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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Mortality

Differences Between Rural and Urban Areas in Mortality Rates for the Leading Causes of Infant Death: United States, 2013–2015
Examines mortality rates for the five leading causes of infant, neonatal, and postneonatal death for rural, small and medium urban, and large urban counties, based on location of the mother's residence. Causes examined are congenital malformations, low birthweight, sudden infant death syndrome, maternal complications, and unintentional injuries.
Additional links: Questions for the Author, NCHStats blog
Author(s): Danielle M. Ely, Donna L. Hoyert
Date: 02/2018
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Health, United States, 2017: With Special Feature on Mortality
An annual overview of national trends in health statistics covering health status and determinants, healthcare utilization, access, and expenditures. Includes rural data - see the Trend Tables Data Finder and select "Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan" under Population Subgroups. The 2017 edition focuses on mortality and covers 114 trend tables highlighting health status and determinants; healthcare utilization, healthcare resources, and healthcare expenditures.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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The Road to ZER0: A Vision for Achieving Zero Roadway Deaths by 2050
Highlights a report that details potential traffic safety measures necessary to achieve zero roadway deaths by 2050. Discusses the different traffic safety challenges unique to rural communities, as well as successful measures that reduce rural traffic fatalities.
Author(s): Liisa Ecola, Steven W. Popper, Richard Silberglitt, Laura Fraade-Blanar
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organizations: National Safety Council, RAND Corporation
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The Opioid Crisis in Rural and Small Town America
Provides data on opioid mortality rates in 2016 and changes in opioid mortality from 1999 through 2016 for metropolitan and nonmetro counties. Also provides metro/nonmetro data on drug overdoses by type of opioid - heroin, prescription opioids, synthetic opioids, and unspecified opioids - from 1999 through 2016. Discusses challenges rural areas face in addressing the opioid crisis.
Author(s): Shannon M. Monnat, Khary K. Rigg
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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The Differential Effects of Rural Health Care Access on Race-Specific Mortality
Investigates the association between race-specific rural mortality and the health infrastructure of rural counties using data from the National Center for Health Statistics Compressed Mortality File (2008-2012); county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare indicators from Health Resources and Services Administration's Area Health Resource File; and the U.S. Census. Covers the rural public health infrastructure index that indicates the presence or absence of 4 types of healthcare measures: public health employees, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) or rural referral centers, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and emergency departments within counties.
Author(s): Jeralynn Cossman, Wesley James, Julia Kay Wolf
Citation: SSM Population Health, 3, 618-623
Date: 12/2017
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A New Approach to Reduce Infant Mortality and Achieve Equity: Policy Recommendations to Improve Housing, Transportation, Education and Employment
Describes new strategies to reduce infant mortality in Ohio. Discusses rural perspectives on multiple topics, including social determinants of health, housing, transportation, education, and employment, and how they relate to infant mortality.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Snapshot
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Mortality Rates Have Increased for Working-age Rural Adults Since 2000
Line chart showing the change in mortality rates for nonmetropolitan and metropolitan residents, comparing 3-year averages for 1999-2001 and 2013-2015. Data is presented by age group.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Worsening Rural-Urban Gap in Hospital Mortality
Results of a study of nonmaternal, nonneonatal hospitalizations in 2008 and 2013, showing the association between rural or urban residence and hospital mortality. Features statistics on hospital mortality by condition in 2013 and hospital deaths among rural patients by year and payer status.
Author(s): Nicole Villapiano, Theodore J. Iwashyna, Matthew M. Davis
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 30(6), 816-823
Date: 11/2017
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Pain in the Nation: The Drug, Alcohol and Suicide Crises and the Need for a National Resilience Strategy
Examines current trends, causes, costs, and potential solutions to the drug, alcohol, and suicide crises in the U.S. Includes rural data and discussion of rural-specific issues.
Author(s): Laura M. Segal, Anne De Biasi, Jennifer L. Mueller, Kendra May, Molly Warren
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Health Impacts of Methamphetamine Use in Alaska
Presents a report on methamphetamine use in Alaska. Analyzes rates of usage and mortality by demographics, such as age and region of the state, among others.
Author(s): Laura Coughlin, Deborah Hull-Jilly
Citation: State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin, 19(4)
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Division of Public Health
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