Health status and access to care among rural minorities

This paper provides a review of the scholarly and applied literature publis hed between 1970 and 1993 on health and health care access problems among r acial and ethnic minority group members living in rural U.S. areas. Results on the distribution of specific illnesses and diseases,and utilization of medical services are summarized for two major minority groups-African Ameri cans and Hispanic Americans. Findings generally document the expected patte rn of rural and minority disadvantage. A review of the conceptual and metho dological limitations of existing research suggests that research does not yet permit any clear understanding of the underlying structures and process es that give rise to racial health disparities. Very little is known about the health of rural minorities living in some areas of the country,for exam ple, the west north central United States (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa , North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota).