This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Public health

Overdose Prevention Policy Considerations: A Policy Playbook for State and Territorial Health Officials and Agencies
Provides an overview of policy considerations related to overdose prevention, with a focus on health equity and stigma reduction, community distribution, drug checking equipment, syringe service programs, and substance use support peer programs. Includes case examples, strategies for overdose prevention interventions, and considerations for rural and frontier areas.
Author(s): Victoria Pless, Kaela Hurd, Kayley Humm, Arieana Love
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
view details
Legislative Action Bridging Public Health and Clinical Healthcare
Discusses legislation that relates to equitable access to healthcare, with a focus on telehealth, infrastructure, safety net services, management of healthcare costs, and the expansion of the healthcare workforce. Includes information on access to emergency departments in rural areas and the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation.
Author(s): Ashley Cram, Brianna Gorman
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
view details
Cosecha: A Statewide Promotor de Salud Network to Attain Equity in Accessing COVID-19 Services in Florida's Farmworker Corridor
Describes the activities of a network of promotores de salud, or community health workers, promoting equitable access to COVID-19 services, including vaccination, among rural, migrant Latinx farmworkers in Florida from November 2021 to July 2022. Discusses program implementation, evaluation, sustainability, outcomes, and more.
Author(s): Anna Villagomez, Robin Lewy, Bruce Tyler, Jonathan Castro, Zorayda Avila
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 114(S1), S74-S77
Date: 01/2024
view details
Critical Access Hospital-Local Health Department Partnerships to Address Rural Community Needs
Explores Critical Access Hospital (CAH) involvement in collaborative community health networks that include local public health departments (LHDs), other healthcare organizations, social service agencies, and other community organizations. Uses survey data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) to describe the collaborative partnerships CAHs are engaged in, the organizations with which they partner, and the activities these partnerships undertake. Presents findings from qualitative interviews with four pairs of CAH and LHD leaders regarding challenges and lessons learned from these local-level collaborations. Identifies three areas of activity - community health needs assessments, emergency preparedness planning, and emergent public health crises - that provide an opportunity to encourage collaboration between CAHs and LHDs and address priority needs.
Author(s): Zachariah Croll, Celia Jewell, John Gale
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Implementation of a Mobile Health Clinic Framework for Hepatitis C Virus Screening and Treatment: A Descriptive Study
Examines the effectiveness of utilizing mobile health clinics (MHC) for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment in underserved areas. Analyzes HCV screening and treatment rates of an MHC program initiated by Clemson Rural Health in South Carolina and discusses the impact of MHCs to provide healthcare access in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Lior Rennert, Kerry A. Howard, Caitlin M. Kickham, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 29
Date: 01/2024
view details
Montana HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis Epidemiological Profile, 2023
Presents data for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and viral hepatitis in Montana, and describes the demographics of Montana in context of each disease. Mentions rural throughout and includes and a county-level map with shadings showing 3 levels of population density.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
view details
Arkansas State Health Improvement Plan 2024-2029
Offers data on Arkansas health in 5 priority areas: access to care, addiction and mental health, infectious disease and vaccinations, maternal mortality, and obesity. Discusses trends over time and identifies action steps to improve health indicators. Includes rural-specific considerations throughout.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Health
view details
Messaging Preferences About the COVID-19 Vaccine among Adults in Eastern North Carolina
Examines messaging related to COVID-19 vaccines for rural and underserved populations in Eastern North Carolina (ENC). Utilizes qualitative feedback from 40 rural ENC residents regarding vaccines and trust, preferences regarding information, and religious beliefs. Discusses vaccine uptake and the importance of understanding diverse populations and their culture.
Author(s): Abby J. Schwartz, Alice R. Richman, Essie Torres
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 50(1), 71-80
Date: 2024
view details
Mississippi State Department of Health 2024 Annual Report
Offers overview of public health indicators for residents of the state of Mississippi including mortality, teen birth rates, various health conditions, and vaccination. Discusses regulation and legislative changes, pharmaceutical programs, lab services, public health outreach, rural health and primary care, Health Professional Shortage Areas, and administrative updates.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi State Department of Health
view details
America's Children: Special Issue 2024, Maternal and Infant Health and Well-Being
Examines the factors predicting maternal and infant well-being. Breaks down data by a number of measures, including food insecurity, vaccinations, maternal health, prenatal care, and more. Select data on Tdap vaccinations, smoking during pregnancy, adequacy of prenatal care, and maternal mortality are available by metro versus nonmetro location.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
view details