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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

High Rates of Decay and Need for Dental Treatment Among Rural Kindergartners in North Dakota
Fact sheet describing a study examining results of dental screenings of 1,998 North Dakota kindergartners in 43 schools during the 2018-2019 school year. Features statistics including rates of decay experience, untreated decay, and need for early or urgent dental care, with breakdowns by urban, semi-rural, and rural location.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder, Shane Knutson
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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High Rates of Decay and Need for Dental Treatment Among American Indian and Alaska Native Kindergartners in North Dakota
Describes a study examining results of dental screenings of 1,998 North Dakota kindergartners during the 2018-2019 school year. Features statistics including rates of decay experience, untreated decay, and need for early or urgent dental care, with breakdowns by race or ethnicity.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder, Shane Knutson
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Telemedicine and Pregnancy Care
Explores the role telemedicine can play in providing prenatal and postpartum care to women in rural areas. Highlights the types of specialized care that can be delivered via telemedicine to support maternal care in rural areas. Discusses some of the barriers to telemedicine implementation, including state-level Medicaid reimbursement policy.
Author(s): Gabriela Weigel, Brittni Frederiksen, Usha Ranji
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Cancer Surveillance and Access to Care in Rural America
Webinar recording discusses a study on access to cancer care in rural areas nationally and in South Carolina. Analyzes travel distance to receive care for colorectal and cervical cancer care across the country and compares it to data on access to colorectal cancer care in South Carolina.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Webinar Transcript
Date: 02/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center), Rural Health Research Gateway
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Prevalence of Children Aged 3-17 Years With Developmental Disabilities, by Urbanicity: United States, 2015-2018
Results of a study examining geographic disparities in diagnoses of developmental disabilities and use of related services. Features statistics with breakdowns by prevalence of various conditions and by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Growing Stress on the Farm: The Expanding Economic and Mental Health Disparities in Rural Missouri
Identifies disparities in mental health outcomes and economic factors for farmers and other rural Missourians. Presents opportunities to promote access to mental health services, improve outcomes, and reduce stigma. Includes statistics on suicides in Missouri with breakdowns by metropolitan and rural areas, age, and gender, and hospital emergency visits by rural Missourians for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorder, and suicidality.
Author(s): M. Reidhead, J. Medows, K. Dothage, et al.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Hospital Association, University of Missouri Extension
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Health Disparities in Rural America: Current Challenges and Future Solutions
Describes health risks experienced by rural people and the problems they face in accessing healthcare in shortage areas, and offers possible solutions. Includes a map showing Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas by county, and a list of states allowing full practice authority for nurse practitioners as of 2019.
Author(s): Theresa Capriotti, Tiffany Pearson, Lillian Dufour
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Clinical Advisor
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Healthy North Carolina 2030: A Path Toward Health
Discusses population health in North Carolina, identifying disparities in health outcomes and social determinants of health. Provides data on selected indicators, including unemployment, access to healthy food, and primary care workforce availability, among others. Sets targets and identifies strategies for improvement. Mentions people in rural areas throughout as a population experiencing health disparities.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Institute of Medicine
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Understanding and Addressing the Drivers of Infant Mortality in Maine
Overview of infant mortality data for Maine between 2000 and 2017. Includes county-level data as well as rural and urban comparisons. Discusses causes of mortality, risk factors, challenges for rural residents in the Maine healthcare system, social determinants of health, and more. Makes recommendations for decreasing infant mortality with specific recommendations for rural.
Author(s): Katherine Flaherty
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
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Arizona Workforce Report: Obstetrician-Gynecologist Physicians and Certified Nurse Midwives
Reports on the availability of maternal health providers in rural Arizona, including an overview of women's health and rural maternal health disparities. Examines maternal health workforce by rural-metro designation, state and county, education, and more using Arizona Medical Board and Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners data.
Author(s): B Koch, S Coates, B Brady, et al.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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