Person and Place: The Compounding Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Rurality on Health

TLDR

Rural racial/ethnic minorities are a neglected group, and existing research shows that health and healthcare access disparities among them are generally more severe than in urban minority populations. The authors argue that disparities should be understood as collective and contextual, and that integrating public health planning with education and economic development can reduce them while improving overall well‑being in rural communities. Disparities stem from the concentration of disadvantaged individuals in rural areas and from limited educational and economic opportunities. Linking public health planning to education and economic development reduces racial/ethnic minority disparities and enhances overall well‑being in rural communities.

Abstract

Rural racial/ethnic minorities constitute a forgotten population. The limited research addressing rural Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations suggests that disparities in health and in health care access found among rural racial/ethnic minority populations are generally more severe than those among urban racial/ethnic minorities. We suggest that disparities must be understood as both collective and contextual phenomena. Rural racial/ethnic minority disparities in part stem from the aggregation of disadvantaged individuals in rural areas. Disparities also emerge from a context of limited educational and economic opportunity. Linking public health planning to the education and economic development sectors will reduce racial/ethnic minority disparities while increasing overall well-being in rural communities.