Rural Health Day

Rural home. Falkenpost / Pixabay.com / 2016 / CC0 1.0

The third Thursday of November is Rural Health Day.

It celebrates the people and health organizations who deliver health care and health promotion to people in rural areas.

In the United States, “rural hospitals serve older, poorer, and sicker patients… and large numbers of individuals battling chronic conditions.” ^[1]Radicke, Karla. UMH celebrating National Rural Health Day. Uvalde, TX: Uvalde Leader-News. 15 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/articles/umh-celebrating-national-rural-health-day/

People living in rural areas can have the same health needs as those in urban areas, but there can be special challenges in meeting those needs. As a result, people “living in rural communities are more likely to have poorer health outcomes than their urban counterparts.” ^[2]Jonnson, Kelsey. Rural Canadians face health issues, food insecurity: report. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: The Western Producer. 2 November 2017. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.producer.com/opinion/rural-canadians-face-health-issues-food-insecurity-report/

The day highlights the challenges but also recognizes and celebrates those who are helping people despite those challenges.

There are webinars, Internet and in-person meetings, and conferences.

#RuralHealthDay #PowerOfRural

Website: https://www.powerofrural.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RHIhub/

The Food Component of Rural Health

Part of the underlying issue of rural health challenges is access to nutritious food:

“Research shows that access to nutritious and affordable food for rural residents is important for improving health behaviors and status.” ^[3]Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food. Grand Forks, ND: Rural Health Information Hub. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/food-and-hunger#health-outcomes

Barriers to healthy eating in rural situations include geographic isolation.

“The risk of food insecurity increases as counties become more rural.” ^[4]Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food. Grand Forks, ND: Rural Health Information Hub. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/food-and-hunger#health-outcomes

Despite our food being grown in rural areas, many of these areas can be ironically be food desserts when it comes to nutritious food being both easily and affordably accessible to the locals.

“Many rural areas lack food retailers and are considered food deserts: areas with limited supplies of fresh, affordable foods. Ironically, some of these food deserts are in areas where farming is important to the local economy. In rural areas, access to food may be limited by financial constraints or other factors, such as transportation challenges. Rural shoppers may rely on more expensive and less nutritious food, such as the types available at gas station convenience stores, or face a long drive to a town with a supermarket or grocery store that stocks fresh produce, milk, eggs, and other staples.” ^[5]Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food. Grand Forks, ND: Rural Health Information Hub. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/food-and-hunger

This absence of reliable access to sufficient affordable and nutritious food can make some rural residents food insecure, which can lay a foundation for poor health outcomes:

“Food insecurity is strongly associated with chronic disease and poor health, both of which disproportionately affect rural populations. Long-term food insecurity can affect learning, development, productivity, physical and mental health, and family life.” ^[6]Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food. Grand Forks, ND: Rural Health Information Hub. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/food-and-hunger

Barn in winter. Jill Wellington / Pixabay.com / 1999 / CC0 1.0

Resources

Rural Food Access Toolkit

Ogbeide, Godwin-Charles & Henk, Jennifer & Martinez, Dylan & Bassett, Mary. (2015). Challenges of Healthy Eating Habits in Rural Communities. Obesity Research – Open Journal. 2. 89-97. 10.17140/OROJ-2-114.

History

Rural Health Day was created by The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health in 2010.

“Since 2010, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has set aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day.” ^[7] Celebrate National Rural Health Day. Washington, D.C. Health Resources & Services Administration. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/about-us/rural-healthday.html

Sources

10th Annual National Rural Health Day 2020 is November 19. National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health: PRNewsWire. 16 November 2020. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/10th-annual-national-rural-health-day-2020-is-november-19-301173996.html

Radicke, Karla. UMH celebrating National Rural Health Day. Uvalde, TX: Uvalde Leader-News. 15 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/articles/umh-celebrating-national-rural-health-day/

True, Jacqueline Barton. Support rural health care in honor of National Rural Health Day. Seattle, WA: Washington State Hospital Association . 19 November 2020. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.wsha.org/articles/support-rural-health-care-in-honor-of-national-rural-health-day/

What is National Rural Health Day? Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.porh.psu.edu/national-rural-health-day/