"Disparities between Commonewalth of Virginia and Southwest Virginia (the Appalachian Region: Lenowisco and Cumberland Plateau Districts)"

Regional disparities within states are a matter of concern for most of the state planning agencies as they develop effective policies to reduce the gap. Southwest Virginia (SWVA) is part of the Appalachian Mountains. It has shown significant differences in demography, economics, and health profiles compared to the state. Seven counties and an independent city were examined in this study. Total population in these areas is decreasing (2.7%), whereas the overall commonwealth of Virginia presents a growth rate of 14.4%. In SWVA, the younger generation has greater decreasing rates (13.55% and 21.56% for <10 and 10-19 years groups, respectively than the rest of Virginia). The socioeconomic conditions faced by people in those places have poverty levels of 18.10%, which are double the state level (9.5%). The education rates are about 20% lower than the state rate (81.5%). Health disparities compel attention. Although infectious diseases do not show differences in incident rates, chronic diseases and risk factors, as well as mortality rates, due consistently greater than state levels. These counties have mortality rates greater than the Virginia in the leading causes of death, some diseases having a ratio of about 2:1. The significant finding in this study serves as the starting point to investigate the causes of regional disparities and help to develop targeted intervention to reduce the gap between SWVA and Virginia state.