How Income Inequality Links to Health in Rural and Urban Canada

Income inequality explained 18% of the variability in self-rated health status across Canadian health regions.

• After accounting for absolute income, the independent contribution of income inequality to health status became non-significant.
• Absolute income alone could explain 30% of the variance in health status among populations.
• Higher levels of education were associated with better self-rated health.
• In urban areas, higher alcohol consumption correlated with lower health status, while in rural areas, smoking had a similar negative effect.
• The effects of income and education on health status were consistent across both rural and urban populations.

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