Perinatal Health Outcomes Across Rural and Nonrural Counties Within a Single Health System Catchment

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Health
• Rural Health Disparities
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Socioeconomic, behavioral, and economic factors significantly influence perinatal health outcomes and access to care.
• Rural communities encounter unique barriers to healthcare, such as resource scarcity and fragmented services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patterns in health outcomes, behaviors, socioeconomic vulnerability, and sociodemographics in rural versus nonrural counties within a single health system catchment area.
• To identify specific challenges faced by rural populations in accessing and utilizing health services.

Main Methods:

• Utilized socioeconomic vulnerability metrics, licensed provider data, and behavioral data from FlHealthCHARTS.gov and County Health Rankings.
• Analyzed county-level birth and health data from the Florida Department of Health for the University of Florida Health Perinatal Catchment Area (UFHPCA).

Main Results:

• The UFHPCA comprised 10 rural and 3 nonrural counties, covering over 64,000 deliveries.
• Rural counties exhibited higher maternal smoking rates and lower breastfeeding initiation rates compared to statewide averages.
• Many rural counties lacked a licensed obstetrician gynecologist, and childhood poverty rates were elevated.

Conclusions:

• Rural counties within the UFHPCA face a substantial health burden, including increased risks for adverse perinatal outcomes and concerning health behaviors.
• Addressing these disparities requires tailored health initiatives and interventions to support rural and low-resource communities.