This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Health Concerns of Women in Agriculture in the Midwestern United States
Presents a study exploring the health and safety needs of women working as agricultural producers. Bases findings on a survey of 120 agricultural women in Nebraska. Explores concerns about zoonotic diseases, reproductive health concerns, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health challenges, among other issues common to agricultural work.
Author(s): Cheryl L. Beseler, Megan Lutt, Alex Egbuchiem, Ellen G. Duysen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31, 11-19
Date: 01/2026
view details
Predictors of Inpatient RN Turnover in Rural and Urban VHA Hospitals
A study on the rates and associated factors of registered nursing (RN) workforce turnover in rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. Breaks down data by RN demographic factors, such as age, salary, and experience within the VHA, and hospital factors, such as average age, average base salary, and average number of units worked, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine G. Bay, Chase S. Eck, Melissa K. Knox, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S9-S17
Date: 01/2026
view details
Maternal Chronic Disease Prevention in Rural America: A Life Course Perspective
Examines maternal chronic disease management in rural areas of the United States. Discusses social determinants of health and maternal health disparities specific to rural areas. Provides policy, public health surveillance, and community engagement approaches to address the rural maternal health crisis.
Author(s): Kobi V Ajayi, Emesomhi Eboreime, Alva Ferdinand, Ninfa Purcell, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
Date: 12/2025
view details
2021-2024 NSDUH Data Brief: Trends in Substance Use among Young Adults
Report details the substance use trends for young adults from 2021 to 2024 based on the findings from the Nation Survey on Drug Use and Health. Identifies substance use patterns and breaks down data by age, substance used, and whether participants resided in a large or small metropolitan or nonmetro county.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis–Associated Deaths — United States, 2020–2023
Reports on deaths associated with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling coal mine dust. Includes data by industry and occupation, with most deaths occurring among those employed in the mining industry, a largely rural industry. Discusses the need for comprehensive prevention and screening.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(41), 627-633
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Geographic and Demographic Differences in Studies of the Five Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.: Evidence from Peer-Reviewed Literature
Literature review examining the extent to which studies on mortality related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke included individual measures of rurality, race, and ethnicity, and analyzes the findings of these studies. Discusses differences in research on a condition-by-condition basis and suggests directions for future health disparities research.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
view details
American Cancer Society's Report on the Status of Cancer Disparities in the United States, 2025
Reports on cancer disparities by various demographic factors, socioeconomic status, geography, and other factors, utilizing 2018-2022 North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) data. Contains metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan data comparisons throughout, and discusses factors influencing access to cancer screening and treatment, including rurality.
Author(s): Farhad Islami, Gladys Arias, Dongjun Lee, et al.
Citation: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 76(1), e70045
Date: 12/2025
view details
Developing a Research Agenda to Improve Rural Health Access and Quality in West Virginia
Presents a research agenda to identify health problems, infrastructure issues, and healthcare workforce gaps in rural West Virginia. Discusses interventions to improve access, create policy, and address knowledge and data gaps. Provides county-level maps showing health and social issues across the state.
Author(s): Julia Rollison, Zara Fatima Abdurahaman, Lisa H. Jaycox, Viviana Mercado
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
Appalachian Regional Commission Performance & Accountability Report: Fiscal Year 2025
Provides an overview of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) projects from 2025 that develop economy, promote education and healthy living, invest in infrastructure, strengthen natural and cultural heritage, and build capacity in the Appalachian region. Includes healthcare-focused discussions about substance use, healthcare grants, healthcare workforce, and more.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
view details
Community Healers: How Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Leads in Health and Wellness
Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details