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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Appalachia

Patterns of Buprenorphine Use and Risk for Re-Arrest among Highly Vulnerable Opioid-Involved Women Released from Jails in Rural Appalachia
Study examining licit and illicit use of buprenorphine by women in the Appalachia region of Kentucky with moderate to severe opioid involvement who had recently been released from jail. Discusses the role of consistent healthcare services in relation to risk for re-arrest, presenting data on demographics, opioid use, and healthcare access over a 3-month tracking period.
Author(s): Hilary L. Surratt, Michele Staton, Carl G. Leukefeld, Carrie B. Oser, J. Matthew Webster
Citation: Journal of Addictive Diseases, 37(1-2), 1-4
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
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Rural and Appalachian Disparities in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Incidence and Access to Opioid Abuse Treatment
Examines the disparity of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) prevalence in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky and in comparison to national data. Considers why data from this study may or may not be useful in identifying regional and national trends. Also discusses the challenges of providing substance abuse treatment to pregnant women and Appalachian populations.
Author(s): Joshua D. Brown, Amie J. Goodin, Jeffrey C. Talbert
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 34(1), 6-13
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
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Depression in a Depressed Area: Deservingness, Mental Illness, and Treatment in the Contemporary Rural U.S.
Examines the concepts of health-related deservingness and local moral economics to understand the diversity of moral responses to depression for rural women living in Appalachian Kentucky, where economic distress has contributed to poor mental health. Women from a variety of ages, treatment encounters, work experiences, and family sizes, along with healthcare professionals from a variety of backgrounds and settings, participated in semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
Author(s): Claire Snell-Rood, Elizabeth Carpenter-Song
Citation: Social Science & Medicine, 219: 78-86
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
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Regional Forum Findings: A Component of the 2019 State Health Assessment
Reports on findings from 5 regional forums and an online survey of rural Appalachian and non-Appalachian, suburban, and urban counties in Ohio to inform the state health assessment and the state health improvement plan. Includes information on strengths, positive trends, challenges, negative trends, and priorities by rural and urban counties.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Amy Bush Stevens, Hailey Akah
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Rates of Obesity and Obesogenic Behaviors of Rural Appalachian Adolescents: How Do They Compare to Other Adolescents or Recommendations?
Evaluates data from a sample of Appalachian adolescents in Ohio to compare obesity and related behaviors to that of the national adolescent population. Includes comparisons for body mass index (BMI), mean body fat percentage, daily physical activity behaviors, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
Author(s): Laureen H. Smith, Devin Laurent, Erica Baumker, Rick L. Petosa
Citation: Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15(11), 874-881
Date: 11/2018
Type: Document
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Qualitative Case Study of Needle Exchange Programs in the Central Appalachian Region of the United States
Reports on a qualitative study in West Virginia to address barriers and identify supports that may impact the development of needle exchange programs (NEPs) in rural areas of the U.S. Interviews were conducted in West Virginia with program directors, police chiefs, law enforcement members, and people who inject drugs to obtain information on program implementation and operations, and future growth of NEPs.
Author(s): Stephen M. Davis, Danielle Davidov, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson, Keith Zullig, Adam Baus, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 13(10)
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
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The Ruralness of Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence: Prevalence, Provider Knowledge Gaps, and Healthcare Costs
Examines rural domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Addresses prevalence rates, provider knowledge gaps, and associated healthcare costs.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Life in Rural America
Summarizes the results of a survey of rural adults living in the U.S. Includes survey response data and statistics on a variety of topics such as: drug addiction or abuse and opioids; the economy; health conditions; suicide; and more.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, NPR, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Characteristics of Prescription Opioid-Impaired and Other Substance-Impaired Drivers in Rural Appalachian Kentucky
Study examining characteristics and behaviors of prescription opioid-impaired drivers in the rural Appalachian region of Kentucky, Makes comparisons with other substance-impaired drivers using data from research interviews with 118 study participants who had been convicted of a DUI in the same county where they lived. Discusses prevalence of substance use, frequency of impaired driving, criminal activity, and mental health for prescription opioid-impaired, other drug-impaired, and alcohol only-impaired drivers.
Author(s): J. Matthew Webster, Megan F. Dickson, Faiyad Mannan, Michele Staton
Citation: Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 59(5), 373-381
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
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Opioid Prescribing Rates by Congressional Districts, United States, 2016
Details a study on opioid prescribing rates by U.S. congressional districts. Compares congressional district rates with state-level rates and highlights rates among White populations, in rural areas, specific regions, and by other variables.
Author(s): Lyndsey A. Rolheiser, Jack Cordes, S.V. Subramanian
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 108(9), 1214–1219
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
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