Health status in the Mississippi River Delta region.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Felix
Holly
H
Office of Community-Based Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. felixholly@uams.edu
Stewart
M Kathryn
MK
D000367:Age Factors; D000407:Alabama; D001131:Arkansas; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006304:Health Status; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007629:Kentucky; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi; D008923:Missouri; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013714:Tennessee