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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Perceptions of Diseases of Despair by Members of Rural and Urban High-Prevalence Communities: A Qualitative Study
Reports on a study of community perceptions of despair-related illnesses based on 4 focus groups of 60 patients from 1 urban and 2 rural census blocks in central Pennsylvania where diseases of despair (DoD) are prevalent. Discusses perceived causes of DoD, such as economic instability, substance misuse, and fragmented family life; and intervention strategies at the community, local, and state level.
Author(s): Daniel R. George, Bethany Snyder, Lauren J. Van Scoy, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(7), e2118134
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Identifying Disparities in Health Outcomes and Mortality for American Indian and Alaska Native Populations Using Tribally Disaggregated Vital Statistics and Health Survey Data
Study examining disaggregated health surveillance and mortality data for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations, discussing the challenges of data collection related to tribal-national enrollment and racial identification. Addresses health disparities and severe health risks among AI/AN populations and the need for collaboration with tribal nations to obtain accurate data.
Author(s): Desi Small-Rodriguez, Randall Akee
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 111(S2), S126-132
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Native Americans And COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Pathways Toward Increasing Vaccination Rates For Native Communities
Highlights vaccination rates, hesitancy, and barriers in Native American communities. Discusses methods of improving vaccination rates in Native nations, including messaging to combat hesitancy.
Author(s): Gabriel R. Sanchez, Raymond Foxworth
Citation: Health Affairs Blog
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years With Fair or Poor Health, by Urbanization Level and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019
Bar chart showing adults reporting fair or poor health in metropolitan compared to nonmetro areas, overall and for ages 18-39, 40-64, and 65 or older.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(30), 1048
Date: 07/2021
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Federal Agencies' Investment in Rural Cancer Control Fosters Partnerships between Researchers and Rural Communities
Highlights how researchers and rural communities are working together to address rural cancer prevention and control, with support from federal funding. Discusses projects that address health behaviors, cancer screening, vaccination, and rural participation in clinical trials.
Author(s): Mary Charlton, Whitney Zahnd, Jennifer Patterson, Kimberly Merchant
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Door-to-Door Vaccination Campaign Reaches the Most Vulnerable
Article and video describing the efforts of the Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety (CAPS), a community-based organization, to conduct COVID-19 vaccination outreach door-to-door in rural, at-risk, and immigrant communities in California. Describes the challenges facing public health agencies working in rural areas, vaccine hesitancy, and health disparities in rural areas.
Author(s): Stephen Johnson
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Freethink
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Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives: Current Trends and Key Challenges
Issue brief presenting data on rates of insurance coverage, Medicaid coverage, and access to healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) using American Community Survey data. Discusses the impacts of health disparities, coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act, and state Medicaid expansions on AI/AN populations.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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COVID-19 in a Rural Health System in New York – Case Series and an Approach to Management
Highlights the hub-and-spoke system implemented by a hospital in New York's largest rural county to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Draws data on COVID-19 patients from March to May of 2020, evaluates the system's efficacy, and explores the challenges of rural pandemic response.
Author(s): Eyal Kedar, Regina Scott, Daniel M Soule, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(3), 6464
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Variations in Travel Burdens for Care: Findings from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey
Provides estimates of the distance traveled and time spent on one-way trips for medical and dental care, examines how rural residents' travel behaviors vary by sociodemographic and geographic characteristics, and evaluates factors associated with a high travel burden for medical and dental care among rural residents. Features statistics with breakdowns by time and distance traveled, age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, and rural or urban residence.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Kristin Primm, Nima Khodakarami, Jane Bolin, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Collaboration and Flexibility Are Cornerstones of LifePoint Health's Vaccination Efforts
Describes how LifePoint Health, a healthcare organization focused on small, rural, and growing communities in 29 states, is promoting and administering COVID-19 vaccines. Discusses communication and technological strategies as well as community partnerships developed to increase vaccination rates.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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