Rural Health Snapshots

Return to search

Rural Health Snapshot 2010

Disparities in health status and access to health care exist between people living in rural areas and those in urban areas. Rural Health Snapshot 2010 displays selected indicators of access to health care, health behavior/risk factors, and mortality rates, comparing rural to urban residents. It were compiled using the following geographic definitions from the data sets listed below.

Geographies

  • Metropolitan Statistical Areas
    • Geographic areas with a core urban area of 50,000 or more population
  • Non-Metropolitan Statistical Areas
    • Geographic areas with a core urban area of less than 50,000 or no core urban area
  • Micropolitan Statistical Areas
    • Geographic areas with a core urban area of at least 10,000 but no more than 50,000
  • Non-Core Based Statistical Areas
    • Geographic areas with a core urban area under 10,000 or no core urban area

Data Sources

  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
    • Data are obtained by an ongoing annual telephone survey conducted in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam by the CDC. The survey collects information on health risk behaviors, preventive health practices, and health care access primarily related to chronic disease and injury.
  • National Vital Statistics System Mortality Data
    • Data are obtained from official death records from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, and the territories as part of the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).