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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities ― 19 States, April 2020
Examines COVID-19 cases among workers in 115 meat and poultry processing facilities reported by 19 states. Discusses factors potentially affecting risk for infection, including difficulties with workplace physical distancing and hygiene and crowded living and transportation conditions. Includes recommended changes to address these issues.
Author(s): Jonathan W. Dyal, Michael P. Grant, Kendra Broadwater, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(18), 557-561
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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COVID-19 and the Indian Health Service
Discusses how the Indian Health Service (IHS) has been impacted by COVID-19. Describes concerns some tribes have, including the IHS testing capacity for COVID-19, workforce shortages, and lost revenue at IHS facilities. Outlines federal funding efforts to enhance the IHS COVID-19 response.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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An Older Population Increases Estimated COVID-19 Death Rates in Rural America
Examines the influence of age structure and other factors on the spread of coronavirus in rural areas of the U.S. Compares the incidence of the virus and the estimated mortality rates due to the virus in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Kenneth M. Johnson
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Encouraging Tribal Community Crash Reporting
Provides information on the process of working with 4 Native American tribes in North Dakota to establish a crash reporting system that generates more reliable information about motor vehicle injuries for Indian Nations. Evaluates current crash data and collection processes with goals toward reducing fatalities, promoting safety, and recognizing tribal sovereignty when collecting data.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Kimberly Vachal
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Urban and Rural Differences in Coronavirus Pandemic Preparedness
Examines the variation in hospital bed capacity by region in the U.S. and by metro and non-metro status. Discusses urban and rural differences in hospital resources, including hospital and ICU beds per capita. Provides an interactive map displaying hospital beds per capita and select demographic characteristics of metro and non-metro areas of each state and by hospital referral region.
Author(s): Kendal Orgera, Daniel McDermott, Matthew Rae, et al.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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"Meet People Where They Are": A Qualitative Study of Community Barriers and Facilitators to HIV Testing and HIV Self-Testing among African Americans in Urban and Rural Areas in North Carolina
Summarizes community-based strategies to increase testing among African Americans in both urban and rural areas of North Carolina. Identifies concerns over confidentiality, negative treatment by healthcare workers, and lack of support regarding self-testing kits. Discusses strategies such as decentralizing HIV testing, particularly in rural areas.
Author(s): Allison Mathews, Samantha Farley, Donaldson F. Conserve, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20(494)
Date: 04/2020
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Proximity to Screening Site, Rurality, and Neighborhood Disadvantage: Treatment Status among Individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections in Yakima County, Washington
Examines rurality, proximity to screening sites, and socioeconomic factors in relationship to individuals seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Identifies barriers to STI treatment such as individuals living more than 10 miles from screening sites, living in micropolitan or rural areas, and others. Includes data on treatment for patients with STIs with breakdowns by sex and metropolitan or micropolitan area.
Author(s): Solmaz Amiri, Christine D. Pham, Ofer Amram, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2679
Date: 04/2020
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Lack of In-Home Piped Water and Reported Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages among Adults in Rural Alaska
Examines associations between availability of in-home piped water service and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in rural Alaska using data from 2013 and 2015. Assesses health outcomes such as obesity and self-reported poor health as related to SSBs. Includes statistics broken down by age, sex, household income, and education level, among other things.
Author(s): Emily Mosites, Sara Seeman, Andrea Fenaughty, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 23(5), 861-868
Date: 04/2020
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Rural-Nonrural Differences in Telemedicine Use for Mental and Substance Use Disorders Among Medicaid Beneficiaries
Presents a study on the rural and urban differences in use of telemedicine for mental and substance use disorder treatment among Medicaid beneficiaries. Breaks down data by patient demographics, year studied, and behavioral health disorder, among other measures.
Author(s): Timothy B. Creedon, Kristin E. Schrader, Peggy L. O'Brien, et al.
Citation: Psychiatric Services, 71(8), 756-764
Date: 04/2020
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Hospital Access in the Fifth District and COVID-19
Examines hospital access in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Discusses concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides state- and county-level statistics and data on number of hospital beds per capita, average distance to nearest hospitals, and more.
Author(s): Surekha Carpenter, Tim Sablik
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
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