Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations
VA Versus Non-VA Quality of Care: A Living Systematic Review
Presents a review of healthcare quality for veterans in VA and non-VA settings. Analyzes 52 studies of non-surgical care and 24 studies of surgical care. Highlights studies focusing on rural veterans and details rural veterans' reported satisfaction with the care they received.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Paul Shekelle, Melinda Maggard-Gibbons, Mariah Blegen, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Presents a review of healthcare quality for veterans in VA and non-VA settings. Analyzes 52 studies of non-surgical care and 24 studies of surgical care. Highlights studies focusing on rural veterans and details rural veterans' reported satisfaction with the care they received.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Paul Shekelle, Melinda Maggard-Gibbons, Mariah Blegen, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Dietary Factors and BMI Among Preschool-Aged Head Start Children and Home Caregivers in Remote Alaska Native Communities
Examines the relationship between body mass index (BMI) of caregivers and BMI of the preschool children in their home. Utilizes data from a culturally anchored intervention, "Got Neqpiaq?", focused on remote Alaska Native communities in the southwest portion of the state. Discusses the impact of the composition of traditional food, processed food, and produce in a caregiver's diet on a child's diet, as well as the role of holistic family health interventions and cultural foods.
Author(s): Courtney M. Hill, M. J. Paschall, Kathryn R. Koller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Racial and Ethnic Disparities, 13(3), 2039-2048
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the relationship between body mass index (BMI) of caregivers and BMI of the preschool children in their home. Utilizes data from a culturally anchored intervention, "Got Neqpiaq?", focused on remote Alaska Native communities in the southwest portion of the state. Discusses the impact of the composition of traditional food, processed food, and produce in a caregiver's diet on a child's diet, as well as the role of holistic family health interventions and cultural foods.
Author(s): Courtney M. Hill, M. J. Paschall, Kathryn R. Koller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Racial and Ethnic Disparities, 13(3), 2039-2048
Date: 04/2025
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Maine Healthy Aging Data Report: Highlights from 2025
Reports on the demographics, health, and strengths and vulnerabilities of Maine's older adult population, with pages 13-18 providing rural, urban, and suburban community health comparison data. See related maps and community profiles for additional data on a variety of health conditions and factors influencing health.
Additional links: Supporting materials
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Point32Health Foundation
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Reports on the demographics, health, and strengths and vulnerabilities of Maine's older adult population, with pages 13-18 providing rural, urban, and suburban community health comparison data. See related maps and community profiles for additional data on a variety of health conditions and factors influencing health.
Additional links: Supporting materials
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Point32Health Foundation
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How Does Cost Affect Access to Healthcare?
Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) through 2023. Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost, including insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs. Presents data by income level, health status, insurance status, and urban/rural residence.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Matthew McGough, Lynne Cotter, Gary Claxton
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) through 2023. Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost, including insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs. Presents data by income level, health status, insurance status, and urban/rural residence.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Matthew McGough, Lynne Cotter, Gary Claxton
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Rebuilding Maternal Health Access in Western North Carolina: Addressing Critical Gaps Amplified by Hurricane Helene
Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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Promoting the Health of Migrant Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Rural Minnesota Using a Whole-Person Health Approach: A Pilot Project
Discusses the efficacy of a whole-health assessment of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) at identifying community strengths and challenges pertaining to physical, emotional, social, and economic health. Highlights the University of Minnesota comprehensive whole-health assessment criteria and details the implementation, uptake, and results.
Author(s): Shahidali Jaffer, Robin Austin, Jonathan D. Kirsch
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1518686
Date: 04/2025
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Discusses the efficacy of a whole-health assessment of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) at identifying community strengths and challenges pertaining to physical, emotional, social, and economic health. Highlights the University of Minnesota comprehensive whole-health assessment criteria and details the implementation, uptake, and results.
Author(s): Shahidali Jaffer, Robin Austin, Jonathan D. Kirsch
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1518686
Date: 04/2025
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Severe Maternal Morbidity in Tennessee, 2018-2022
Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Mapping Maternity Care Deserts: Driving Distance and Health Outcomes in North Carolina
Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Addressing Toxic Stress and Health Care Access in California Farmworker Communities: ACCESS Pilot Project Evaluation
Analyzes feedback from the farmworker community in California on the impact of toxic stress in their lives. Utilizes 482 responses from the farmworker community health survey to investigate issues such as toxic stress, public health outreach and education, healthcare access in rural areas, barriers to insurance coverage, and ways to address toxic stress in farmworker communities.
Author(s): Ingrid Estrada-Darley, Alejandro Roa Contreras, Cristina Alvarez, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Analyzes feedback from the farmworker community in California on the impact of toxic stress in their lives. Utilizes 482 responses from the farmworker community health survey to investigate issues such as toxic stress, public health outreach and education, healthcare access in rural areas, barriers to insurance coverage, and ways to address toxic stress in farmworker communities.
Author(s): Ingrid Estrada-Darley, Alejandro Roa Contreras, Cristina Alvarez, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Financial Health and Well-Being of Rural Female Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses
Examines the financial burdens of female caregivers living in rural areas. Provides interview feedback from 20 women caring for older adults with chronic illnesses, focusing on themes such as gender role imbalances, financial pressures, stress, time constraints, and more.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Evans Appiah Osei, Siqi Yang, Bhagyashree Katare, Sampada Wagle
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 25, 239
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the financial burdens of female caregivers living in rural areas. Provides interview feedback from 20 women caring for older adults with chronic illnesses, focusing on themes such as gender role imbalances, financial pressures, stress, time constraints, and more.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Evans Appiah Osei, Siqi Yang, Bhagyashree Katare, Sampada Wagle
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 25, 239
Date: 04/2025
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