Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations

Life Expectancy Loss Among Native Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study providing estimates of loss of life expectancy in 2020 and 2021 relative to 2019 for the Native American population. Features statistics including ratio of Native American to non-Native mortality rates in 2020 and 2021, estimates of life expectancy and losses in life expectancy for the Native American population from 2019-2021, and life expectancy at birth and at age 65.
Author(s): Noreen Goldman, Theresa Andrasfay
Citation: Demographic Research, 47(9), 233-246
Date: 07/2022
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Physical, Speech, Rehabilitative, or Occupational Therapy Use Among Adults Aged 25–64, by Veteran Status: United States, 2019–2020
Describes the use of physical, speech, rehabilitative, or occupational therapy in the past 12 months by veteran status among adults aged 25-64. Includes data for large central metro, large fringe metro, medium and small metro, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Peter Boersma, Robin A. Cohen
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Tribal Populations in Oklahoma
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare access for American Indian communities in Oklahoma. Highlights the oral health disparities across the Indian Health Service (IHS) system and explores barriers to oral healthcare access for the federally-recognized tribes in the state.
Author(s): Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Engaging Tribal Populations to Improve Oral Health Care Access in Arizona
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare and proposes strategies to improve access for American Indian communities in Arizona. Highlights the federally-recognized tribes in the state and details the status of oral healthcare in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is Limited
Provides an overview of nine federal programs designed to provide evidence-based falls prevention, home assessments, or home modifications for older adults and adults with disabilities. Explores what federal agencies know about how these programs affect participants' health and to what extent agencies coordinate their efforts and provide consumer information. Includes data on the estimated percentage of falls among adults with disabilities by demographic characteristics and identifies programs serving rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Health Workforce Issues in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Populations
Rapid response policy brief providing an overview of the Indian Health Service (IHS), and discussing tribally-operated health services and access to health services and insurance outside of tribal or IHS networks. Describes the representation of AI/AN populations within the healthcare workforce and offers recommendations and strategies to strengthen the health workforce providing care for AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Lack of Health Insurance Coverage Among Employed Individuals Increased As the COVID-19 Pandemic Intensified
Line chart showing the percent of workers who lacked health insurance from April 23, 2020 through December 21, 2020, with data for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan self-employed individuals and those otherwise employed.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Northern Navajo Medical Center Delivers Care Directly to Patients Experiencing Homelessness
Video details a program initiated by the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico, that provides treatment to people experiencing homelessness on the Navajo reservation. Discusses the mobile clinic's goals and the services it provides, such as physical exams, vaccinations, and other acute and chronic conditions.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Increased Rates of Death from Unintentional Injury among Non-Hispanic White, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Non-Metropolitan Communities
Examines the rate of fatal and nonfatal injuries in non-metropolitan and metropolitan areas, and the association with race/ethnicity. Uses information from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey public use datafile for 2018. Features statistics including estimated rate of nonfatal unintentional injuries among people seeking treatment at hospitals, deaths from unintentional injuries, and age-adjusted death rates for all causes of unintentional injury from 2014-2018, with breakdowns by metropolitan and non-metropolitan location.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Jeffery Talbert, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Rural Household Food Insecurity among Latino Immigrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Investigates impacts of COVID-19 on food insecurity among Latino immigrant families in rural areas of California. Utilizes interviews from 31 participants to examine barriers to food access including transportation, school closures, and lack of convenience. Discusses mitigation efforts related to food insecurity such as government and charitable programs.
Author(s): Denise Diaz Payán, Fabiola Perez-Lua, Sidra Goldman-Mellor, Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young
Citation: Nutrients, 14(13)
Date: 07/2022
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