Abstract
Residents of rural jurisdictions face significant health challenges, including some of the highest rates of risky health behaviors and worst health outcomes of any group in the country. Rural communities are served by smaller local health departments (LHDs) that are more understaffed and underfunded than their suburban and urban peers. As a result of history and current need, rural LHDs are more likely than their urban peers to be providers of direct health services, leading to relatively lower levels of population-focused activities. This review examines the double disparity faced by rural LHDs and their constituents: pervasively poorer health behaviors and outcomes and a historical lack of investment by local, state, and federal public health entities.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 167-184 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Annual Review of Public Health |
Volume | 37 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 18 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:Copyright © 2016 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Health services
- Health systems
- Poverty