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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Income

The Impact of Coronavirus on Households in Rural America
Reports on the experiences of rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses impacts on finances, employment, healthcare, housing, food, and child care. Concerns related to healthcare include access to care during the pandemic, concerns for those with special health issues such as chronic conditions, and use of telehealth.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Place Effects and Chronic Disease Rates in a Rural State: Evidence from a Triangulation of Methods
Investigates the relationship between place effects, or food environment, and prevalence of chronic diseases in West Virginia. Features data and statistics on how areas with access to different food vendors (hot spots) and those that lack food providers (cold spots) impact diabetes and obesity rates, with information broken down by rural or urban setting.
Author(s): Mohamed Shabani Kariburyo, Lauri Andress, Alan Collins, Paul Kinder
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6676
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Income and Poverty in the United States: 2019
Reports on income levels and poverty rates for 2018 and 2019, along with the percent change from 2018 to 2019. Includes statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2020 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Author(s): Jessica Semega, Melissa Kollar, Emily A. Shrider, John F. Creamer
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Employment Changes Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis: The Effects of Race and Place
Explores financial burdens for women across racial categories associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, including out-of-pocket costs, time away from work, and difficulty coordinating clinical care. Examines data from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study in 44 North Carolina counties to analyze financial implications when comparing rural-urban and racial categories.
Author(s): Jennifer C Spencer, Jason S Rotter, Jan M Eberth, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 112(6), 647-650
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
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U.S. Child Care Deserts Mapping Tool
Interactive map featuring data on child care availability and locations for child care deserts or areas in which the demand for child care is much greater than the availability of child care. Includes layered maps showing poverty rates, educational attainment, median family incomes and home values, and percent of Black and Hispanic/Latinx residents.
Date: 06/2020
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organizations: Center for American Progress, University of Minnesota
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Income and Poverty in the United States: 2018
Reports on income levels and the number of people in poverty for 2017 and 2018, along with the percent change from 2017 to 2018. Includes statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2019 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Author(s): Jessica Semega, Melissa Kollar, John Creamer, Abinash Mohanty
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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The Older Population in Rural America: 2012-2016
Describes the rural older population, those 65 years and older, compared to urban older adults. Includes rural-urban data on population size for the nation, by region, and by state. Also covers demographic, social, and economic characteristics, age distribution, and sex ratio by age. Some data is available by level of rurality for mostly urban, mostly rural, and completely rural counties.
Author(s): Amy Symens Smith, Edward Trevelyan
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Tracking Change in the North Country: Paths to the Future of Coös County
Summarizes the findings of several studies focused on the rural community of Coos County, New Hampshire and surrounding areas transitioning from a manufacturing to a tourism based economy. Includes the results from a survey of rural adults to understand their perceptions of the economic, social, and environmental issues in their community. Discusses a 10-year study of youth health and social behavior including their attachment to school and community, expectations for the future, and decisions regarding where they want to live and work as young adults.
Author(s): Eleanor Jaffee
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Understanding Low-Income and Low-Access Census Tracts Across the Nation: Subnational and Subpopulation Estimates of Access to Healthy Food
Examines access to food stores by state, metropolitan, and micropolitan area as a proxy for healthy food access. Estimates rural areas' distance to the nearest and third-nearest food store with breakdowns by race/ethnicity, income, age, vehicle access, and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Alana Rhone, Michele Ver Ploeg, Ryan Williams, Vince Breneman
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Practicing Medicine in Rural America: Listening to Primary Care Physicians
Reports on focus group research and interviews with primary care physicians regarding the challenges of serving rural, low-income patients. Highlights issues related to poverty, healthy food access, mental health, substance abuse, specialty care access, and transportation. Third post in the series "Listening to Primary Care Physicians for Low-Income Patients."
Author(s): Shanoor Seervai
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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