Ohioans living in rural, Appalachian counties are dying early at a higher rate than the rest of the state, according to a new report. Early deaths (under 75) have increased statewide in the past decade. Per 100,000, there were 378 early deaths in Ohio between 2008-2010 and 454 between 2019-2021. There were 428 early deaths in rural Appalachia from 2008-2010 and 527 from 2019-2021.
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio recently published a report titled “Health in rural and Appalachian Ohio.” They used the county types developed for the Ohio Rural Health Improvement Plan. The report shows how people in rural areas experience barriers to health care — from lack of broadband access to transportation.
Nearly one-fifth (18%) of households in rural Appalachia had no access to the internet from 2018-2022. 14% of rural non-Appalachian households also had no access to the internet compared to 12% of Ohio. The Ohio Capital Journal reported last year that about 75% of people and about a third of households in Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties don’t have access to the Federal Communications Commission’s bare minimum internet speed.
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