Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations

Suicide Surveillance Strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
Features a report on suicide data collection strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Presents case studies from different tribal communities and supporting resources for each strategy discussed.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Suicide Prevention Resource Center
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Rural and Urban Substance Use Differences: Effects of the Transition to College
Details a study on the differences in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among college students from rural and urban areas. Looks at rates of usage for freshman, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in a large, public university in the Southeastern U.S. Breaks down data by age and sex.
Author(s): Karen J. Derefinko, Zoran Bursac, Michael G. Mejia, Richard Milich, Donald R. Lynam
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 44(2), 224-234
Date: 2018
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Benefits for African American and White Low-Income 7–10-year-old Children and Their Parents Taught Together in a Community-Based Weight Management Program in the Rural Southeastern United States
Examines if African American and White children and adults from two rural North Carolina counties benefited equally from a community-based weight management intervention. Covers statistics by demographic characteristics, race and marital status, employment, occupation, income, and more.
Author(s): Diane C. Berry, Robert G. McMurray, Todd A. Schwartz, Reuben Adatorwovor
Citation: BMC Public Health, 18, 1107
Date: 2018
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Working Families' Access to Early Childhood Education: Gaps in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont
Highlights a study on the lack of access to child care for working parents in a rural region on the border of Vermont and New Hampshire. Compares child care costs to the median family income of the area and discusses the policy implications of these gaps.
Author(s): Jessica A. Carson
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Rural Suicide: One California County's Fight to Save Lives
Series of articles exploring the causes for high rates of suicide in rural areas of Northern California, including Amador, Calaveras, and Mariposa counties. Topics include shortages of mental health professionals and the higher risk of suicide among veterans and in tribal communities.
Author(s): Sammy Caiola
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Capital Public Radio
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Housing and Homelessness: Services and Partnerships to Address a Growing Issue
Results of a National Association of Area Agencies on Aging poll on programs, services, and partnerships developed by AAAs to address issues related to housing and homelessness. Includes a case study on public housing and assisted living facilities in rural Batesville, Arkansas.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Rural AAAs Structure and Services: Information & Planning Issue Brief
Examines differences between rural and non-rural Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), using data from the 2016 AAA National Survey. Features statistics on budgets, budget sources, staff, structure, services, and participation in integrated care initiatives, with breakdowns by rural and non-rural location. Includes case studies from Maine, Virginia, and Utah.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Preterm Birth - New Mexico PRAMS
Reports on preterm births in New Mexico using data from the state's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Compares preterm birth rates by rural/urban location, race/ethnicity, age group, and more.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Zika in Babies in US Territories
Provides an overview of the Zika infection in pregnancy and its impact on babies. Focuses on babies born in American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Identifies what health departments, healthcare providers, and parents can do.
Additional links: Video
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Child Welfare and Substance Use
Discusses a study on the relationship between substance use, specifically opioid misuse, and child welfare caseloads. Explores reports of child abuse and foster care entries along with drug mortality rates and retail opioid sales. Features rural information in the second and third reports.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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