Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health
America's Health Rankings 2026 Health of Women and Children Report
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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The Utility of Psychological Capital Theory in Rural Adolescent Mental Health Research
Explores the psychological capital (PsyCap), or one's sense of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, and mental health among rural adolescents. Bases findings on a survey of 59 adolescents in rural Texas. Discusses the utility of PsyCap as a model for evaluating rural adolescent mental health.
Author(s): Angela J. Preston, Lynn Rew, Cara C. Young, John Lowe, Huaxin Song
Citation: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31(4), 1374-1388
Date: 10/2026
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Explores the psychological capital (PsyCap), or one's sense of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, and mental health among rural adolescents. Bases findings on a survey of 59 adolescents in rural Texas. Discusses the utility of PsyCap as a model for evaluating rural adolescent mental health.
Author(s): Angela J. Preston, Lynn Rew, Cara C. Young, John Lowe, Huaxin Song
Citation: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31(4), 1374-1388
Date: 10/2026
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Personalized Environmental Risk Communication and Cancer Screening Intent among Rural Private Well Users
Presents findings from a private well testing and cancer education initiative in Georgia's Tattnall, Bulloch, and Evans counties. Includes data on well contaminants, understanding of well testing results, environmental risk communication, and cancer screening intent among 100 rural well owners.
Author(s): Victoria Clower, Andrew Hansen, Jeff Jones, Asli Aslan
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 70, 103620
Date: 10/2026
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Presents findings from a private well testing and cancer education initiative in Georgia's Tattnall, Bulloch, and Evans counties. Includes data on well contaminants, understanding of well testing results, environmental risk communication, and cancer screening intent among 100 rural well owners.
Author(s): Victoria Clower, Andrew Hansen, Jeff Jones, Asli Aslan
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 70, 103620
Date: 10/2026
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Associations of Occupational Exposures on Environmental Allergies Among Farmers and Ranchers in the Central United States
Explores demographics and occupational exposures associated with allergies among farmers in 7 states. Notes public health implications based on study findings and highlights opportunities for further research.
Author(s): Alexandrea Welch, Cheryl Beseler, Yi Du, Shaun Cross, Risto H. Rautiainen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31(4), 530-540
Date: 10/2026
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Explores demographics and occupational exposures associated with allergies among farmers in 7 states. Notes public health implications based on study findings and highlights opportunities for further research.
Author(s): Alexandrea Welch, Cheryl Beseler, Yi Du, Shaun Cross, Risto H. Rautiainen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31(4), 530-540
Date: 10/2026
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"It's Nice to Know That You're Not Alone": Lessons from Rural Midwest Women Veterans' Experiences with a Chronic Pain Management Group
Explores the experiences of rural women veterans who participated in a virtual eight-week telehealth behavioral pilot program aimed at addressing chronic pain. Breaks down participant characteristics, such as age, education, and source of pain, among other measures, and highlights participant feedback.
Author(s): Nicole L. Johnson, Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier, DorisAnn McGinnis, et al.
Citation: Psychological Services, 23(4), 938-945
Date: 09/2026
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Explores the experiences of rural women veterans who participated in a virtual eight-week telehealth behavioral pilot program aimed at addressing chronic pain. Breaks down participant characteristics, such as age, education, and source of pain, among other measures, and highlights participant feedback.
Author(s): Nicole L. Johnson, Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier, DorisAnn McGinnis, et al.
Citation: Psychological Services, 23(4), 938-945
Date: 09/2026
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Sanders Announces $54.6 Million Awarded in Rural Health Transformation Funds
Announces recipients of funding through two initiatives as part of the first year of the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program: Healthy Eating, Active Recreation & Transformation (HEART) and Recruitment, Innovation Skills, and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR). Describes each awarded project, its service area, and funding amount.
Additional links: List of Organization and Award Amounts - RISE AR and HEART
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
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Announces recipients of funding through two initiatives as part of the first year of the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program: Healthy Eating, Active Recreation & Transformation (HEART) and Recruitment, Innovation Skills, and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR). Describes each awarded project, its service area, and funding amount.
Additional links: List of Organization and Award Amounts - RISE AR and HEART
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
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Understanding Rurality and Associated Suicide Risks: Perspectives of Adolescents and Caregivers
Presents a study of how rural adolescents and their caregivers perceive rural communities and suicide risks in rural environments. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with 27 adolescents and caregivers each, and discusses barriers to mental healthcare, access to lethal means, and the role of stigma, among other factors.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Gwenyth Gasper, Hannah B. Leavitt, et al.
Citation: Academic Pediatrics, 26(7), 103402
Date: 09/2026
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Presents a study of how rural adolescents and their caregivers perceive rural communities and suicide risks in rural environments. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with 27 adolescents and caregivers each, and discusses barriers to mental healthcare, access to lethal means, and the role of stigma, among other factors.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Gwenyth Gasper, Hannah B. Leavitt, et al.
Citation: Academic Pediatrics, 26(7), 103402
Date: 09/2026
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Power of Partnerships Between Health Centers & Rural Hospitals
Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities.
Additional links: Case Studies at a Glance, July 2026
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Impact! Communications, Inc., National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities.
Additional links: Case Studies at a Glance, July 2026
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Impact! Communications, Inc., National Association of Community Health Centers
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2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the risk factors for veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the risk factors for veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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An Adapted Enhanced Social Prescribing Intervention vs. Usual Care in the Treatment of Loneliness in Cancer Survivors: Study Protocol for a Feasibility Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Study protocol to examine the feasibility and impact of the Social Prescribing model on loneliness and quality of life among cancer survivors. Participants will be recruited from rural and rural-serving primary care practices in the Northeastern United States.
Author(s): Brooke Ike, Allison Cole, Brennan Keiser, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(9), e0350956
Date: 09/2026
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Study protocol to examine the feasibility and impact of the Social Prescribing model on loneliness and quality of life among cancer survivors. Participants will be recruited from rural and rural-serving primary care practices in the Northeastern United States.
Author(s): Brooke Ike, Allison Cole, Brennan Keiser, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(9), e0350956
Date: 09/2026
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