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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Syringe Access, Syringe Sharing, and Perceptions of HCV: A Qualitative Study Exploring the HCV Risk Environment in Rural Northern New England, United States
Highlights a study on syringe access for people who inject drugs (PWID), rates of syringe sharing, and perceived hepatitis C (HCV) risk in rural Northern New England. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews and breaks down data by state of residence, age, and drug of choice, among other measures.
Author(s): Eric Romo, Elyse Bianchet, Patrick Dowd, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 16(9), 1364
Date: 08/2024
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Increasing Vaccine Confidence in Rural Communities of South-Central Kentucky
Provides educational resources, data, and advice for community leaders and healthcare professionals to promote vaccine confidence in rural south-central Kentucky. The included toolkit provides in-depth discussion of rural attitudes toward vaccination, strategies for effective communication, and information on rural vaccination disparities.
Additional links: Getting to "YES" for Routine Vaccines: A Toolkit to Increase Vaccine Confidence for Rural Communities in Kentucky
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Lung Association
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Changes in Substance Use Diagnoses in the Great Plains during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Analyzed 109,671 patient visits for alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, or stimulant use disorder in 7 Great Plains states between March 2019 and March 2021 to report on demographic and geographic pattern disruptions in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes discussion of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residency on data and policy implications regarding access to care.
Author(s): Ahmed Nahian, Lisa M. McFadden
Citation: Healthcare, 12(16)
Date: 08/2024
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Prioritizing Actions to Improve HPV Vaccination with Rural U.S. Communities
Poster describing the actions of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program to address low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in rural communities. Details priority actions emerging from discussions of 24 subject matter experts, provides data on program engagement, and discusses next steps.
Author(s): Cristóbal Valdebenito, Duha Magzoub, Julia Brown, et al.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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A Qualitative Study Identifying Implementation Strategies Using the i-PARIHS Framework to Increase Access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis at Federally Qualified Health Centers in Mississippi
Examines barriers and facilitators of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Mississippi, utilizing interview data from 19 FQHC staff and 17 PrEP-eligible patients. Identifies implementation strategies to increase PrEP use and improve HIV prevention. Includes discussion of rural-specific factors influencing access.
Author(s): Trisha Arnold, Laura Whiteley, Kayla K. Giorlando, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 5, 92
Date: 08/2024
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Districts Try with Limited Success to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism: Selected Findings from the Spring 2024 American School District Panel Survey and Interviews
Discusses the rise of chronic absenteeism in schools in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the various causes, such as mental health, flexibility of remote learning, and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic challenges. Provides interview and survey data from 190 school district leaders and includes information on the percentage of districts experiencing chronic absenteeism and at what level; the characteristics of districts, including region, size, and urbanicity; and district methods of reducing chronic absenteeism.
Author(s): Melissa Kay Diliberti, Lydia R. Rainey, Lisa Chu, Heather L. Schwartz
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescent Girls Aged 13–17 Years — U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, 2013–2023
Reports trends in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage among adolescent girls since the vaccines were introduced in U.S.-affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions.
Author(s): Ashley Tippins, Glodi Mutamba, E.M. Boyd, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(33), 715-721
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The State of Health in Tennessee: 2024 Annual Report to the 113th Tennessee General Assembly
Assesses the health status of Tennesseans across the four areas of the State Health Plan Framework: A Healthy Start, A Healthy Life, a Healthy Environment, and a Healthy System of Care. Includes a section on social determinants of health and features statistics on various populations and aspects of healthcare, including rural hospital closures.
Additional links: A Healthy Environment: Housing, A Healthy Life: Income and Poverty, A Healthy Start: Poverty & Food Insecurity, A Healthy System of Care: Access
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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The Impact of Chronic Underfunding on America's Public Health System: Trends, Risks, and Recommendations, 2024
Provides state-by-state information on public health funding and discusses public health systems at the local, tribal, and territorial levels. Includes information on funding provided to the states by the federal government, as well as state public health budgets. Features information about federal funding for COVID-19 response actions.
Author(s): Matt McKillop, Dara Alpert Lieberman
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Safety Net Primary Care Capabilities After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the ability of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) versus non-FQHCs to provide safety net care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,245 primary care practices, focusing on their characteristics such as census region and ownership, as well as their safety net care services, such as screening for social needs or ability to provide opioid treatment. Discusses the importance of FQHCs to access quality primary care, particularly for rural populations.
Author(s): Karen E. Schifferdecker, Ching-Wen W. Yang, Matthew B. Mackwood, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(8)
Date: 08/2024
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