define adults as persons aged 20 and over.

8 Information on an episode of asthma or an asthma attack during the past year is self-reported by adults aged 18 and over. A year is defined as the 12 months prior to interview. The analyses excluded people with unknown asthma episode status (about 0.3% of respondents each year).

9 Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is based on self-report of ever having been diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor or other health professional. Persons reporting “borderline” diabetes status and women reporting diabetes only during pregnancy were not coded as having diabetes in the analyses. The analyses excluded persons with unknown diabetes status (about 0.1% of respondents each year).

10 Receipt of flu shots and receipt of nasal spray flu vaccinations were included in the calculation of flu vaccination estimates. Responses to these two flu vaccination questions do not indicate when the subject received the flu vaccination during the 12 months preceding the interview. In addition, estimates are subject to recall error, which will vary depending on when the question is asked because the receipt of a flu vaccination is seasonal. The analyses excluded those with unknown flu vaccination status (about 1% of respondents each year).

11 Individuals who received human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing solely as a result of blood donation were considered not to have been tested for HIV. The analyses excluded those with unknown HIV test status (about 4% of respondents each year).

12Does not include a hospital emergency room. The analyses excluded persons with an unknown usual place to go for medical care (about 0.6% of respondents each year).

13 A year is defined as the 12 months prior to interview. The analyses excluded persons with unknown responses to the question on failure to obtain needed medical care due to cost (about 0.5% of respondents each year).

14A person was defined as uninsured if he or she did not have any private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), state-sponsored or other government-sponsored health plan, or military plan at the time of the interview. A person was also defined as uninsured if he or she had only Indian Health Service coverage or had only a private plan that paid for one type of service, such as accidents or dental care. The data on health insurance status were edited using an automated system based on logic checks and keyword searches. The analyses excluded persons with unknown health insurance status (about 1% of respondents each year).

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, January–June 2011.

Table 5

Table 5a. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Total 14.4 15.4 16.2 16.3 17.7 17.4 18.2 17.43–19.01

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5b. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by race/ethnicity and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Race/ethnicity Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Hispanic or Latino, any race(s) 16.0 15.9 18.0 16.9 19.7 17.2 16.3 14.92–17.73
Non-Hispanic white, single race 14.2 14.9 15.6 16.1 17.2 17.2 18.4 17.43–19.46
Non-Hispanic black, single race 13.3 14.7 15.0 16.2 17.5 16.2 18.4 16.80–20.13
Non-Hispanic Asian, single race 16.4 20.3 19.6 18.5 20.8 22.5 21.0 18.72–23.58
Non-Hispanic other, single race *10.1 15.5 22.9 *16.1 *12.3 23.8 17.6 11.73–25.67
Non-Hispanic multiple race 17.7 24.2 22.5 18.2 21.0 20.7 16.1 12.66–20.28

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5c. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by age and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Age Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
18-24 years 19.2 18.8 20.0 19.9 21.4 18.7 20.1 17.93–22.52
25-29 years 17.3 18.3 17.7 16.4 17.4 16.8 16.3 14.58–18.24
30-44 years 18.2 19.0 20.3 19.5 21.2 21.6 21.9 20.65–23.14
45-64 years 13.8 15.4 16.5 17.5 19.0 18.9 19.8 18.75–20.92
65 years and over 4.4 4.9 5.3 6.3 7.0 7.1 8.9 8.06–9.93

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5d. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by sex and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Sex Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Male 14.9 15.4 16.2 16.5 18.1 17.8 18.5 17.60–19.44
Female 14.0 15.2 16.1 16.2 17.4 17.1 17.9 17.15–18.72

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5e. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by education and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Education Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Some high school or less 10.0 9.8 12.1 11.5 12.0 12.1 12.9 11.76–14.05
High school graduate or GED2 12.5 13.2 13.7 14.2 16.0 15.3 16.6 15.49–17.73
Some post-high school, no degree 17.0 18.6 17.7 18.1 20.1 18.9 20.0 18.74–21.43
4-year college degree or higher 17.1 18.0 19.7 19.7 20.3 21.3 21.1 19.78–22.42

