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 dis ease 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 methods and a number of literatures were referred to. Main outcome measures: 1 Indica tors 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-Gor ges 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 increased 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 public health 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.

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China patient monitoring public health service human controlled study social aspect health status mental disease income economic development environmental factor prediction qualitative analysis population research prevalence Incidence Article Social Environment migration data analysis health care system quantitative analysis medical school