Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
Rural and Urban Differences in Suicide in the United States, 2018-2021
Highlights the rates of suicide across the U.S. from 2018-2021 in rural and urban areas. Discusses some of the geographic and demographic characteristics that correlate with higher rates of suicide. Breaks down data by year, demographics, Census and HHS regions, and rural versus urban location. Makes policy recommendations based on the report's findings.
Author(s): Qian Huang, Nicole Galler, Michael Meit, Amy Wahlquist
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Highlights the rates of suicide across the U.S. from 2018-2021 in rural and urban areas. Discusses some of the geographic and demographic characteristics that correlate with higher rates of suicide. Breaks down data by year, demographics, Census and HHS regions, and rural versus urban location. Makes policy recommendations based on the report's findings.
Author(s): Qian Huang, Nicole Galler, Michael Meit, Amy Wahlquist
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Impact of Alcohol Use Disorder on Inpatient Hospitalizations: A Comparison of Outcomes Between Urban and Rural Veterans Affairs Hospitals
Analyzes Veterans Health Administration hospital admissions data from 2016 to 2020 to determine the burden of alcohol use disorder on 129 rural and urban hospitals. Data shows break down of patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and admissions characteristics. Discusses mortality and the potential impact of COVID-19.
Author(s): James Willey, Peter Kaboli, Andrea Holcombe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Medicine, 20(5), 463-470
Date: 05/2025
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Analyzes Veterans Health Administration hospital admissions data from 2016 to 2020 to determine the burden of alcohol use disorder on 129 rural and urban hospitals. Data shows break down of patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and admissions characteristics. Discusses mortality and the potential impact of COVID-19.
Author(s): James Willey, Peter Kaboli, Andrea Holcombe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Medicine, 20(5), 463-470
Date: 05/2025
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South Dakota 2025 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report
Provides county level data on the number of HIV/AIDS cases for South Dakota. Addresses co-infections with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and characteristics of infected residents.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Provides county level data on the number of HIV/AIDS cases for South Dakota. Addresses co-infections with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and characteristics of infected residents.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Spotlight on HIV, STD, & Viral Hepatitis: Indiana Annual 2025 Surveillance Report
Provides data on HIV, STDs, & viral hepatitis in Indiana through 2025, with breakdowns according to mode of transmission, age at diagnosis, general demographics, and county.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Department of Health
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Provides data on HIV, STDs, & viral hepatitis in Indiana through 2025, with breakdowns according to mode of transmission, age at diagnosis, general demographics, and county.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Department of Health
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Maine Healthy Aging Data Report: Highlights from 2025
Reports on the demographics, health, and strengths and vulnerabilities of Maine's older adult population, with pages 13-18 providing rural, urban, and suburban community health comparison data. See related maps and community profiles for additional data on a variety of health conditions and factors influencing health.
Additional links: Supporting materials
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Point32Health Foundation
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Reports on the demographics, health, and strengths and vulnerabilities of Maine's older adult population, with pages 13-18 providing rural, urban, and suburban community health comparison data. See related maps and community profiles for additional data on a variety of health conditions and factors influencing health.
Additional links: Supporting materials
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Point32Health Foundation
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Rural–Urban Disparities in Cancer Care—Analyzing Routinely Collected Patient‐Reported Outcomes. A Cross‐Sectional Study
Compares rural and urban patient-reported outcomes related to anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, and physical function among 7,271 cancer patients who received treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute between 2016 and 2019. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban status, including comparisons by specific cancer types.
Author(s): Dominik J. Ose, Bayarmaa Mark, Krista Ocier, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 14(8), e70437
Date: 04/2025
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Compares rural and urban patient-reported outcomes related to anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, and physical function among 7,271 cancer patients who received treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute between 2016 and 2019. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban status, including comparisons by specific cancer types.
Author(s): Dominik J. Ose, Bayarmaa Mark, Krista Ocier, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 14(8), e70437
Date: 04/2025
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Rebuilding Maternal Health Access in Western North Carolina: Addressing Critical Gaps Amplified by Hurricane Helene
Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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Severe Maternal Morbidity in Tennessee, 2018-2022
Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Rural Emergency Medical Services Perspectives on Improving Acute Stroke Care: A Qualitative Study
Examines barriers and facilitators to timely and high-quality acute stroke care in rural communities via interviews with 12 rural EMS professionals in North Carolina. Discusses topics including comprehensive stroke assessment, destination decision protocols, communication between EMS and hospital staff, transport distances, limited staffing, and more.
Author(s): Emma N. Johnson, Mahesh V. Pinapaka, Mary E. Grewe, et al.
Citation: Prehospital Emergency Care, 29(8), 1123–1131
Date: 04/2025
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Examines barriers and facilitators to timely and high-quality acute stroke care in rural communities via interviews with 12 rural EMS professionals in North Carolina. Discusses topics including comprehensive stroke assessment, destination decision protocols, communication between EMS and hospital staff, transport distances, limited staffing, and more.
Author(s): Emma N. Johnson, Mahesh V. Pinapaka, Mary E. Grewe, et al.
Citation: Prehospital Emergency Care, 29(8), 1123–1131
Date: 04/2025
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Mapping Maternity Care Deserts: Driving Distance and Health Outcomes in North Carolina
Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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