University of Hawai‘i report finds islands’ rural residents face major health challenges

Photo Courtesy: University of Hawai‘i. Retrieved from bigislandnow.com

Hawaiʻi residents living in rural areas face significantly more health challenges than those who live in urban areas, according to a first-of-its-kind report by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.

Released Aug. 25, the report also found that the challenges are even greater for rural residents with disabilities and for those living in poverty.

The data was gathered in June 2023 through a survey of 1,571 residents, with more than 20% identifying as living in rural areas. The assessment used data from the UHERO Rapid Survey, a twice-yearly health survey of a general population cohort in Hawaiʻi that has been administered since 2022.

This is the first rural health report targeted specifically for Hawaiʻi that measures data at the individual level.

Compared with those living in urban areas, residents in rural areas reported that their overall health was lower and had more days per week where their activities were restricted by their physical or mental health.