Data by Race and/or by Ethnicity

Bridged Race v Single-Race

The Population MICA provides population estimates for the white, Black or African-American, American Indians and Alaska Native, Asians/Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islander populations prior to 2021 and additional estimates for those who identify as two or more races for 2022 onward.  The Missouri state and county level population numbers provided here use estimates developed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau. The NCHS estimates used the bridged-race methodology up until it was discontinued in 2020. The bridged-race algorithm transforms population estimates based on 31 race categories into estimates based on only four race groups (white, Black or African-American, American Indians and Alaska Native, Asians/Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islander). Beginning with the 2021 data year, NCHS fully transitioned away from bridged-race methodology for population estimates. Rather than assigning an individual to one of the four race categories, the category “Two or More Races” was included. This transition is part of the Census’ improvement to their collection of race and ethnicity data beginning with the 2020 Census. More information on this change as well as some implications for data users can be found here.

Two or More Races

The category of Two or More Races shows for 2022 forward in the following MICAs: Death MICA, Chronic Disease Death MICA, Fertility and Pregnancy Rate MICA, Pregnancy MICA, Birth MICA, and Population MICA.

The category of Two or More Races shows for 2016 forward in the following MICAs: Emergency Room MICA, Inpatient Hospitalization MICA, Injury MICA and Procedure MICA . These MICAs include counts for this category from 2016 forward due to the Missouri Patient Abstract System (PAS) always collecting data on multiple races. Rather than including it just in 2022 forward, it is implemented in the 2016 and Forward data for all PAS-related MICAs.

Race in MICAs with Population as Rate Denominator

The MICAs that use population as the denominator are: Cancer Incidence MICA, Chronic Disease Death MICA, Death MICA, Emergency Room MICA, Fertility and Pregnancy Rate MICA, Injury MICA, Inpatient Hospitalization MICA, Preventable Hospitalization MICA, and Procedures MICA.

In MICAs which use population as the denominator for calculating rates, counts by race are available for all geographies.  Rates by race can only be viewed using the Basic Race option in the Choose Your Data section of the query page. The Basic Race option provides data for the white, Black or African-American, and the total population.

Rates by Basic Race are available for the state, all 115 counties and all the county-based regional geographic categories, which include the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Local Public Health Agency (LPHA), and Regional Planning Commission (RPC) areas. Rates by Basic Race are also available for the city of Kansas City.  Rates by Basic Race are not available for the cities of Independence, Joplin or Eastern Jackson County or for ZIP code and census tract geographies.

The Expanded Race option provides counts only for white, Black or African-Americans, American Indians and Alaska Native, Asians/Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, Two or More Races (for applicable years) populations as well as records with Data Unavailable. Rates are not available through the Expanded Race option.

Race in MICAs without Population as Rate Denominator

In MICAs which do not use population as the denominator for rate calculations, rates by race are available for all available geographies using both the Basic Race and the Expanded Race options. These MICAs include the Birth MICA, Pregnancy MICA, and all five WIC MICAs.

Through 2009, the Missouri Vital Statistics system allowed for reporting of only one race. For data from 2010 to present, the selection of multiple races is allowed. The bridged-race algorithm transformed the multiple race selections to one that allows for only one race and was used until 2021. For data years after 2021, the race categories were redefined to include the “Two or More Races” category. These adjustments occur in the following MICAs:  Birth MICA, Pregnancy MICA, Fertility and Pregnancy Rate MICA and Death MICA. In addition, there are vital statistics indicators on several Profiles that use this methodology.

Race in Community Data Profiles

The Community Data Profiles tool has a race option for displaying a table with counts and rates for the White and African-American populations. The race option only displays for counties with substantial African-American populations. Race tabs on Profiles are currently available for the state of Missouri and the following counties/cities: Boone County, Buchanan County, Cape Girardeau County, Cass County, Clay County, Cole County, Dunklin County, Greene County, Jackson County, Jasper County, Mississippi County, New Madrid County, Pemiscot County, Platte County, Pulaski County, St. Charles County, St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Scott County and Kansas City.

One exception is the Minority Health Profile, which shows race counts for all geographies and counts and rates for the geographies listed above.

Data by Ethnicity

The Population MICA provides population estimates for Hispanics or Latinos and Non-Hispanics or Latinos for the state, each of the 115 counties and for the county-based regional geographic groups. No population data by ethnicity is available for the city geographies, ZIP codes or census tracts.

In Missouri, Hispanic origin is underreported on Missouri death certificates and on inpatient hospitalization and emergency room visit records; therefore, data by ethnicity should be used with caution. Due to the unreliability of data by ethnicity in the PAS and Vital Statistics Death datasets, rates by ethnicity are provided only for Missouri statewide. These MICAs are: Chronic Disease Death MICA, Death MICA, Emergency Room MICA, Injury MICA, Inpatient Hospitalization MICA, Preventable Hospitalizations MICA, Fertility and Pregnancy Rate MICA and Procedures MICA. Counts by ethnicity are available for all geographies available in these MICAs.

Hispanic origin is reported more reliably on Missouri birth certificates and in Missouri WIC Program records. Both counts and rates by ethnicity are available in the Birth MICA, Pregnancy MICA and the five WIC MICAs.

Data by ethnicity are not available at any level of geography in the Cancer Incidence MICA.