Although rural Texas residents have some access to medical care, it is often limited by poverty, lack of health insurance or coverage under public programs, cultural barriers, racial discrimination, and limited education. It is inaccurate to say that rural residents receive health care if health is defined in terms of environmental, physical, mental, and social factors. However, few things are of as much concern to rural Texans as access to health care. There are more accidents in rural areas than in urban areas. Rural residents have more days of disability and more chronic illness than their urban counterparts. Rural living produces drug abuse, child abuse, battered wives, depression, and teenage pregnancy just as frequently as urban living. In addition, rural Texans are less educated, poorer, and die sooner than urban Texans. Rural areas also have more substandard housing, poor communication and transportation systems, and inadequate sewage and water systems than do urban areas. The population of rural Texas, 21% of the state's population, increased by 6% during the 1970's; the increase is expected to accelerate in the 1980's. The report presents statistics on: poverty; the elderly; children; education; environmental factors; transportation; alcoholism and drug abuse; crime; and health status, facilities, and manpower. (Author/CM)