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Investigating Healthiness in Appalachian People
Stereotypes of Appalachian people are fraught with negativities. The majority of Appalachian people are European Americans (white). Appalachian people have less education, lower incomes, and less employment opportunities in rural Appalachia. These characteristics are associated with poorer health outcomes and an increase incidence of disease. Geographical conditions of the Appalachian Mountain chain may have some ill effect on health outcomes as health care access is a challenge for many Appalachian people. Appalachian people’s perception of what health and unhealthiness is unknown.
Methods
This presentation will explore the findings of an ethnographic study of Appalachian people’s perceptions of health. Self-identify as Appalachian are interviewed. The sample is men and women between the ages of 21 and 65 who have had no hospitalizations for pregnancy, chronic or terminal disease within the past 6 months. A pilot study has been completed.
Results
A pilot study indicated healthiness as having as having a full productive life with no ailments or sicknesses, anything interfering with day-to-day functions, and the ability to lead a full productive life. Lifestyles that indicated healthiness contained eating a balanced diet and being physically active. A balanced diet includes eating fruits and vegetables, home grown is better than store bought. A barrier to eating right is the easy route to fast food, processed foods and synthetic foods. Physical activity includes walking, yoga, jogging, and running. A barrier to physical activity is the lack of safe places to walk and few indoor gyms.
Conclusions
The participants of this pilot study are able to relate healthy behaviors and unhealthy behaviors.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionDiversity and culture
Public health or related education
Public health or related nursing
Learning Objectives:
Explain the perceptions of health in a population of Appalachian people.
Contrast stereotypical views of Appalachian people with recent actual research findings.
Explore the effect of geography on health outcomes for Appalachian people
Propose mechanism of action within public health that may alleviate poor health outcomes in Appalachian populations.
Keyword(s): Rural Health, Chronic Disease Prevention
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: . I am a registered nurse who lives in the Southern Appalachian Mountains and has been an educator for ten years. I spent my doctoral program researching Appalachian health outcomes within various population groups in Appalachia. I have no conflicts of interest in regards to this poster/presentation. . A pilot study has been completed. Further data collection will occur.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.