Partnering with Mayoral Health Councils to Increase Exposure to Smoke-Free Air, Access to Healthy Food Options and Physical Activity Resources in the Mississippi Delta Region

BACKGROUND: The Mississippi (MS) Delta region has a disproportionate higher death rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD), lower rates of fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity, and higher prevalence of smoking compared to the rest of the state. Health related coalitions have been used in various venues to address different health issues, but the use of Mayoral Health Councils (MHCs) in rural, underserved southern communities as an intervention to address health equity in the form of smoke-free air ordinances, healthy food options and resources for physical activity is limited.

METHODS: From January 2010 through December 2012, towns and cities across the 18-county MS Delta region were recruited by the MS State Department of Health (MSDH), MS Delta Health Collaborative through a request for proposal process to organize MHCs. Geographic Information System techniques were used to map the cities and towns that had smoke free policies, farmers markets and joint use agreements related to physical activity resources. The goal of the intervention was to have the MHCs: 1) create and implement smoke-free air policies; 2) increase access to healthy food options; and 3) physical activity resources.  

RESULTS:   MHCs were organized in 29 cities and towns in the MS Delta. The 29 councils were able to 1) implement 12 smoke-free air policies; 2) increase the number of farmers markets that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by 1; and 3) increase the number of publicly available physical activity resources venues by 10.

CONCLUSIONS: Through the efforts of the MS Delta Health Collaborative, about 21,088 MS Delta residents now live in 12 cities and towns with smoke-free air policies and 10 MS Delta towns and cities now have joint use agreements related to physical activity resources. Creation and implementation of MHCs may be an effective way to reduce risk factors for CVD by increasing access to healthy foods, smoke-air, and physical activity options in poor rural areas where previous efforts have yielded minimal results.