Tuesday, Dec 18 2012 9:40PM
Women in rural locations have experienced a decline in their lifespans over the last ten years.
Women living in rural locations are finding their life spans cut short due to poor conditions and a lack of access to basic services, according to the Daily Yonder.
Citing data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the news source reports that in 622 rural locations across the country, women passed away at a younger age in 2009 than in the previous decade. The disparities in health factors that determine mortality between rural and urban areas are large contributors to the declining life expectancy rate.
For example, many rural residents lack access to clean water and wastewater services, affordable housing assistance and other public services. In addition, health departments are typically underfunded and understaffed, and grants are generally less accessible than in urban communities.
Nevada, in particular, is one state currently engaged in several disputes over access to clean water for rural residents, the results of which may help drive economic community development and growth.
While rural communities in states such as New Mexico and Arizona have received grants recently to help overcome poor conditions and secure better health services, significant progress still needs to be made to improve rural residents' quality of life.
For more information, check out this resource: The Daily Yonder