Chapter 24: Rural and Migrant Health Nies: Community/Public Health Nursing, 7th Edition

1. Which best describes the recent population trend in rural America? a. The number of residents in rural areas of the United States is at one of its lowest levels ever recorded. b. Urban population rates increased from 2010 to 2015 as agricultural opportunities diminished. c. Nonmetro population rates have been steadily increasing because of increasing job growth. d. Population growth or loss in rural areas varies widely depending on available economic opportunities. ANS: D Although the urban growth rate has been steadily climbing since 1890, with numbers of urban dwellers surpassing those in rural areas around 1920, the number of rural residents is the highest in the country’s history (U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], 2016). In 2010 to 2015 population loss in nonmetro areas occurred in the United States as a whole. In 2014 nonmetro populations stabilized after 4 years of decline, likely related to improved rural employment growth (USDA, 2016). Opportunities for population growth and economic expansion vary widely from one nonmetro county to the next, and new regional patterns of growth and decline have emerged in recent years. DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) 2. Which best explains why there are so few hospitals in rural areas? a. Few nurses and physicians enjoy the rural lifestyle. b. Historically, hospitals began in large urban areas and have slowly expanded outward but have not yet reached all rural areas. c. Rural areas have very low population density. d. Rural residents do not trust hospitals, preferring to receive care from neighbors and friends. ANS: C Although 75% of U.S. counties are classified as rural, they contain only 20% of the U.S. population. The population density is too low to support a large hospital. There are providers available to serve the population and residents are accepting of health care services, but not as many services are needed because of the lower population density. DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge) 3. From which causes are rural residents twice as likely to die from in comparison with urban residents? a. Chronic diseases, especially cardiac problems and cancers b. Diabetes from the higher incidence of obesity c. Respiratory diseases (from pesticides an