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

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 wellbeing in rural communities.