Rural Health
Resources by State: Kentucky
Building Rural Capacity to Navigate Population and Economic Change
Discusses how rural communities and tribal nations gather and apply community resources in response to population change and economic shifts, and the role of Rural Development Hubs in facilitating capacity-building. Includes a case study from Hazard, Kentucky.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
view details
Discusses how rural communities and tribal nations gather and apply community resources in response to population change and economic shifts, and the role of Rural Development Hubs in facilitating capacity-building. Includes a case study from Hazard, Kentucky.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
view details
2026 Workforce Survey Report: The Status of Kentucky's Hospital Workforce
Provides an in-depth look at non-physician direct care positions in inpatient or hospital-related outpatient departments in Kentucky as of 2025. Includes statistics on vacancies, benefits, and pay, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Maik Schutze
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
view details
Provides an in-depth look at non-physician direct care positions in inpatient or hospital-related outpatient departments in Kentucky as of 2025. Includes statistics on vacancies, benefits, and pay, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Maik Schutze
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
view details
Alpha-gal Immunoglobulin E Seroprevalence Among Blood Donors — 10 States, 2024–2025
Reports on prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), an allergy to meat and dairy due to tick bites, based on blood donor samples collected during 2024–2025 from 10 states. Includes data for rural, suburban, and urban locations.
Author(s): Eleanor F. Saunders, Marissa L. Taylor, Emma S. Jones, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(25), 315-321
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Reports on prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), an allergy to meat and dairy due to tick bites, based on blood donor samples collected during 2024–2025 from 10 states. Includes data for rural, suburban, and urban locations.
Author(s): Eleanor F. Saunders, Marissa L. Taylor, Emma S. Jones, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(25), 315-321
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Frequent Police Contact and Nonfatal Overdose among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
view details
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
view details
Severe Mental Health Conditions, Fentanyl Injection, and Severe Substance Use Disorders Are Associated with Violent Victimization among Rural Appalachian Adults Who Inject Drugs
Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
view details
Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
view details
Contraceptive Method Provision Patterns Among Rural and Urban Kentucky Medicaid Enrollees
Describes contraceptive provision rates among Medicaid enrollees in Kentucky in 2019. Analyzes Kentucky Medicaid claims from calendar year 2019 to examine provider- and patient-related differences in the contraceptive methods provided, including variations by the rurality of the patient's residence.
Author(s): Dustin K. Miracle, Svetla Slavova, Jeffrey Talbert, Daniela C. Moga, Patricia R. Freeman
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70160
Date: 05/2026
view details
Describes contraceptive provision rates among Medicaid enrollees in Kentucky in 2019. Analyzes Kentucky Medicaid claims from calendar year 2019 to examine provider- and patient-related differences in the contraceptive methods provided, including variations by the rurality of the patient's residence.
Author(s): Dustin K. Miracle, Svetla Slavova, Jeffrey Talbert, Daniela C. Moga, Patricia R. Freeman
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70160
Date: 05/2026
view details
Feasibility Study of a Screening Decision Tool for Allocating Adults into Food Is Medicine Programs as an Effective Approach to Target Clinical and Dietary Outcomes among Rural and Urban Adults
Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
view details
2025 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report
Offers statistics on drug overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2025, based on autopsy and toxicology reports. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of drug and age-adjusted mortality rates by county. Includes county-level maps with shadings indicating numbers of deaths involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, and markings to show Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Meghan Steel, Mira Mirzaian, Lara Daniels
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Kentucky Public Health Association, Team Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
view details
Offers statistics on drug overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2025, based on autopsy and toxicology reports. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of drug and age-adjusted mortality rates by county. Includes county-level maps with shadings indicating numbers of deaths involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, and markings to show Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Meghan Steel, Mira Mirzaian, Lara Daniels
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Kentucky Public Health Association, Team Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
view details
Evaluating the Feasibility and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Tailored Diabetes Education Program for Rural Residents
Uses data collected from 18 Appalachian Kentucky residents enrolled in a 6-week diabetes intervention. Assesses clinical outcomes, knowledge, self-care, attitudes, and social support post intervention.
Author(s): Brittany L. Smalls, Oluwatosin Leshi, Suraksha Khanal, Grejika E. Abram-Erby
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 69-84.
Date: 04/2026
view details
Uses data collected from 18 Appalachian Kentucky residents enrolled in a 6-week diabetes intervention. Assesses clinical outcomes, knowledge, self-care, attitudes, and social support post intervention.
Author(s): Brittany L. Smalls, Oluwatosin Leshi, Suraksha Khanal, Grejika E. Abram-Erby
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 69-84.
Date: 04/2026
view details
Can a Participant-Referred "Study Buddy" Increase Retention of Rural People Who Use Drugs in Research? A Multi-Site, Randomized Trial
Presents a study exploring the efficacy of an intervention aiming to increase retention of rural people who use drugs (PWUD) participating in randomized trials. Highlights an intervention involving participant recruitment of a support person, or "study buddy", to aid in the their continued participation in the study. Compares the efficacy of this intervention with standard retention practices.
Author(s): April M. Young, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Miriam R. Elman, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 121(4), 894-907
Date: 04/2026
view details
Presents a study exploring the efficacy of an intervention aiming to increase retention of rural people who use drugs (PWUD) participating in randomized trials. Highlights an intervention involving participant recruitment of a support person, or "study buddy", to aid in the their continued participation in the study. Compares the efficacy of this intervention with standard retention practices.
Author(s): April M. Young, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Miriam R. Elman, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 121(4), 894-907
Date: 04/2026
view details