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. 2004 Oct;94(10):1682-6.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.10.1682.

The importance of place of residence: examining health in rural and nonrural areas

Mark S Eberhardt  1 , Elsie R Pamuk
Affiliations

The importance of place of residence: examining health in rural and nonrural areas

Mark S Eberhardt et al. Am J Public Health. 2004 Oct.

Abstract

We examined differences in health measures among rural, suburban, and urban residents and factors that contribute to these differences. Whereas differences between rural and urban residents were observed for some health measures, a consistent rural-to-urban gradient was not always found. Often, the most rural and the most urban areas were found to be disadvantaged compared with suburban areas. If health disparities are to be successfully addressed, the relationship between place of residence and health must be understood.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Cause-specific death rates, by urbanization level: United States, 1996–1998. Source. Eberhardt et al. Note. Rates were age-adjusted. The 5 urbanization levels are: central counties in large metropolitan areas (population ≥ 1 million), fringe (suburban) counties within large metropolitan areas (population ≥ 1 million), small metropolitan areas (population < 1 million), nonmetropolitan counties with a city (population ≥ 10 000), and nonmetropolitan without a city (population > 10 000).
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Prevalence of risk factors and chronic health conditions among adults, by urbanization level: United States, 1997–1998. Source. Eberhardt et al. Note. Rates were age-adjusted. The 5 urbanization levels are: central counties in large metropolitan areas (population ≥ 1 million), fringe (suburban) counties within large metropolitan areas (population ≥ 1 million), small metropolitan areas (population < 1 million), nonmetropolitan counties with a city (population ≥ 10 000), and nonmetropolitan without a city (population > 10 000).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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