In this paper we examine the relative importance of rural versus urban areas in terms of monetary poverty and seven other related living standards indicators. We present the levels of urban-rural differences for several African countries for which we have data and find that living standards in rural areas lag far behind those in urban areas. Then we examine the relative and absolute rates of ch...

INTRODUCTION Lower levels of physical activity among rural relative to urban residents have been suggested as an important contributor to rural-urban health disparity; however, empirical evidence is sparse. METHODS We examined rural-urban differences in 4 objective physical activity measures (2 intensity thresholds by 2 bout lengths) and 4 subjective measures (total, leisure, household, and t...

PURPOSE Differences in stroke care quality for patients in rural and urban locations have been suggested, but whether differences exist across Veteran Administration Medical Centers (VAMCs) is unknown. This study examines whether rural-urban disparities exist in inpatient quality among veterans with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS In this retrospective study, inpatient stroke care quality was ...

BACKGROUND The persistence of rural-urban disparities in child nutrition outcomes in developing countries alongside rapid urbanisation and increasing incidence of child malnutrition in urban areas raises an important health policy question - whether fundamentally different nutrition policies and interventions are required in rural and urban areas. Addressing this question requires an enhanced u...

There is no doubt that drug abuse among the rural population has increased and that differences in rural/urban prevalence rates have diminished (Ennett et al. 1993; Johnston et al. 1993; Wargo et al. 1990). Some rural/urban differences remain, but many would argue that the problem is as serious—if not more serious—in rural than urban areas (Donnermeyer 1992; Edwards 1992; Kingery et al. 1991; L...

Many studies have identified urban-rural differences in schizophrenia risk. The underlying cause(s) may hypothetically include toxic exposures, diet, infections, and selective migration. In a recent study, we concluded that some of the cause(s) responsible for the urban-rural differences in schizophrenia risk are rooted in families, but some might also be rooted in individuals. First, we descri...

Inequality in Vietnamese Urban-Rural Living Standards, 1993-2006 Using data from five waves of the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey, we find evidence of significant urban-rural expenditure inequality. Urban-rural inequality in Vietnam increased dramatically from 1993 to 1998, and peaked in 2002 before reducing slightly in 2004, and significantly in 2006. The urban-rural gap also monoton...

INTRODUCTION Diabetes is one of the 10 most important chronic diseases in the world. According to the data of the International Diabetes Federation, in Poland 9% of the population between the ages of 20-79 suffer from diabetes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the prevalence of diabetes in urban and rural areas in Poland, and the preparation of a model des...

INTRODUCTION Concerns have been raised about childhood obesity and its long-term impact on the health of children. The objective of this study was to investigate rural-urban differences in body composition, energy intake, physical activity and screen time in New Zealand children. METHODS This study reports on data collected in a large national cross-sectional population survey of 5-15 year-ol...

The uninsured have poorer access to care and obtain care at greater acuity than those with health insurance; however, the differential impact of being uninsured in rural versus urban areas is largely unknown. Using data from the 2002-2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we examine whether uninsured rural residents have different patterns of health care use than their urban counterparts, and t...