Children's health in the rural environment.
The rural environment is not as wholesome as some might think. In fact, smoking, drinking, illicit drug use, and obesity are more prevalent in rural than in urban youngsters. Childhood mortality is higher in rural areas, with drowning, motor vehicle accidents, firearm injuries, and farm machinery accidents as the leading causes. Air and water quality are monitored less and actually may be worse in the country than in urban areas. This article describes children's health problems associated with the rural environment and provides a list of resources for addressing these problems.
Cherry
Debra C
DC
Occupational Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX 75708, USA. debra.cherry@uthct.edu
Huggins
Barbara
B
Gilmore
Karen
K
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D000388:Air; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D004332:Drowning / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014867:Water / Q000592:standards
D014867:Water