Demographics in Rural Populations

Jarron M Saint Onge; Sarah Smith

doi:10.1016/j.suc.2020.06.005

Demographics in Rural Populations

Surg Clin North Am. 2020 Oct;100(5):823-833. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.06.005. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Authors

Jarron M Saint Onge¹, Sarah Smith²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology, University of Kansas, 716 Fraser Hall 1415 Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA; Department of Population Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA. Electronic address: jsaintonge@ku.eu.
² Department of Sociology, University of Kansas, 716 Fraser Hall 1415 Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.

PMID: 32882165
DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.06.005

Abstract

This article reviews key population trends affecting rural American health. The article explains the role of demography in defining and studying rural health using example data from the 2014 to 2018 American Community Survey. Specific trends, including depopulation, aging, racial/ethnic diversification, socioeconomic status, and health characteristics found in rural areas, are highlighted. Insights are offered into how population trends, changing age and sex structures, and socioeconomic distributions have implications for rural health care practitioners and surgeons. Several areas and opportunities to address current and future rural health needs are identified.

Keywords: Age structure; Demographics; Health disparities; Population health; Population trends; Rural health; Rural poverty; Social determinants of health.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Demography / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Rural Health / statistics & numerical data*
Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
United States