West Virginia Rural Health Research Center

Publications

Listed by publication date. You can also view these publications alphabetically.

2011

Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector (Final Report)
Date: 12 / 2011
Author(s): Cynthia Armstrong Persily, Johnna S. Beane, Mary Glenn Rice
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
This project analyzed the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services. Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial, or other sources. These environmental risks and associated health problems carry corresponding implications for public health programs and services, and highlight the need for a rural public health workforce that includes appropriate environmental health specialists.
Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector (Policy Brief)
Date: 12 / 2011
Author(s): Cynthia Armstrong Persily, Johnna S. Beane, Mary Glenn Rice
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
This project analyzed the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services. Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial or other sources. These environmental risks and associated health problems carry corresponding implications for public health programs and services, and highlight the need for a rural public health workforce that includes appropriate environmental health specialists.
Water Fluoridation and Dental Health Indicators in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States
Date: 11 / 2011
Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Constance Weiner, Matthew Gurka
Topics: Dental health, Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
This study investigated the availability of fluoridated water across urban-rural settings, and relates measures of fluoride availability to national survey measures of dental health in adults and children.
Rural Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Resiliency Index and Associated Health Outcomes (Policy Brief)
Date: 07 / 2011
Author(s): Joel A. Halverson, Michael Hendryx
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
Rural areas, especially in the Southeast, Appalachia and parts of the West, have worse VRI (Vulnerability and Resiliency Index) scores which are a measure of six socioeconomic indicators across counties in the United States. Better VRI scores were associated with better health outcomes (lower heart disease, cancer, and stroke death rates) across the rural-urban continuum. These analyses provide evidence to support the development of programs and policies that foster educational development, and economic diversity and vitality, as means of public health improvement, especially in rural areas in selected regions of the country.
Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties (Final Report)
Date: 06 / 2011
Author(s): Joel Halverson, Cheryl Brown, Melissa Olfert, Melissa Ahern, Christiaan Abildso
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
Rural counties are disproportionately associated with high food insecurity risk relative to urban counties. Programs and policies may focus on improving food availability and access for rural populations. More research, with multivariate analyses across regions, can shed additional light on the impact of food insecurity on the health of the population, especially for those living in rural areas.
Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties (Policy Brief)
Date: 06 / 2011
Author(s): Joel Halverson, Cheryl Brown, Melissa Olfert, Melissa Ahern, Christian Abildso
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
This project will examine the characteristics of food security and food availability across the rural-urban continuum. The study will test the hypotheses that food insecurity will differ significantly between rural and urban counties in the US with rural areas experiencing more adverse conditions; and that there will be a significant relationship between food insecurity, food availability and selected adverse health outcomes in non-metropolitan counties in the US.
A Rural Socioeconomic Risk and Resiliency Inventory and Associated Health Outcomes (Final Report)
Date: 03 / 2011
Author(s): Joel A. Halverson, Michael Hendryx
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
Rural areas, especially in the Southeast, Appalachia and parts of the West, have worse VRI (Vulnerability and Resiliency Index) scores which are a measure of six socioeconomic indicators across counties in the United States.

2010

Key Environmental Health Competencies for Rural Primary Care Providers (Policy Brief)
Date: 05 / 2010
Author(s): Cynthia Persily, Johnna Beane, Mary Glenn Rice
Report Number: #3
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Physicians
Providing health care that considers environmental determinants of health, environmental impact on health, and outcomes attributed to environmental issues is complex due to the need for providers to be competent not only in social and health sciences, but also in environmental health concepts.
Key Environmental Health Competencies for Rural Primary Care Providers (Final Report)
Date: 03 / 2010
Author(s): Cynthia Armstrong Persily, Johnna S. Beane, Mary Glenn Rice
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Physicians, Public health
The purpose of this study was to develop a set of basic environmental health competencies that are needed by all rural primary care providers to direct health care and education policy.
Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States (Final Report)
Date: 02 / 2010
Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Joel Halverson
Report Number: Final Report #1
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity.
Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States (Policy Brief)
Date: 02 / 2010
Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Joel Halverson
Report Number: Policy Brief #1
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity.

Toxics Release Inventory Discharges and Population Health Outcomes in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States (Final Report)
Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Juhua Luo
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
The current study examines whether chemical releases from facilities monitored through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program were associated with population mortality rates and birth outcomes for both rural and urban populations. We also examined whether rural and urban areas characterized by poor socioeconomic status or higher percentages of racial minorities had greater TRI releases. Health outcomes included age-adjusted CDC mortality rates for cancer, respiratory, cardiovascular, and total causes, and NCHS birth outcomes including low birth weight, preterm births and birth defects. Rural counties are defined as non-metropolitan based on rural-urban continuum codes. The results show significantly higher adjusted total mortality rates associated with greater air and water releases in both rural and urban counties, after controlling for the effects of other risk variables. Effects were found in rural areas for total, cardiovascular, and (marginally) cancer mortality outcomes. We found that counties with higher percentages of African American populations had more non-zero releases, but did not find this for populations characterized by greater Native American populations, lower income levels or higher poverty. We did not find consistent evidence for higher TRI releases being related to poorer birth outcomes. Suggestions for reducing emissions, further research to understand human health impacts, and improving rural health care are presented.
Toxics Release Inventory Discharges and Population Health Outcomes in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States (Policy Brief)
Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Juhua Luo
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
Examined whether chemical releases from facilities monitored through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program were associated with population mortality rates for both rural and urban populations.

