Overcoming Poverty: Poverty in rural Alabama linked to shorter life expectancy
This is one part in a multipart series called “Raising the Bar: Overcoming Poverty in Alabama”
WILCOX COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA) - Dr. Wes Stubblefield with the Alabama Department of Public Health says Alabama is seeing the worst contraction of the state population in the last 100 years.
COVID-19 plays a big role in why life expectancy is down in Alabama, followed by the most common causes of death, such as heart disease and cancer.
According to the state health department’s data, in the years 2020-2021
- 29,883 Alabamians died from heart conditions
- 20,870 Alabamians died from cancer
- 16,017 Alabamians died from COVID-19
READ MORE ON THIS SPECIAL SERIES
Overcoming Poverty: Alabamians who are barely getting by
This is one part in a multipart series called “Raising the Bar: Overcoming Poverty in Alabama”
Many of these deaths occurred in rural Alabama, where life expectancy is lower than the state’s rate. Alabama is six years short of the nation’s average life expectancy, while Wilcox County is at 69.
“I definitely think that life expectancy is an issue, especially in the Black Belt when you talk about Alabama,” said Sarina Stewart, County Administrator with the Dallas and Wilcox County Health Departments. “You have a lack of providers, some counties have more than others, and then you have some counties that may not have, like say, for instance, a pediatrician. You start looking at the socioeconomic status and environmental factors. I think all of that plays a part in whether people can or cannot even get to an appointment.”
Stewart says she knows many people who drive at least 45 minutes to seek medical care, and if they are using provided public transportation, it’s an all-day event.
“If you’re getting on the van to come to an appointment, then you’ve got to get to your appointment. Everybody gets dropped off at their appointments, you’ve got to wait on everybody,” said Stewart.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A prior version of this article included incorrect data regarding death numbers for heart disease, cancer and COVID-19. The data, provided to WSFA 12 News, by the Alabama Department of Public Health, has been updated with corrected ADPH data.
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