title: Higher risk of death in rural blacks and whites than urbanites is related to lower incomes, education, and health coverage.
abstract: Health outcomes among rural minority populations are seldom examined. Our research studied mortality among urban and rural white, black, and Hispanic adults ages 45-64, comparing outcomes for each group. We found the mortality risk to be higher among both rural white and rural minority populations compared to urban whites; rural blacks were at higher risk of death than urban blacks. When personal characteristics and circumstances of these populations-such as level of education, presence of health insurance, and income above or below the poverty line-were held statistically equal, disparities were reduced or eliminated. Our study suggests that policies directed toward reducing differences related to education, poverty, and health insurance would go a long way toward eliminating the disparities in health status between urban and rural populations.
authors: Department of Health Services Policy and Management in the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, USA. JPROBST@mailbox.sc.edu
authors: Janice C
authors: JC
authors: Probst
authors: Jessica D
authors: JD
authors: Bellinger
authors: Katrina M
authors: KM
authors: Walsemann
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Hardin
authors: Saundra H
authors: SH
authors: Glover
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data