Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social Work Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Journal

Murray State University

Appalachia

2010

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Social Work

A Case Study Of Health Risk Behaviors In A Sample Of Residents In Rural Appalachia, Gretchen E. Ely, Patricia G. Cook-Craig, Mark B. Dignan, Carol R. White, Sandy Good, Shelli Deskins Apr 2010

A Case Study Of Health Risk Behaviors In A Sample Of Residents In Rural Appalachia, Gretchen E. Ely, Patricia G. Cook-Craig, Mark B. Dignan, Carol R. White, Sandy Good, Shelli Deskins

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

The purpose of this paper was to examine health risk behaviors from a sample of adults living in one of the nation’s poorest counties in Central Appalachia. A descriptive secondary analysis of data collected for a public health surveillance project was conducted to determine the most pressing health problems and risk behaviors affecting this unique population. Residents reported high rates of hypertension, back pain, and sleep problems. They also reported very low levels of physical activity. A discussion of results is provided, including a comparison of the study population to information from national surveys. The limitations of the study and …


A Retrospective Study Of Teen Pregnancy In West Virginia From 2003 -2008: A Descriptive Analysis, Emily L. Mccave Msw, Phd, Ashlea Shiflet Msw Candidate Apr 2010

A Retrospective Study Of Teen Pregnancy In West Virginia From 2003 -2008: A Descriptive Analysis, Emily L. Mccave Msw, Phd, Ashlea Shiflet Msw Candidate

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

In 2006, West Virginia surpassed the national average birth rate for teens ages 15 to 19 years old. Through the use of the state wide Birth Score data, this article presents a retrospective examination of 8,094 teens who gave birth in West Virginia during the years of 2003-2008. Descriptive data on health issues such as prenatal care, infant birth weight and mortality, as well as demographic characteristics, such a racial background and Medicaid status are presented. Implications of these health issues are discussed along with special considerations for health providers who work within the Appalachian region.