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5f. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by employment status last week and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Employment status last week Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Working at a job or business 17.3 18.4 19.5 19.7 20.8 20.5 21.6 20.59–22.57
Keeping house 11.9 11.9 12.7 15.1 14.5 16.7 14.9 13.19–16.75
Going to school 25.2 21.5 21.1 21.7 23.5 24.4 23.5 17.62–30.56
Something else (incl. unemployed) 6.6 7.8 9.0 9.0 11.5 10.2 11.3 10.61–12.06

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5g. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by household structure and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Household structure Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Adult living alone 10.1 12.2 10.0 10.6 10.1 9.5 10.2 9.27–11.24
Unrelated adults, no children *15.4 21.3 13.9 15.5 13.4 13.4 *15.6 7.83–28.70
Related adults, no children 12.8 13.2 14.7 15.0 15.7 15.8 17.2 16.08–18.28
Adult(s) with children 18.1 19.2 20.5 20.2 23.3 22.7 22.8 21.56–24.10

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5h. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by household poverty status and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Household poverty status3 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Poor 10.8 9.5 11.0 10.0 11.0 10.2 10.5 8.55–12.73
Near poor 10.3 11.3 12.0 12.7 12.6 13.8 13.3 11.93–14.83
Not poor 17.1 18.2 18.8 19.2 20.8 20.4 21.6 20.53–22.65

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5i. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by geographic region and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Geographic region4 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Northeast 13.8 12.0 15.3 14.9 17.1 18.5 19.5 17.51–21.58
Midwest 12.6 13.2 14.6 14.7 17.5 16.3 17.7 15.95–19.50
South 14.6 16.2 16.7 17.3 18.1 17.2 18.0 16.77–19.28
West 16.4 18.7 17.7 17.7 17.8 18.0 18.1 16.62–19.71

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5j. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by metropolitan statistical area status and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Metropolitan statistical area status Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Metropolitan 15.0 15.8 16.9 16.8 18.0 17.8 18.4 17.57–19.32
Not metropolitan 12.1 13.4 13.5 14.5 16.5 16.1 17.3 15.64–19.18

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5k. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by home ownership status and calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Home ownership status5 Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011 95% confidence interval1
Percent
Owned or being bought 14.7 15.9 17.2 17.5 19.6 19.4 20.0 19.01–20.95
Renting 13.9 13.0 13.9 13.6 13.9 13.0 13.9 12.83–14.98
Other arrangement 14.8 24.6 13.8 15.8 10.8 15.6 20.0 11.75–31.93

See footnotes at end of Table 5l.

Table 5l. Number of adults in survey sample who live in landline households with wireless telephones, by calendar half-years: United States, January 2008–June 2011
Calendar half-year
Jan–Jun 2008 Jul–Dec 2008 Jan–Jun 2009 Jul–Dec 2009 Jan–Jun 2010 Jul–Dec 2010 Jan–Jun 2011
Number of adults in survey sample who live in landline households with wireless telephones (unweighted) 18,664 14,816 14,886 24,904 20,610 18,357 21,626

* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet NCHS standards for reliability or precision.

1Refers to the time period January through June 2011.

2GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.

3Based on household income and household size using the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. “Poor” persons are defined as those below the poverty threshold. “Near poor” persons have incomes of 100% to less than 200% of the poverty threshold. “Not poor” persons have incomes of 200% of the poverty threshold or greater. Early Release estimates stratified by poverty status are based on reported income only and may differ from similar estimates produced later that are based on both reported and imputed income. NCHS imputes income when income is unknown, but the imputed income file is not available until a few months after the annual release of National Health Interview Survey microdata. For households with multiple families, household income and household size were calculated as the sum of the multiple measures of family income and family size.

4In the geographic classification of the U.S. population, states are grouped into the following four regions used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Northeast includes Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Midwest includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska. South includes Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. West includes Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii.

5For households with multiple families, home ownership status was determined by considering the reported home ownership status for each family. If any family reported owning the home, then the household-level variable was classified as “Owned or being bought” for all persons living in the household. If one family reported renting the home and another family reported “other arrangement,” then the household-level variable was classified as “Other arrangement” for all persons living in the household.

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, January 2008–June 2011.