The place of chiropractors in health care delivery: a case study of North Carolina.

Three perspectives on the place of DCs in the United States health care delivery system were derived from the social science literature; system status, cultural congruence, and utilization patterns. North Carolina was used as a case study site to examine these perspectives from a geographical point of view. It was found that DCs were located in smaller places than MDs. DC/population ratios were associated with white populations and higher incomes, but were not associated with those aged 18-64, rural populations, and religious groups that used touch in healing. DCs were located in more rural and lower income areas than were MDs.