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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

Trends in Heart Failure-Related Cardiovascular Mortality in Rural Versus Urban United States Counties, 2011–2018: A Cross-Sectional Study
Study comparing rates of cardiovascular disease in rural and urban areas at the county level. Analyzes CDC WONDER data on heart failure deaths related to cardiovascular disease between 2011 and 2018, comparing population demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, risk factor prevalence, and physician density. Discusses issues of access to care in rural areas with high rates of heart failure.
Author(s): Jacob B. Pierce, Nilay S. Shah, Lucia C. Petito, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 16(3), e0246813
Date: 03/2021
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American Indian Women Cancer Survivors' Perceptions and Experiences with Conventional and Non-Conventional Mental Health Care for Depressive Symptoms
A qualitative analysis using the Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT) to examine culturally specific perceptions and experiences of American Indian (AI) women cancer survivors and barriers involved when seeking conventional and tribally-based mental health services for symptoms of depression.
Author(s): Burnette, C.E., Liddell, J., Roh, S., Lee, Y.S., Lee, H.Y.
Citation: Ethnicity & Health, 26(2), 186-205
Date: 02/2021
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Alcohol- and Drug-Related Consequences Across Latent Classes of Substance Use Among American Indian Adolescents
Examines differences across four classes of substance use behaviors by American Indian (AI) adolescents. Classes include: no substance use in the past month; marijuana and cigarette use only; alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use only; and other substance use in addition to alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes. Goal of study is to determine the extent of substance-related mortality and morbidity, tendency toward developing a substance-use disorder, and other related health disparities.
Author(s): Schick, M.R., Goldstein, S.C., Nalven, T., Spillane, N.S.
Citation: Addictive Behaviors, 113
Date: 02/2021
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Rural-Urban Disparities in All-cause Mortality among Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries, 2004–17
Examines the change in all-cause mortality rates among low-income Medicare beneficiaries dually-enrolled in Medicaid between 2004 and 2017. Compares rates between rural and urban beneficiaries by age, ethnicity, insurance type, and census region.
Author(s): Emefah Loccoh, Karen E. Joynt Maddox, Jiaman Xu, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 40(2), 289-296
Date: 02/2021
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Society of Behavioral Medicine Statement on COVID-19 and Rural Health
Highlights the position of the Society of Behavioral Medicine on rural health disparities as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. Addresses shortages in rural health research, healthcare infrastructure, and other systemic disparities. Makes both short- and long-term recommendations to policymakers.
Author(s): Pamela Behrman, Marian L Fitzgibbon, Akilah Dulin, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(2), 625-630
Date: 02/2021
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Oral Health among Indian Health Service Oklahoma City Area Population: A Review of Current Data 2020-2021
Presents data on oral health indicators for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the Indian Health Service (IHS) Oklahoma City Service Area (OKC Area). Compares oral health statistics for the IHS OKC area to the IHS population nationwide as well as the general population. Discusses access to dentists and other oral health providers in rural and tribal communities.
Author(s): Julie Seward, Amanda J. Llaneza, Alexandrea Holt
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Native Oral Health Network, Southern Plains Tribal Health Board
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Projected Estimates of Opioid Mortality After Community-Level Interventions
Presents a study on the effectiveness of different evidence-based practices to prevent opioid overdose mortality in simulated rural and urban communities. Highlights data by evidence-based practice and by projected rural and urban population group, which is broken down by age, sex, and opioid injection versus non-injection.
Author(s): Benjamin P. Linas, Alexandra Savinkina, R. W. M. A. Madushani, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(2), e2037259
Date: 02/2021
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Oversight Hearing "A Call to Action: Native Communities' Priorities in Focus for the 117th Congress."
Recording of an oversight hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the current needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities related to COVID-19, healthcare, housing, climate change, and infrastructure, among other issues. Features testimonies by representatives of the National Congress of American Indians, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Additional links: Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey Testimony, Fawn Sharp Testimony, Julie Kitka Testimony, Leonard Forsman Testimony
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Opioid-Related Visits to Rural Emergency Departments
Explores the impact of the opioid crisis on rural emergency departments (EDs) by analyzing 2006 and 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data. Compares opioid-related ED visits in rural and urban hospitals by type of opioid involved and year. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, comorbid diagnosis at admission, and outcome of ED visit.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jean A. Talbot, Deborah Thayer, Carly Milkowski
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Racial Residential Segregation and Colorectal Cancer Mortality in the Mississippi Delta Region
Investigates whether rurality influences the relationship between racial segregation and colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes in the Mississippi Delta Region. Features county-level data on CRC mortality, with information broken down by race and rurality.
Author(s): Aaron J. Kruse-Diehr, Justin T. McDaniel, Marquita W. Lewis-Thames, Aimee S. James, Musa Yahaya
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 18
Date: 02/2021
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