Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities
Economic Cynicism, COVID-19 and Deaths of Despair in Rural Ohio Counties
Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Voices From the Field: Informing Maternal Child Health Navigator Training Through Rural Practice Insights
Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 07/2026
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Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 07/2026
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Early Estimates of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Sub-Categories in 2025
Presents projections of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2025. Includes data for rural versus urban roads, among other measures. Compares 2024 fatality data to 2025 rates by month for a number of indicators, including rural areas.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Presents projections of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2025. Includes data for rural versus urban roads, among other measures. Compares 2024 fatality data to 2025 rates by month for a number of indicators, including rural areas.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Cardiovascular and Other Competing Risk of Death among Cancer Patients
Examines rural versus urban disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) death among cancer patients. Utilizes 1990-2017 data from 2,022,482 cancer patients and provides data breakdowns according to mortality, rural versus urban location, and cause of death. Discusses non-cancer and CVD death burden in cancer patients living in rural areas.
Author(s): Tianwang Guan, Jiaqi He, Liangjia Zeng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Advanced Research, 85, 725-736
Date: 07/2026
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Examines rural versus urban disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) death among cancer patients. Utilizes 1990-2017 data from 2,022,482 cancer patients and provides data breakdowns according to mortality, rural versus urban location, and cause of death. Discusses non-cancer and CVD death burden in cancer patients living in rural areas.
Author(s): Tianwang Guan, Jiaqi He, Liangjia Zeng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Advanced Research, 85, 725-736
Date: 07/2026
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Rural Health and Health Disparities in Hypertension Management: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Discusses factors influencing the high rural prevalence of hypertension and highlights approaches for improving rural hypertension management. Covers topics including nonmedical drivers of health, access to services, medication access and use, nutrition and food insecurity, telehealth, and culturally-tailored service delivery.
Author(s): Cassandra D. Ford, Natalie A. Cameron, Donald Clark, et al.
Citation: Hypertension
Date: 06/2026
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Discusses factors influencing the high rural prevalence of hypertension and highlights approaches for improving rural hypertension management. Covers topics including nonmedical drivers of health, access to services, medication access and use, nutrition and food insecurity, telehealth, and culturally-tailored service delivery.
Author(s): Cassandra D. Ford, Natalie A. Cameron, Donald Clark, et al.
Citation: Hypertension
Date: 06/2026
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Disparities in Rural–Urban Cancer Care Outcomes Among Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Populations: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 06/2026
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Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 06/2026
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Validity of Area-Based Social Risk Indices Used at Higher-Level Geographies and Clinic Locations
Assesses the suitability of the Reproducible Area Deprivation Index (ReADI, Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for correctly representing patient risk and health outcomes at 5 geographic levels for both patient and clinic addresses. Discusses the usefulness of the social risk indices for researchers lacking small area location data.
Author(s): Nathaniel Hendrix, Nicole Gladish, Neil S. Kamdar, David H. Rehkopf
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Assesses the suitability of the Reproducible Area Deprivation Index (ReADI, Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for correctly representing patient risk and health outcomes at 5 geographic levels for both patient and clinic addresses. Discusses the usefulness of the social risk indices for researchers lacking small area location data.
Author(s): Nathaniel Hendrix, Nicole Gladish, Neil S. Kamdar, David H. Rehkopf
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Rural Female Veterans' Experiences of VA Care and a VA Telehealth Outreach Program
Explores the experiences of rural veteran women utilizing the Veterans Affairs (VA) Care and the Boost Program, a VA telehealth outreach program. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews exploring the accessibility of female-specific healthcare provided by the VA and the efficacy of the Boost Program.
Author(s): Kara A. Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, Mariam Jacob, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 26, 316
Date: 06/2026
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Explores the experiences of rural veteran women utilizing the Veterans Affairs (VA) Care and the Boost Program, a VA telehealth outreach program. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews exploring the accessibility of female-specific healthcare provided by the VA and the efficacy of the Boost Program.
Author(s): Kara A. Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, Mariam Jacob, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 26, 316
Date: 06/2026
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