Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
Advisor
Jeannette Manger
Abstract
Modern healthcare infrastructure and progression depend on robust and reliable broadband access. Many areas of the U.S., however, still face limited access which exacerbates access to care and healthcare inequities. These trends can be observed in rural counties across the country, where resource constraints and reduced access to infrastructure remain limited. The correlation however between different health outcomes and broadband access in Colorado has not been widely explored in literature.
This study examines the relationship between broadband availability and different healthcare outcomes for rural and urban counties of Colorado by utilizing data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps for the years 2016-2023. Findings in the study revealed that rural counties have significantly lower broadband access (83.36%) than in urban counties (91.38%) and experience higher Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL). A moderate positive correlation (R = .580, p < .001) was found between broadband access and life expectancy, suggesting that reduced connectivity is associated with poorer health outcomes.
Beyond broadband, rural areas face compounded challenges such as limited healthcare infrastructure, lower digital literacy, and economic barriers that may hinder telehealth adoption and exacerbate healthcare inequities. While broadband adoption in literature has been shown to be associated with better employment and income levels, expanding access alone does not guarantee improved health outcomes without addressing digital literacy and affordability. This study further underscores the urgent need for targeted investments in broadband infrastructure and digital health education to bridge the urban-rural divide and promote equitable healthcare access.
Repository Citation
Anderson, H., & Paradine, K. (2025). The Intersection of Broadband and Health: Exploring Rural-Urban Disparities in Colorado. Wright State University. Dayton, Ohio.
