Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Poster
Session Title
Does coal production contribute to chronic disease mortality when controlling for socio-economic status, risk factors and health access
Session Abstract or Summary
Environmental impacts of coal mining in Central Appalachia have been associated with poor health yet there are many factors to be considered. Coal production has been the basis of the economy in Central Appalachia where high rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health services and low levels of education have persisted for decades. The objective of this current study was to determine whether coal production contributes to higher likelihoods of dying from several chronic diseases, after controlling county socio-economic status (SES), risk factors and health access. Data were obtained from existing agency sources, i.e., Appalachian Regional Commission, Virginia Department of Health and County Rankings and Road Maps from 1999 to 2012. The economic model included coal production, individual data, i.e., age, gender, marital status, education, primary cause of death, and regional data on health care factors. The health care variables were selected from available data that characterized the health care providers and facilities, including the numbers and types of physicians, allied health professionals and hospitals. Those chosen reflected the best qualitative and quantitative information available to provide an effective model to study the effects of the economy on health in coal and non-coal counties in Virginia. This study was partially funded by the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science (ARIES). Information about ARIES can be found at http://www.energy.vt.edu/ARIES.
Presentation #1 Title
Does coal production contribute to chronic disease mortality when controlling for socio-economic status, risk factors and health access
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Environmental impacts of coal mining in Central Appalachia have been associated with poor health yet there are many factors to be considered. Coal production has been the basis of the economy in Central Appalachia where high rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health services and low levels of education have persisted for decades. The objective of this current study was to determine whether coal production contributes to higher likelihoods of dying from several chronic diseases, after controlling county socio-economic status (SES), risk factors and health access. Data were obtained from existing agency sources, i.e., Appalachian Regional Commission, Virginia Department of Health and County Rankings and Road Maps from 1999 to 2012. The economic model included coal production, individual data, i.e., age, gender, marital status, education, primary cause of death, and regional data on health care factors. The health care variables were selected from available data that characterized the health care providers and facilities, including the numbers and types of physicians, allied health professionals and hospitals. Those chosen reflected the best qualitative and quantitative information available to provide an effective model to study the effects of the economy on health in coal and non-coal counties in Virginia. This study was partially funded by the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science (ARIES). Information about ARIES can be found at http://www.energy.vt.edu/ARIES.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Ph.D. Candidate, Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Ruodin Shi,
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Ph.D. Candidate, Agricultural and Applied Economics
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Does coal production contribute to chronic disease mortality when controlling for socio-economic status, risk factors and health access
Environmental impacts of coal mining in Central Appalachia have been associated with poor health yet there are many factors to be considered. Coal production has been the basis of the economy in Central Appalachia where high rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health services and low levels of education have persisted for decades. The objective of this current study was to determine whether coal production contributes to higher likelihoods of dying from several chronic diseases, after controlling county socio-economic status (SES), risk factors and health access. Data were obtained from existing agency sources, i.e., Appalachian Regional Commission, Virginia Department of Health and County Rankings and Road Maps from 1999 to 2012. The economic model included coal production, individual data, i.e., age, gender, marital status, education, primary cause of death, and regional data on health care factors. The health care variables were selected from available data that characterized the health care providers and facilities, including the numbers and types of physicians, allied health professionals and hospitals. Those chosen reflected the best qualitative and quantitative information available to provide an effective model to study the effects of the economy on health in coal and non-coal counties in Virginia. This study was partially funded by the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science (ARIES). Information about ARIES can be found at http://www.energy.vt.edu/ARIES.