Topics Centers Researchers Other Resources Search		West Virginia Rural Health Research Center Publications Listed by publication date. You can also view these publications alphabetically. 2011 Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector (Final Report) Date: 12 / 2011 Author(s): Cynthia Armstrong Persily, Johnna S. Beane, Mary Glenn Rice Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health This project analyzed the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services. Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial, or other sources. These environmental risks and associated health problems carry corresponding implications for public health programs and services, and highlight the need for a rural public health workforce that includes appropriate environmental health specialists. Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector (Policy Brief) Date: 12 / 2011 Author(s): Cynthia Armstrong Persily, Johnna S. Beane, Mary Glenn Rice Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health This project analyzed the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services. Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial or other sources. These environmental risks and associated health problems carry corresponding implications for public health programs and services, and highlight the need for a rural public health workforce that includes appropriate environmental health specialists. Water Fluoridation and Dental Health Indicators in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States Date: 11 / 2011 Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Constance Weiner, Matthew Gurka Topics: Dental health, Environmental & agricultural health, Public health This study investigated the availability of fluoridated water across urban-rural settings, and relates measures of fluoride availability to national survey measures of dental health in adults and children. Rural Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Resiliency Index and Associated Health Outcomes (Policy Brief) Date: 07 / 2011 Author(s): Joel A. Halverson, Michael Hendryx Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health Rural areas, especially in the Southeast, Appalachia and parts of the West, have worse VRI (Vulnerability and Resiliency Index) scores which are a measure of six socioeconomic indicators across counties in the United States. Better VRI scores were associated with better health outcomes (lower heart disease, cancer, and stroke death rates) across the rural-urban continuum. These analyses provide evidence to support the development of programs and policies that foster educational development, and economic diversity and vitality, as means of public health improvement, especially in rural areas in selected regions of the country. Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties (Final Report) Date: 06 / 2011 Author(s): Joel Halverson, Cheryl Brown, Melissa Olfert, Melissa Ahern, Christiaan Abildso Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health Rural counties are disproportionately associated with high food insecurity risk relative to urban counties. Programs and policies may focus on improving food availability and access for rural populations. More research, with multivariate analyses across regions, can shed additional light on the impact of food insecurity on the health of the population, especially for those living in rural areas. Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties (Policy Brief) Date: 06 / 2011 Author(s): Joel Halverson, Cheryl Brown, Melissa Olfert, Melissa Ahern, Christian Abildso Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health This project will examine the characteristics of food security and food availability across the rural-urban continuum. The study will test the hypotheses that food insecurity will differ significantly between rural and urban counties in the US with rural areas experiencing more adverse conditions; and that there will be a significant relationship between food insecurity, food availability and selected adverse health outcomes in non-metropolitan counties in the US. A Rural Socioeconomic Risk and Resiliency Inventory and Associated Health Outcomes (Final Report) Date: 03 / 2011 Author(s): Joel A. Halverson, Michael Hendryx Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Environmental & agricultural health, Public health Rural areas, especially in the Southeast, Appalachia and parts of the West, have worse VRI (Vulnerability and Resiliency Index) scores which are a measure of six socioeconomic indicators across counties in the United States. 2010 Key Environmental Health Competencies for Rural Primary Care Providers (Policy Brief) Date: 05 / 2010 Author(s): Cynthia Persily, Johnna Beane, Mary Glenn Rice Report Number: #3 Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Physicians Providing health care that considers environmental determinants of health, environmental impact on health, and outcomes attributed to environmental issues is complex due to the need for providers to be competent not only in social and health sciences, but also in environmental health concepts. Key Environmental Health Competencies for Rural Primary Care Providers (Final Report) Date: 03 / 2010 Author(s): Cynthia Armstrong Persily, Johnna S. Beane, Mary Glenn Rice Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Physicians, Public health The purpose of this study was to develop a set of basic environmental health competencies that are needed by all rural primary care providers to direct health care and education policy. Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States (Final Report) Date: 02 / 2010 Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Joel Halverson Report Number: Final Report #1 Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity. Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States (Policy Brief) Date: 02 / 2010 Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Joel Halverson Report Number: Policy Brief #1 Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity. Toxics Release Inventory Discharges and Population Health Outcomes in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States (Final Report) Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Juhua Luo Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health The current study examines whether chemical releases from facilities monitored through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program were associated with population mortality rates and birth outcomes for both rural and urban populations. We also examined whether rural and urban areas characterized by poor socioeconomic status or higher percentages of racial minorities had greater TRI releases. Health outcomes included age-adjusted CDC mortality rates for cancer, respiratory, cardiovascular, and total causes, and NCHS birth outcomes including low birth weight, preterm births and birth defects. Rural counties are defined as non-metropolitan based on rural-urban continuum codes. The results show significantly higher adjusted total mortality rates associated with greater air and water releases in both rural and urban counties, after controlling for the effects of other risk variables. Effects were found in rural areas for total, cardiovascular, and (marginally) cancer mortality outcomes. We found that counties with higher percentages of African American populations had more non-zero releases, but did not find this for populations characterized by greater Native American populations, lower income levels or higher poverty. We did not find consistent evidence for higher TRI releases being related to poorer birth outcomes. Suggestions for reducing emissions, further research to understand human health impacts, and improving rural health care are presented. Toxics Release Inventory Discharges and Population Health Outcomes in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States (Policy Brief) Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Evan Fedorko, Juhua Luo Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health Examined whether chemical releases from facilities monitored through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program were associated with population mortality rates for both rural and urban populations.