Continuing Challenges in Rural Health in the United States

Abstract

Estimates of the total U.S. population living in non-metropolitan (rural) counties vary from 46.2 million to 59 million people. This represents 14% to 19% of the U.S. population. A recent AAMC report (Warshaw, 2017) addresses some of the challenges of rural health and associated health disparities affecting millions in the U.S. Rural populations are culturally heterogeneous, are spread broadly across large areas of the U.S., and have different demographics (Douthit et al., 2015). Compared to urban areas, rural communities face higher poverty rates, lower educational attainment, lack of transportation, a higher proportion of elderly individuals, and lack of access to health services (Hunsaker & Kantayya, 2010; Ricketts, 2000). Owing to these factors, rural communities face elevated rates of morbidity and mortality and greater percentages of excess deaths from the five leading causes of death including cancer and cardiovascular disease (Garcia et al., 2019).