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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: Alabama

Audiology, Medicine, and Pharmacy Interprofessional Preliminary Interviews and Discussions: Improving Hearing Health Care in Rural Alabama
Results of a study to determine the feasibility of interprofessional collaboration among physicians and audiologists and pharmacists and audiologists, to improve access and affordability of hearing health care in rural communities. Based on information from online surveys and virtual discussion groups with 16 family physicians and medicine residents at the University of Alabama and 15 pharmacists who worked in independently owned community pharmacies in Alabama.
Author(s): Emma B. Brothers, Marcia J. Hay-McCutcheon, Peter J. Hughes, M. Louanne Friend
Citation: American Journal of Audiology, 31(3), 656-668
Date: 09/2022
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Consumer Finances in Rural Appalachia
Describes the financial needs and challenges of consumers in rural Appalachia. Features sections on consumer finance profiles, including a section on medical debt, and consumer distress and delinquencies. Appendix A includes state-level statistics for the 13 Appalachian states, including percent of rural people with medical debt in the state.
Author(s): Matthew Liu, Cooper Luce, Michael Orevba, Shawn Sebastian, Cortnie Shupe
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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Preserving Independence among Under-Resourced Older Adults in the Southeastern United States: Existing Barriers and Potential Strategies for Research
Literature review examining barriers to independent aging in the Southeast, including physical, mental, and social challenges related to chronic conditions, health disparities, and access to care. Includes a section on barriers for older adults in rural areas of the Southeast.
Author(s): Ene M. Enogela, Taylor Buchanan, Christy S. Carter, et al.
Citation: International Journal for Equity in Health, 21, 119
Date: 08/2022
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Expanding Access to Substance Use Services and Mental Health Care for People with HIV in Alabama, a Technology Readiness Assessment Using a Mixed Methods Approach
Results of a study exploring opportunities for enhanced substance use disorder and mental health screening using electronic patient reported outcomes and telehealth at 5 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program-funded clinics in Alabama. Features a county-level map showing HIV prevalence in Alabama in 2019.
Author(s): Ellen F. Eaton, Kaylee Burgan, Greer McCollum, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 919
Date: 07/2022
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Pandemic-Triggered Adoption of Telehealth in Underserved Communities: Descriptive Study of Pre- and Postshutdown Trends
Examines telehealth utilization before and during the COVID-19 pandemic based on Medicaid reimbursement data for Alabama from March 2019 to June 2021. Breaks down data by race/ethnicity, sex, rurality, age, and service and provider type.
Author(s): Pei Xu, Matthew Hudnall, Sidi Zhao, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(7), e38602
Date: 07/2022
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Evaluating Access to Pediatric Dental Care in the Southeast States
Analyzed 2019 American Community Survey data to evaluate dental care access for children in 10 southeastern states. Considers insurance type and rurality. Makes recommendations for policymakers considering interventions. Note the abstract to the publisher's final edited version of this article.
Author(s): Nicoleta Serban, Simin Ma, Katrine Pospichel, Lisha Yang
Citation: The Journal of the American Dental Association, 153(4), 330-341
Date: 04/2022
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2020 Alabama State Health Assessment
Reports on the health of Alabama residents, providing demographic data and comparing rural and urban areas throughout. Presents county-level data and discussion of 14 selected health indicators, including mental health and substance abuse, access to care, pregnancy outcomes, social determinants of health, and environmental health, among others.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Public Health
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A Descriptive Analysis of Food Pantries in Twelve American States: Hours of Operation, Faith-Based Affiliation, and Location
Describes the development and content of a charitable food dataset, including geographic information for 3,777 food pantries in 12 states. Features statistics including food insecurity in 2013-2015 and numbers of food pantries and faith-based food pantries, with breakdowns by state and urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Natalie D. Riediger, Lindsey Dahl, Rajeshwari A. Biradar, Adriana N. Mudryj, Mahmoud Torabi
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 525
Date: 03/2022
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Medical Education for African American Communities in the Rural South: A Focus Group Approach to Identify Fundamental Considerations
Examines the shortage of African American medical students in the rural South based on interview transcripts from rural medical educators, African American alumni, and community and institutional associates part of a rural medicine education pipeline. Includes themes such as how to define rural minority students and rural minority student recruitment and retention. Discusses collaborative strategies in rural medical education to improve healthcare disparities in shortage areas.
Author(s): John R. Wheat, Antonio J. Gardner, Laura H. Downey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 535-544
Date: 03/2022
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COVID-19 and Alabama's Black Belt
Issue brief examining COVID-19 impacts on the Black Belt region of Alabama and rural Alabama in general, highlighting health outcome disparities. Addresses chronic diseases affecting residents of the Black Belt, access to primary care physicians, and policy recommendations to support healthcare in the region.
Author(s): Emily Grace Corley, Garrett Till, Sean O'Brien, Stephen G. Katsinas, Nathaniel J. Bray
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: The University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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