Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-18-2016
Description
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.
Citation Information
Harris, Jenine K.; Beatty, Kate E.; Leider, J. P.; Knudson, Alana; Anderson, Britta L.; and Meit, Michael. 2016. The Double Disparity Facing Rural Local Health Departments. Annual Review of Public Health. Vol.37 167-184. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122755 ISSN: 0163-7525
Copyright Statement
Authors have the nonexclusive right to use, reproduce, distribute, perform, update, create derivatives, and make copies of the work (electronically or in print) in connection with the author’s teaching, conference presentations, lectures, and publications, provided proper attribution is given.