Howe, Catherine
(2013)
A literature review of factors that influence sexually transmitted infection risk in resource-extraction communities: implications for the Marcellus Shale industry in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
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Abstract
Pennsylvania has experienced rapid in-migration of workers in response to the "boom" in the Marcellus Shale gas industry throughout many counties in the state. Large-scale natural resource extraction activities can have significant impacts on the health and well-being of communities living in surrounding areas. A comprehensive literature review was conducted on the impact of industry on increases in disease. It was found that the population influx can affect communicable disease patterns as seen in Canadian communities, where the increase in oil and gas extraction was accompanied by a rise in sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates exceeding the provincial average by 22%. Despite being largely preventable and treatable, STIs continue to be a significant public health problem in the US. This essay is a literature review of the effect of resource extraction on STI rates in resource extraction areas and the implications for Marcellus Shale gas extraction in the rural United States (US). STI increases have coincided with the substantial increase of Marcellus Shale drilling activities, but there is currently no direct evidence to link the two phenomena. However, there has been a 56.9% increase in STIs in the Pennsylvania drilling counties in the last six years, compared to a statewide increase of 21.7%. More research is needed to assess the direct impact resource extraction has on communities in the US. The current research on the public health impacts of Marcellus Shale gas extraction has mainly focused on the environmental and occupational effects. However, little has been done to explore the effects on sexual health and related issues that impact the welfare of a community. Specific public health recommendations are needed to develop innovative outreach strategies to address gas workers' health risks which include STI awareness campaigns, condom distribution and onsite STI testing. This review is a critical step in understanding the correlation between gas resource extraction and STIs rates by examining other resource-extraction contexts in order to design prevention and control strategies that can be applied to similar communities in this emerging industry in rural areas of the US.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Frank, Linda Rose | frankie@pitt.edu | FRANKIE | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Terry, Martha Ann | materry@pitt.edu | MATERRY | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Date: |
19 August 2013 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Publisher: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Infectious Diseases and Microbiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Date Deposited: |
12 May 2015 15:11 |
| Last Modified: |
02 Jul 2024 11:56 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19716 |
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