Adult health practices in the United States and Canada

The prevalence levels of 12 health practices in the United States and Canada are compared in this study: smoking; drinking status; average daily alcohol consumption; physical activity; eating breakfast; use of seatbelts and child safety restraints; ownership of smoke detectors; recency of blood pressure checks, breast examinations, and Pap tests; and practice of breast self-examination. Data for two additional variables--drinking and driving and blood pressure awareness--are shown for the two countries, but the statistics cannot be strictly compared. Data are presented for four age groups by sex and for three levels of education. Trends in smoking and seatbelt use between 1979 and 1985 are also discussed.