Health differences between rural and non-rural Texas counties based on 2023 County Health Rankings

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Rural Health Disparities
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• Place significantly influences health outcomes.
• Rural populations in Texas experience structural, social, and economic disparities.
• Understanding state-specific rural health disparities is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze rural/non-rural county differences in Texas health outcomes and factors.
• To identify specific domains where rural disparities are most pronounced.
• To inform targeted interventions for rural health.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2023 County Health Rankings data.
• Compared rural and non-rural Texas counties across six health domains.
• Employed chi-square tests and logistic regression for analysis.

Main Results:

• Rural Texas counties ranked lower in length of life and clinical care.
• Rural counties ranked higher in quality of life and physical environment domains.
• No significant differences were observed in health behavior or socioeconomic factors.

Conclusions:

• Texas County Health Rankings data reveal distinct health outcome and factor differences between rural and non-rural counties.
• Findings suggest potential disparities in length of life and clinical care align with existing research on rural health challenges.
• Results provide actionable insights for state health stakeholders to develop localized interventions addressing rural health disparities.