Predictive analysis of impact of social environmental factors on population health in Three-Gorges areas

Yang WANG; Qian LONG; Ying LI; Honglin WANG; Li YANG; Hong WANG; Jing CHEN

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The construction of the Changjiang Three-Gorges project may cause significant change in both natural and social environments;consequently,it may have profound impact on population's physical and mental health.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the potential impact from the change of social environments in Three Gorges dam on population health and also to explore the associated causes.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional study

SETTING:

School of Public Health of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, CDCs of Kaixian, Yunyang and Wanzhou counties.

PARTICIPANTS:

This research was conducted in Kaixian, Yunyang and Wanzhou of Chongqing from February to December of 2004.Data,which were about disease monitoring of overall population in the three counties in Three-Gorges areas mentioned above, were analyzed.

METHODS:

Data on disease monitoring of overall population in Yunyang,Kaixian and Wanzhou were collected and sorted,and the data on disease monitoring of non-Three-Gorges areas were taken as a control,all of these data were analyzed with the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods,as well as actuality and predicting methous and a number of literatures were referred to.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

① Indicators of socio-economical development;② current situation of psychological health problems of migrants; ③ status of occurrence of emergent public health events.

RESULTS:

① In Three-Gorges dam areas, local socio-economy development greatly lags behind, which consequently results in poor income in local people.② In recent years, the incidence of floating people-related diseases greatly in creased in Three-Gorges areas. ③ Migration had resulted in socio-psychological health problems of migrants. ④ The public health system in reservoirs is very weak, which may result in possible emergent publichealth events.

CONCLUSION:

It is urgent to closely study the existing problems, and to take active preventive measures to reduce the impact of socio-environmental factors on population health as possible.