Health Care Access & Rural-Urban Differences

Question 1

Using Network Analyst to determine driving distance

Answer 1

• Make a service layer
• Add point
• Calculate distances

Question 2

Differences in how Rural vs. Urban are Defined

Answer 2

In general, a rural area or countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Whatever is not urban is considered rural.” Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements.

Question 3

How Rural/Urban structure impacts health effects

Answer 3

• Stress: Urban environments can be more stressful, but rural areas can also cause stress if money and resources are limited.
• Air pollution: usually higher in urban areas unless there is a specific exposure source, such as a factory or mine
• Health Care Access: Usually urban areas have better health care access
• Substance Abuse: Often worse in urban areas because of better access, but can be worse in rural areas that have a low quality of life and access to illicit substances.

Question 4

Criteria used to determine a food desert

Answer 4

• Area with high poverty rates (i.e. >20%)

- Limited access to healthy food (i.e. <1 grocery store per square mile)