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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Telehealth and Delivery of Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment in the Veterans Health Administration
Evaluated 138,619 Veterans Health Administration patients receiving alcohol use disorder treatment between March 2020 and February 2021 to determine characteristics associated with telehealth use during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights rurality as one characteristics impacting telehealth modality and access in addition to other characteristics.
Author(s): Ponni V. Perumalswami, Megan A. Adams, Madeline C. Frost, et al.
Citation: Alcohol Clinical & Experimental Research, 48(5), 944-954
Date: 2024
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Transportation for People with Disabilities and Older Adults During COVID-19: Lessons for Emergency Response
Provides information on planning for transportation needs during emergencies and pandemics, with a focus on assisting older adults and people with disabilities. Discusses roles and responsibilities, personnel and resources, technology and tools, challenges and solutions, and strategies and sustainability, with reflections on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes considerations for transit agencies in different locations, including rural and tribal.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Transit Cooperative Research Program
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organizations: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Transportation Research Board
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Effects of Rurality and Distance to Care on Perinatal Outcomes over a 1-Year Period During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines how rurality and/or distance to care impacts perinatal outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, neonatal intensive care, birthweight, and more. Analyzes outcomes from 2,497 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic period of May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, with results broken down by distance to care and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural location.
Author(s): Pratyusha V. Bujimalla, Kimberly A. Kenne, Haley A. Steffen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 520-530
Date: 2024
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Alaska AHEC Program 2024 Annual Report
Details the 2024 program highlights and accomplishments of Alaska's Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program, which provides health workforce programs for students to support quality healthcare access in the state.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organizations: Alaska Area Health Education Centers Program, Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce
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The South Carolina STD/HIV/AIDS Annual Surveillance Report, 2023
Reports cases of AIDS, HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in South Carolina through December 31, 2023. Provides data on the age, sex, race, and ethnicity of diagnosed individuals, and includes additional data on exposure categories of new AIDS and HIV diagnoses. Also presents data on cases and rates by county.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Department of Public Health
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Bridging the Gap: INVESTing in HPV Vaccination for Rural Youth
Describes the INVEST (INcreasing VaccinE uptake among Southern Teens) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine promotion program for rural youth in North Carolina and South Carolina. Discusses program implementation through school nurses and educational materials focused on vaccination and other aspects of adolescent health and wellness.
Author(s): Sayward E. Harrison
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Final Frontier: IPC Challenges in Rural Health Care
Podcast interview with Dr. Michael Stevens, West Virginia University Health System's Healthcare Epidemiologist. Addresses difficulty in accessing mentoring in infection prevention and control (IPC) in rural facilities, and disconnects between local needs and upper-level mandates. Includes transcript.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organizations: American Medical Association, CDC's Project Firstline
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Effectiveness of Syringe Services Programs
Presents a literature review of the studies evaluating SSP interventions across the country. Report aims to evaluate the overall efficacy of SSPs at reducing the transmission of HIV/HCV. Four of the 100 studies were conducted in completely rural settings, and five were conducted in both rural and urban settings. Makes recommendations for VA policy makers.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary
Author(s): Katherine M. Mackey, Erin H. Beech, Beth E. Williams, et al.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South Central Appalachia
Analyzes factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from a survey of 181 Appalachian adults from February to June of 2021. Provides data on correlations between vaccine hesitancy and vaccine-related beliefs, attitudes toward COVID risk, adherence to prevention measures, and demographics. Highlights participants' geography and discusses disparities in rural Appalachia.
Author(s): Florence M. Weierbach, Rebecca Adkins Fletcher, Ingrid E. Luffman, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 5(3), 71-84
Date: 12/2023
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity among Mostly Older, Overweight Black Women Living in the Rural Alabama Black Belt
Examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity in 4 rural, predominantly Black Alabama communities from March 2020 to Aug 2021. Study participants were predominantly Black, overweight, older women with low levels of physical activity. Provides data on changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic, concerns influencing physical activity, leisure time physical activity habits, and demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Whitney N. Neal, Erica A. Schleicher, Kerri Baron, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(24), 7180
Date: 12/2023
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