Year of Publication

2022

College

Public Health

Date Available

4-25-2022

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

Committee Chair

Dr. Maureen Jones

Committee Member

Dr. Kathi Harp

Committee Member

Dr. Tiffany Lindsey

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between women’s health care access and rural and urban America. Extensive review of existing literature was completed and showed that the United States ranked last out of 11 high-income countries in regard to access to care, administrative efficiency, equity, and health care outcomes (Schneider, 2021). Additionally, women in the United States faced heightened financial barriers to health care that men do not, and also faced unique disadvantages that resulted in reduced utilization of care (Cameron, 2010, p. 1649).

Results showed that rural women were significantly more likely to have one or more personal doctors/ healthcare provider compared to urban women, 87.82% versus 87.38%, respectively (p=0.03). Urban women were significantly more likely to have been unable to visit a doctor in the past year due to cost compared to rural women, 9.16% versus 8.52%, respectively (p=0.001). Urban women were significantly more likely to have visited a doctor for a routine checkup within the past two years compared to rural women (93.00% versus 92.46%, respectively) who were more likely to report it had been more than two years since their last routine checkup (p=0.0005). Results did not show a significance between rurality of women and having any type of health care coverage.

This research discussed the implications of each result and the impact it has on women’s access to care. This analysis also provided guidance for health care workers, policy makers, and public health professionals where best practices for improving access to health care for women in rural America can be implemented.

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