Original Article

Health Status in the Mississippi River Delta Region

Authors: Holly Felix, MPA, M Kathryn Stewart, MD, MPH

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine if and where there were counties with significantly better or poorer health than others in the region.


Methods: Using Z scores for 6 mortality-related measures, this study identifies counties within the Delta states with the highest and lowest rates.


Results: Although Delta counties account for only 33% of the counties in the eight target states, they represent the majority of counties with the highest mortality measures, and represent the minority of counties with positive health outcomes.


Conclusions: These findings confirm the appropriateness of targeting interventions, and help pinpoint places where better health is being achieved despite high poverty and other risk factors, where important lessons can be drawn.


Key Points


* Although most reports document that extreme health disparities exist within the Mississippi Delta, statistical tests identified Delta counties with extreme positive health status indicators.


* Targeting local health programs at the county level is an appropriate intervention for Delta-based populations.


* Identifying areas with significantly different health status in a region may offer understanding for improving the health of the region.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1.Brown DW (ed): The Delta Initiatives: Realizing the Dream…Fulfilling the Potential. Memphis, TN, Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission, 1990.
 
2.Hawkins WF, Hyland SE. Rural health care issues in the Lower Mississippi Delta: an agenda for the Year 2000. J Health Soc Policy 1990;2:79–94.
 
3.Harrison GG (ed): Nutrition and Health Status in the Lower Mississippi Delta of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi: A Review of the Existing Data. Rockville, MD, Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Consortium/Westat, Inc, 1997.
 
4.Felix, H, Stewart, MK, Rickard, D. A Profile of Health and Health Care in the Delta Region Based on Existing Data: A Report to the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta. Little Rock, AR, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, 2002.
 
5.Morgan K, Morgan S (eds): Health Care State Rankings, 1996. Lawrence, KS, Morgan Quitno, 1996.
 
6.Morgan K, Morgan S (eds): Health Care State Rankings, 1997. Lawrence, KS, Morgan Quitno, 1997.
 
7.Morgan K, Morgan S (eds): Health Care State Rankings, 1998. Lawrence, KS, Morgan Quitno, 1998.
 
8.Morgan K, Morgan S (eds): Health Care State Rankings, 1999. Lawrence, KS, Morgan Quitno, 1999.
 
9.Morgan K, Morgan S (eds): Health Care State Rankings, 2000. Lawrence, KS, Morgan Quitno, 2000.
 
10.Morgan K, Morgan S (eds): Health Care State Rankings, 2001. Lawrence, KS, Morgan Quitno, 2001.
 
11.Smith J, Lensing S, Horton JA, et al. Prevalence of self-reported nutrition-related health problems in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Am J Public Health 1999;89:1418–1421.
 
12.Centers for Disease Control. Consensus set of health status indicators for the general assessment of community health status: United States. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1991;40:449–450.
 
13.Manitoba Center for Health Policy. Recommended Health Indicators for Monitoring Regional Health Authority (RHA) Performance and Planning Service Delivery; 2001. Concept paper of the Manitoba Center for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada accessed via the Internet athttp://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/mchp/concept/concept.frame.shtml accessed in December 2002.
 
14.Culter DM, Richardson E. Measuring the Health of US Populations. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity. Washington, DC, Brookings Institute, 1997.
 
15.Bhargava A, Jamison DT, Lau L, et al. Modeling the effects of health on economic growth. J Health Econ 2001;20:423–440.
 
16.ARFSYS. Area Resource File System. Fairfax, VA, Quality Resource Systems, Inc, 2001.
 
17.Centers for Disease Control WONDER. CDC Wonder, n.d. Online database accessed via the Internet at http://wonder.cdc.gov/ accessed in October 2002.
 
18.Murray CJL, Michaud CM, McKenna M, et al. US Patterns of Mortality by County and Race: 1965–1994. Cambridge, MA, Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, 1998.
 
19.Durch JS, Bailey LA, Stoto MA. Improving Health in the Community A Role for Performance Monitoring. Washington, DC, National Academy Press, 1997.
 
20.Maxcy KM, Rosenau MJ, Last JM, et al. Public Health and Preventive Medicine. 14th edition. Stamford, CT, Appleton & Lange, 1998.
 
21.Smedley BD, Syme SL. Promoting Health: Intervention Strategies from Social and Behavioral Research. Washington, DC, The National Academy of Sciences, 2001.
 
22.Kretzmann JP, McKnight JL Building Communities from the Inside Out. Evanston, IL, Asset-Based Community Development Institute, 1993.