Health Disparities in Oxford County—Rural Ontario Quantitative Analysis

This paper contends that healthcare disparities in Oxford County, Ontario, a developed rural region, are significantly shaped by socioeconomic and demographic factors such as income, education, employment, for ethnic composition. Using Right to Development framework, the study integrates principles of participation, non discrimination, and empowerment to address structural inequalities. A quantitative analysis using multiple linear regression on data from the Rural Ontario Institute (2024) and the Canadian Census (2021) reveals that larger population sizes enhance the availability of healthcare facilities, while higher household incomes inversely correlate, indicating potential resource allocation inequities. Employment and educational attainment showed no significant impact, underscoring the complexity of factors influencing healthcare access. This study highlights the necessity for public health policies that emphasize equitable resource distribution, community engagement, and the dismantling of systemic barriers like structural racism and income inequality, supporting the Right to Development framework’s potential to promote equitable health.