Rural Health
Resources by State: Kentucky
Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Kentucky, 2021–2023
Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Participants in a Hepatitis C Treatment Trial in Rural Kentucky: How Policies Around Treatment Access May Impact Elimination Efforts in the United States
Examines characteristics and drug use patterns of the participants in the Kentucky Viral Hepatitis C Treatment (KeY Treat) trial, which focuses on improving access to direct acting antiviral (DAA) drugs to treat the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Discuses Medicaid policy related to DAA treatment of HCV in a rural, Appalachian community in Kentucky.
Author(s): Jennifer R. Havens, Brittney D. Williams, Takako Schaninger, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70128
Date: 02/2026
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Examines characteristics and drug use patterns of the participants in the Kentucky Viral Hepatitis C Treatment (KeY Treat) trial, which focuses on improving access to direct acting antiviral (DAA) drugs to treat the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Discuses Medicaid policy related to DAA treatment of HCV in a rural, Appalachian community in Kentucky.
Author(s): Jennifer R. Havens, Brittney D. Williams, Takako Schaninger, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70128
Date: 02/2026
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The Interaction of Tobacco Retailer Density and Rurality with Tobacco Use Prevalence in Kentucky
Explores the relationship between the prevalence of tobacco retailers and rates of tobacco use in rural counties in Kentucky. Highlights rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use by county retailer density.
Author(s): Shyanika W. Rose, W. Jay Christian, Judy van de Venne, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70106
Date: 01/2026
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Explores the relationship between the prevalence of tobacco retailers and rates of tobacco use in rural counties in Kentucky. Highlights rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use by county retailer density.
Author(s): Shyanika W. Rose, W. Jay Christian, Judy van de Venne, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70106
Date: 01/2026
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Leveraging Community Health Workers' Deep Community Knowledge to Address Food and Nutrition Security in Appalachia
Examines professional characteristics and knowledge of rural Appalachian community health workers in Kentucky and West Virginia, based on data from online surveys and phone interviews conducted from January to May 2019. Identifies culturally sensitive practices around food insecurity.
Author(s): Alexis Kimbro Scott, Melissa D. Olfert, Dawn Brewer, Makenzie Barr, Julie Plasencia
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 89-99
Date: 12/2025
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Examines professional characteristics and knowledge of rural Appalachian community health workers in Kentucky and West Virginia, based on data from online surveys and phone interviews conducted from January to May 2019. Identifies culturally sensitive practices around food insecurity.
Author(s): Alexis Kimbro Scott, Melissa D. Olfert, Dawn Brewer, Makenzie Barr, Julie Plasencia
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 89-99
Date: 12/2025
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Access To Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners In Kentucky
Report assessing access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) and SANE-ready hospitals in 2025 in Kentucky. Offers 10 recommendations to increase access through hospital certifications, training, resource and workforce sharing, compliance, and more. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Research Commission
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Report assessing access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) and SANE-ready hospitals in 2025 in Kentucky. Offers 10 recommendations to increase access through hospital certifications, training, resource and workforce sharing, compliance, and more. Discusses rural-specific concerns throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Research Commission
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Reshaping Access: Community-Led Action for Contraceptive Access in Rural Appalachian Kentucky
Examines the All Access Eastern Kentucky (AAEKY) program that provides contraception to patients via the mailing system. Discusses contraception access issues due to geographic isolation, transportation issues, and stigma. Provides clinic and participation feedback on the AAEKY program.
Author(s): Alecia Fields, Kelsie Williams, Dustin Miracle, Joanne Brown, Kyla Preece
Citation: Contraception, 155, 111278
Date: 11/2025
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Examines the All Access Eastern Kentucky (AAEKY) program that provides contraception to patients via the mailing system. Discusses contraception access issues due to geographic isolation, transportation issues, and stigma. Provides clinic and participation feedback on the AAEKY program.
Author(s): Alecia Fields, Kelsie Williams, Dustin Miracle, Joanne Brown, Kyla Preece
Citation: Contraception, 155, 111278
Date: 11/2025
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Third Party Negotiated Hospital Pricing in Rural and Urban Hospitals within 12 U.S. States
Examines the gross and negotiated pricing for common services in rural and urban hospitals. Bases findings on samples from 12 states and focuses on costs of routine care, imaging, and childbirth.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Aaron P. Smith, Jeffrey C. Talbert
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Examines the gross and negotiated pricing for common services in rural and urban hospitals. Bases findings on samples from 12 states and focuses on costs of routine care, imaging, and childbirth.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Aaron P. Smith, Jeffrey C. Talbert
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Referrals and Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) among Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes at a Regional Medical Center in Kentucky
Analyzes demographic and clinical factors associated with diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) among patients. Utilizes electronic health records of 10,587 diabetes patients receiving care at a regional medical center in Kentucky to examine DSMES attendance and referrals according to patient demographics, insurance type, clinical variables, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Omer Atac, George C. Bryant, William B. Burrows, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 3880
Date: 11/2025
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Analyzes demographic and clinical factors associated with diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) among patients. Utilizes electronic health records of 10,587 diabetes patients receiving care at a regional medical center in Kentucky to examine DSMES attendance and referrals according to patient demographics, insurance type, clinical variables, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Omer Atac, George C. Bryant, William B. Burrows, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 3880
Date: 11/2025
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Kentucky Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Kentucky in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in Kentucky in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Kentucky Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Kentucky in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in Kentucky in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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